I want to tell about our wonderful trip to Croatia. Lenya chose the best place in Istria – the city Ravine. The old part of town is situated on a small peninsula. In the maze of ancient streets lost numerous restaurants, artgaleries and all sorts of small shops with all sorts of things.

But we arrived in Croatia specifically to dive.  We had a big programm – a week without rest. Diving center located just outside the city center. On the first day we decided to get there by bike. And, when you consider that from the hotel to Diving center had to travel 5 kilometres and not always smooth, you can submit all degrees of enthusiasm on Lenyas face!

Usually we had dives from the boat. Get to any site – at least 1 hour by boat. On the boat a lot of divers – Italians, Germans, Czechs, and even a single day were our countrymen.

One of the most famous wracks in Croatia – the ship “Baron Gotch”, built in 1870, sunk in these waters during World War I. The ship lies on the available depth – 35-38 m. Visibility – 10-12 meters. Mud is weak (try “Sulina” in Odessa). The ship had three huge black pipe. All of them survived, only the color, of course, lost. You can navigate between decks, which also partially remained. Still, teak wood! Remained portholes, some add-ins for extra light, the engine room. On the upper deck there are lighting brackets, romantically entangled by nets. Between the two upper decks live large flock of fish. They were hunted by a huge eel. In the first dive, we did not notice him. But as we rejoice for the second time! First we saw the fish, and then between them flashed a huge shadow, and disappeared in a hole. After a couple of minutes out of this hole emerged a magnificent example of Conger length of at least 1.5 meters and diameter  15-18 cm. We had a long and intently shone in his face. Then he interested in us. Turned around and looked into our eyes.  Few minutes. We reminded of his astonishing “benevolence” and  swim away.

No trophies on the ship was found. But with me happens a terrible story. Traditionally.

The terrible history number ….

I jumped into the water, begin to move towards the end of the rope. Ahead “Baron Gotch”, and we  are lucky to be first today! Visibility is excellent. Holding on to the rope. Along comes Ivan. OK? OK, begin to dive. Something with my mask  - a lot of water. Blew. Water inside more and more. I look aroundasking is it my helmet OK? All OK. But  water again. Full mask! And it is, not blown. Show – go up. On board the ship  cries of astonishment, all poking their finger at me. I touch by the hand mask and … touching  my own eyes! There is no more glass in the mask! Just dropped! Good thing it did not happen somewhere in the 35 meters in the engine room!

Excellent dive on the “El Gesu “ and “Koriolanos”.

“Koriolanos” – spy ship that sank during World War II. Long and narrow like an arrow. On the upper decks can swim in the officers rooms, follow in  cabins and WC. A lot of mud. The next diver can swim no earlier than after 5 minutes. On the upper decks survived all sorts of guns.

Also occurred near the Diving center night dive.

The depths are small. The underwater scenery very beautiful – huge rocks and you can dive between them in the maze.

And then we saw something!

Something so I can not say what! It was the cuttlefish. She swam on her own busy. And we followed her. Suddenly she stopped and jumped to the side. On the other cuttlefish! And they give each other the trunk traction. And all the time, the color change. This went on for 10 minutes. .Then one cuttlefish interested in torch of Ivan. Lets light feel and all the time change the color of your eyes and twirl! National Geografic lasted 20 minutes. After that, the cuttlefish had fled, and we immediately surfaced. We cannot see something more interesting in this evening!

At one of the sites we have found a huge Nudibranch mollusc. Such  a giants even in the book I did not see. Not less than 20 centimeters in length. Mollusk peacefully grazing in the grass, more like a mixture of snail and a cow. It was brown. On the head  horns. We lifted him gently and released. Mollusk squared folded on the back of her skirt, wings, and slowly they began to shake. At the same time on the back was visible dark blue flower. The spectacle – breathtakingly beautiful!  (it was sea hear)

Near Istria a lot of different things – fish, Nudibranch mollusc and crabs. Many crab ghosts. Beautiful Grottos and caves. . Grow giant clams – sea pen.

Water moderately warm or moderately cold. How someone like that.

Thermocline at 15 meters. Visibility was good.

Diving is cheap – with nitrox, boat 2 times a day, with night dives, T-shirts, books and lamps – 35 USD once. Torches better to have your own. There are basically coming divers, who  have all their equioment. Therefore, Diving center does not hold too much.

Successful dives and thanks to Lenya for a wonderful dive in Croatia!