SAILING

Thanks to an extremely indented shoreline, over 200 islands and islets, many straits, channels and coves and a suitable climate, the waters of Zadar are a paradise for all sorts of sailing activities.

Marinas and Berths
? Marina Olive Island – Island Ugljan
? Marina Preko – Island Ugljan
? Berth Kukljica – Island Ugljan

 Organised docking:

• Pantera, Cuna, Bok and Lucina coves on Dugi Otok
• Soline, Sv. Ante and Zdrelac coves on the island of Pasman
• Brgulje, Molat and Zapuntel on the island of Molat
• Olib on the island of Olib
• Lokvna cove on the island of Rava
• Mljake and Ist coves on the island of Ist
• Krijal cove on the island of Premuda

At these organised dockings, paper work is completed, garbage collected and removed, fire fighting equipment as well as ecological protection is in place. The use of buoys is recommended for safe anchoring and the protection of the sea bottom from the algae Caulerpe taxifolie.
It is recommended that only one ship anchor per buoy at a rope distance of a minimum of 3.5 metres. The anchoring blocks weigh 700 kg on land and the anchoring chain is 20 mm thick.

DIVING

In Dalmatia it is the Zadar area which is richest in islands and the advantage of this type of aquatorium is that regardless of weather conditions a location well protected from winds and waves can be found for safe diving. Waters around the island of Pag conceal a considerable number of shipwrecks, but at greater depths (over 40m), which are inaccessible for diving using compressed air, but which are now accessible for divers able to use gas mixtures for deep sea diving (technical diving). However, this form of diving demands a great deal of experience, training and professionalism, and only a relatively small number of divers engage in it. Apart from its complexity, the cost of the gas preparation needed for diving at great depths is still beyond the reach of the wider diving population. Consequently, the expansion of diving tourism and its supply continues to crucially depend on the accessibility of locations not exceeding 40 m in depth (optimum depth for diving using compressed air).

The specific quality of the Zadar area lies in the beauty of its archipelago and its waters, which possess a wealth of walls, reefs and caves, often teeming with fish, particularly in the geological zone of the outer wall of the Kornati - a separate geological structure with a rich biological community named after the outer (western) side of the Kornati belt. Research has, however, found that it is a part of a single entity which extends northwards, across Dugi otok. Countless inclines, underwater crevasses, caves and the exceptional visibility of the submarine world of this area constitute an attraction of the Adriatic which has still not been fully realized. It must be pointed out, though, that many locations require either personal experience or supervision by an experienced guide from a diving centre, in other words the most attractive locations are often not suitable for solo diving by beginners. It happens quite frequently that divers, fresh from a diving course, drawn by the beauty and clarity of sea, exceed the limit of 20 m of depth, thereby exposing themselves to unnecessary risks.

RAFTING

The Zrmanja River with its shallow tributary Krupa is one of our loveliest rivers. The green of the river combined with the sheer cliff faces of the canyon, the exciting rapids and "Veliki buk", a 13 m impassable waterfall, are breathtaking. The usual rafting course begins at kaštela Zegarsak and goes down to Muskovac. The course from Ervenik to Kastel Zegarski is one of the best in this part of the world belonging to the 4-5th category. The rafting season on the Zrmanja River, due to the vicinity of the sea, opens early in March. At that time, the Zrmanja is a true rafting river, measuring up to any of the world's best rafting rivers.

It is however most attractive in April and throughout the whole of May when the canyon walls turn into flower beds. There is ample water then and the weather, as a rule, is nice and warm. As summer approaches, rafting gives way to wonderful trips into nature with an unforgettable swim on "Veliki buk" after which one can go and enjoy the landscape scenery of the well known Winnetou movies. At the beginning of August rafting slowly comes to a halt only to restart in the fall after the rains have filled the "Zrmanja vrelo" (Zrmanja spring).

Extreme rafting: Rafting on the Zrmanja River is best after heavy rains and snowmelts. If the weather forecast is attentively paid attention to, it is possible to experience rafting of the 5th category, even in Croatia. The Zrmanja is best suited for this.

Information:
Huck Finn
Grada Vukovara 271
HR-10000 Zagreb
Tel. 01/618 33 33
Fax 01/618 33 35
E-mail: huckfinn@hinet.hr

Web: www.riverfree.hr

Foris Adventures
Tel. 01/304 11 34
Fax 01/304 11 36
Web: www.rafting.com.hr

SPORT FISHING

Fishing permits:

• 60 Kuna one day permit
• 150 Kuna three day permit
• 250 Kuna seven day permit
• 500 Kuna thirty day permit

Fishing permits can be purchased at local Angler's Associations and Tourist offices.