Diving Michelangelo Wreck (Veli Rat)

Site Overview

Michelangelo Wreck (Veli Rat) is a wreck dive site in Northern Dalmatia - Zadar & Kornati, Croatia, set in the clear, fish-rich waters of the Adriatic Sea. The Michelangelo is a cargo ship sunk in 1943 off Veli Rat on Dugi Otok, lying at 25-40 m as a classic Adriatic wreck. The hull is now home to groupers and amberjacks, with sponges covering the structure. Its depth makes it an Advanced dive, but it is more accessible than the deepest wrecks. Visibility is usually excellent, showing the wreck clearly. The short boat ride from Bozava keeps it a convenient day dive. It is a flagship wreck of the northern Dalmatian islands. Conditions are typical of the Croatian coast: visibility generally runs from 18 to 38 metres, the current is low and the water temperature ranges between 14 and 25 degrees Celsius depending on season and depth. The marine life is classic Adriatic, centred on dusky grouper, greater amberjack, loggerhead sponge, with the full community described below for those planning a dive. Because of its advanced rating and the need for Advanced Open Water certification, Michelangelo Wreck (Veli Rat) is best approached with the right thermal protection and, where relevant, wreck or deep training. It is a representative example of why Croatian diving, with its wrecks, walls, caves and gorgonian forests, attracts divers who want history and Mediterranean life in equal measure.