Diving Silba & Olib Islands

Site Overview

Silba & Olib Islands is a reef dive site in Northern Dalmatia - Zadar & Kornati, Croatia, set in the clear, fish-rich waters of the Adriatic Sea. The small islands of Silba and Olib offer calm, uncrowded reefs ideal for training and macro. The gentle slopes hold reef fish, octopus and nudibranchs. The tranquil setting makes for relaxed, low-pressure diving. Visibility is excellent, showing the small reefs clearly. It is a peaceful alternative to the busier Kornati and Zadar sites. It is a good base for building skills or a quiet fun dive. Conditions are typical of the Croatian coast: visibility generally runs from 15 to 35 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 two-banded seabream, common octopus, mediterranean nudibranch, with the full community described below for those planning a dive. Because of its beginner rating and the need for Open Water certification, Silba & Olib Islands 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.