Diving Plitvice Lakes National Park

Site Overview

Plitvice Lakes National Park is a protected park dive site in Inland Freshwater Sites, Croatia, set in the clear, fish-rich waters of the Adriatic Sea. Plitvice Lakes is Croatia’s most famous national park, a chain of terraced lakes linked by travertine waterfalls. Diving is strictly prohibited throughout the park to protect the fragile travertine ecosystem and water clarity. It is documented here as a conservation case study rather than a dive site. Visitors experience the lakes from the boardwalks and marked trails only. The park is a UNESCO World Heritage site of enormous ecological value. It stands as an example of how protecting a place can matter more than diving it. Conditions are typical of the Croatian coast: visibility generally runs from 3 to 12 metres, the current is moderate and the water temperature ranges between 6 and 16 degrees Celsius depending on season and depth. The marine life is classic Adriatic, centred on brown trout, common carp, european chub, with the full community described below for those planning a dive. Because of its restricted rating and the need for Diving prohibited certification, Plitvice Lakes National Park 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.