Zadar County dive sites

Dugi Otok is accessible by ferry from Zadar, with services running to Brbinj village on the island's eastern coast, which is the closest port to Brbinjscica Bay. The ferry crossing takes approximately one and a half hours. Some dive operators in Zadar offer day-trip boat diving to Dugi Otok sites, departing early morning and returning in the evening. For extended stays, accommodation is available in Brbinj and other villages on the island, though options are more limited than on the mainland. The island has a dive centre that offers guided diving and equipment rental.

Dugi Otok benefits from its position as an outer island in the Zadar archipelago, exposed to cleaner open Adriatic water that delivers exceptional visibility often exceeding 30 metres. The underwater topography is more dramatic than most mainland sites, with steep cliffs and walls dropping directly into deep water. The island's relatively low population and limited development mean less pollution and fishing pressure, resulting in healthier reef and more abundant marine life. The Telascica Nature Park on the island's southern end adds additional protected dive sites with some of the best underwater scenery in the Croatian Adriatic.

The diving season on Dugi Otok runs from May through October, with water temperatures ranging from 18 degrees in May to 26 degrees in August. July and August offer the warmest water and calmest conditions, though visibility can occasionally decrease due to plankton. June and September often provide the best balance of warm water and excellent visibility. A five-millimetre wetsuit is recommended for most of the season, with a seven-millimetre suit advisable for May, early June, and October. The Adriatic can produce sudden bura wind events that affect boat operations, but the eastern coast of Dugi Otok is somewhat sheltered from this.