Snorkelling and diving from a charter boat in Croatia
Croatia: snorkel and dive sites by boat, park fees, anchoring rules, sea temperature by month (NOAA) and wetsuit advice. Sourced.
Sea temperature
13.3–24.6 °C
February to August, NOAA 1991–2020
Source: NOAA PSL (NOAA/NCEI OISST v2.1), checked
Warm water (≥24 °C)
July and August
Our threshold on NOAA means
Park fee
€50
Kornati ticket, 1 day, boat 11–17.99 m, bought before entering
Source: Kornati National Park (JU NP Kornati), checked
Checked
28 Oct 2026
5 official, 0 secondary
Yes: in Kornati National Park snorkelling needs no permit, but scuba diving there is only allowed in groups run by a dive centre under contract with the park, and every boat pays a park ticket (€50 a day for an 11–17.99 m boat from October to May and €95 from June to September, bought before entering). The sea averages 13.3 °C in February and 24.6 °C in August (NOAA, 1991–2020 mean at our reference point); by our rule of thumb July and August are the months at 24 °C or more, when a 3 mm shorty is enough, while February calls for a 7 mm wetsuit, or a drysuit for diving.
Checked 28 Oct 2026 against 5 official and 0 secondary sources; sea temperature from NOAA (sources). Anything we could not confirm is labelled (how to read the labels). Park rules change: check before you go.
Snorkel and dive sites you can reach by charter boat in Croatia
| Site | Type | Where | What the source says |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kornati National Park | national park | Kornati islands, between Zadar and Šibenik | Snorkelling needs no special permit. Scuba diving is allowed in nine zones: Kornat (Opat–Tanka Prisliga), Samograd, Oključ, Mala Panitula, Vela Panitula, Rašip, Kasela, Mana and Borovnik. (Kornati National Park (JU NP Kornati)) Every vessel pays a park ticket by length and season; it costs more if bought inside the park (see the fees table). (Kornati National Park (JU NP Kornati)) |
| Telašćica Nature Park | nature park | Dugi Otok, north-west of Kornati | Kornati and Telašćica sell a joint 3-day ticket per vessel, only through the mySea portal. (Kornati National Park (JU NP Kornati)) [Not verified] Telašćica's own snorkelling and diving rules: not verified (we did not open the nature park's pages). |
These are the sites we could document from official or labelled sources, not a full list. Fishing is a separate question: fishing rules in Croatia.
Sea temperature in Croatia by month
The sea is warmest in August (24.6 °C) and coolest in February (13.3 °C). ● marks our warm-water months (24 °C or more): July and August.
| Month | Sea surface (NOAA) | Air (NASA POWER) | Our wetsuit rule of thumb | Catamaran, avg per week (12 Knots) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 14.1 °C | 7.5 °C | 7 mm wetsuit, or a drysuit for diving | €3,806 |
| February | 13.3 °C | 8.9 °C | 7 mm wetsuit, or a drysuit for diving | €3,801 |
| March | 13.5 °C | 10.4 °C | 7 mm wetsuit, or a drysuit for diving | €3,558 |
| April | 14.8 °C | 13.5 °C | 7 mm wetsuit, or a drysuit for diving | €3,568 |
| May | 17.9 °C | 17.6 °C | 7 mm wetsuit, or a drysuit for diving | €5,309 |
| June | 21.8 °C | 23.1 °C | 3 mm full wetsuit | €7,990 |
| July | 24.0 °C ● | 25.9 °C | 3 mm shorty | €9,324 |
| August | 24.6 °C ● | 26.1 °C | 3 mm shorty | €8,874 |
| September | 22.8 °C | 21.6 °C | 3 mm full wetsuit | €6,685 |
| October | 20.8 °C | 17.3 °C | 5 mm full wetsuit | €3,957 |
| November | 18.6 °C | 13.1 °C | 5 mm full wetsuit | €3,969 |
| December | 16.1 °C | 9.5 °C | 7 mm wetsuit, or a drysuit for diving | €4,037 |
Of the months at 24 °C or more, the cheapest on 12 Knots' average weekly catamaran price is August at €8,874 per week (12 Knots, checked 27 Oct 2026), with the sea at 24.6 °C (our comparison).
Sea surface: NOAA OISST v2.1 1991–2020 monthly mean for the 1/4° cell centred on 43.375° N, 16.375° E (Split Channel, between Brač and Šolta) (NOAA PSL (NOAA/NCEI OISST v2.1), checked 28 Oct 2026); the sites above may be warmer or cooler, and shallow bays warm up faster. Air: our 10-year NASA POWER mean at Split (NASA POWER, checked 28 Oct 2026). Prices are asking prices that mix bareboat and crewed listings.
Mooring, anchoring and park rules for your boat
- Kornati: anchoring and overnight stays are allowed only in the coves the park lists (about 20, including Stiniva, Statival, Lupeška, Šipnate, Lučica, Gujak, Opat and Lavsa). Boats may sail anywhere in the park except the strict protection zones, which visitors may not enter. (Kornati National Park (JU NP Kornati))
- Kornati: during a dive nothing may be touched or taken from the sea (except litter), marine life must not be disturbed, night diving from 19:00 to 07:00 is not allowed, and the maximum depth is 40 m. (Kornati National Park (JU NP Kornati))
Can I scuba dive from the boat? Permits and dive centres
- Kornati: scuba diving only in organised, approved groups run by a registered organiser under contract with the park; individual diving is not allowed. The park lists seven contracted dive centres for 2026. (Kornati National Park (JU NP Kornati))
- Anywhere in Croatia, diving on your own needs an authorisation from a Harbourmaster's Office (€318.53, valid one year); organised diving is allowed for members of diving centres and associations. The diver must check the zones closed to individual diving, set by an ordinance. (gov.hr (Croatian government portal))
- Mark the dive: an orange or red buoy of at least 30 cm in the centre of the dive area, or flag A or a diver-down flag shown on the boat; at night the buoy needs a yellow or white strobe. (gov.hr (Croatian government portal))
Park and mooring fees
| Fee | Amount | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kornati ticket, 1 day, boat 11–17.99 m, bought before entering | €50 (Jan–May, Oct–Dec) · €95 (Jun–Sep) (Per vessel, not per person.) | official | Kornati National Park (JU NP Kornati) |
| Kornati ticket, 1 day, boat 11–17.99 m, bought inside the park | €95 (Jan–May, Oct–Dec) · €190 (Jun–Sep) | official | Kornati National Park (JU NP Kornati) |
| Kornati ticket, 1 day, boat 7–10.99 m, bought before entering | €30 (Jan–May, Oct–Dec) · €65 (Jun–Sep) | official | Kornati National Park (JU NP Kornati) |
| Kornati ticket, 3 days, boat 11–17.99 m, bought before entering | €95 (Jan–May, Oct–Dec) · €190 (Jun–Sep) | official | Kornati National Park (JU NP Kornati) |
| Joint Kornati + Telašćica ticket, 3 days, boat 11–17.99 m (mySea portal only) | €150 (Jan–May, Oct–Dec) · €300 (Jun–Sep) | official | Kornati National Park (JU NP Kornati) |
| Kornati diving visit, charged to the dive organiser | €15 per diver per day, plus €7 per visitor on a diving visit | official | Kornati National Park (JU NP Kornati) |
| Croatian individual diving authorisation (Harbourmaster's Office) | €318.53, valid one year (For diving on your own; gov.hr describes organised diving through diving centres and associations separately.) | official | gov.hr (Croatian government portal) |
Underwater visibility
[Not verified] We found no official or survey source for underwater visibility, so we give no figure. Ask the local dive centre on the day.
What wetsuit do I need in Croatia?
From August's 24.6 °C our rule of thumb gives a 3 mm shorty; in February (13.3 °C) a 7 mm wetsuit, or a drysuit for diving. The month-by-month column is in the table above.
Our rule of thumb for snorkelling, applied to the monthly mean: 28 °C or more: swimsuit or rash vest; 26–28 °C: rash vest or 1–2 mm shorty; 24–26 °C: 3 mm shorty; 21–24 °C: 3 mm full wetsuit; 18–21 °C: 5 mm full wetsuit; below 18 °C: 7 mm wetsuit, or a drysuit for diving. Divers lose heat faster and meet cooler water at depth: go one band thicker. People feel cold differently; this is a guide, not a source's advice.
| Mean sea temperature | Our rule of thumb for snorkelling |
|---|---|
| 28 °C or more | swimsuit or rash vest |
| 26–28 °C | rash vest or 1–2 mm shorty |
| 24–26 °C | 3 mm shorty |
| 21–24 °C | 3 mm full wetsuit |
| 18–21 °C | 5 mm full wetsuit |
| Below 18 °C | 7 mm wetsuit, or a drysuit for diving |
See boats in Croatia
See catamarans for rent in Croatia on SamBoat
Check the park rules above and the boat's own kit (snorkel gear, dinghy, dive-ladder) with the operator before you book; listings and prices on SamBoat are SamBoat's own. We may earn a commission if you book through our links, at no extra cost to you (disclosure).
What we could not verify
- The list of zones closed to individual diving (the ordinance itself was not read).
- Snorkelling and diving rules in Telašćica, Mljet and Brijuni.
- Kornati mooring buoy prices and locations (the park has a separate buoy page we did not read).
- Underwater visibility.
How to read the labels
- [Secondary source]: From a newspaper, NGO, guide or tour operator; not official.
- [Not verified]: We could not confirm it. We leave it open rather than guess.
- No label: Read in an official text: government, park authority, ministry or official tourism board.
Sea temperatures are NOAA's; the wetsuit column, the 24 °C warm-water mark and any sum or comparison are ours and say so. Park rules change and some are seasonal: check with the park, your charter base or a local dive centre before you go.
Sources
- Kornati National Park (JU NP Kornati): Ronjenje i snorkeling (diving and snorkelling) (official), checked 28 Oct 2026.
- Kornati National Park (JU NP Kornati): Pravila ponašanja (rules of conduct) (official), checked 28 Oct 2026.
- Kornati National Park (JU NP Kornati): Cjenik naknada i usluga za 2026. godinu (2026 price list) (official), checked 28 Oct 2026.
- gov.hr (Croatian government portal): Diving (official), checked 28 Oct 2026.
- NOAA PSL (NOAA/NCEI OISST v2.1): NOAA High-resolution Blended Analysis: OISST v2.1 long-term mean monthly sea surface temperature, 1991–2020 (sst.mon.ltm.1991-2020.nc) (official), checked 28 Oct 2026.
- NASA POWER: Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resources: Monthly API (T2M, WS10M) (official), air temperature, pulled 28 Oct 2026.
- 12 Knots: Catamaran charter in Croatia (secondary, prices), checked 27 Oct 2026.
Method: methodology. Data: JSON.
More on Croatia
Frequently asked questions
Can you snorkel and dive from a charter boat in Croatia?
Yes: in Kornati National Park snorkelling needs no permit, but scuba diving there is only allowed in groups run by a dive centre under contract with the park, and every boat pays a park ticket (€50 a day for an 11–17.99 m boat from October to May and €95 from June to September, bought before entering). The sea averages 13.3 °C in February and 24.6 °C in August (NOAA, 1991–2020 mean at our reference point); by our rule of thumb July and August are the months at 24 °C or more, when a 3 mm shorty is enough, while February calls for a 7 mm wetsuit, or a drysuit for diving.
How warm is the sea in Croatia?
By NOAA's 1991–2020 averages at our reference point (Split Channel, between Brač and Šolta), the sea surface is warmest in August at 24.6 °C and coolest in February at 13.3 °C. Months at 24 °C or more: July and August.
Do I need a wetsuit to snorkel in Croatia?
By our rule of thumb (not a source's advice): a 3 mm shorty in August and a 7 mm wetsuit, or a drysuit for diving in February; divers should go one band thicker.
Do I need a dive centre to scuba dive in Croatia?
Kornati: scuba diving only in organised, approved groups run by a registered organiser under contract with the park; individual diving is not allowed. The park lists seven contracted dive centres for 2026. Anywhere in Croatia, diving on your own needs an authorisation from a Harbourmaster's Office (€318.53, valid one year); organised diving is allowed for members of diving centres and associations. The diver must check the zones closed to individual diving, set by an ordinance. Mark the dive: an orange or red buoy of at least 30 cm in the centre of the dive area, or flag A or a diver-down flag shown on the boat; at night the buoy needs a yellow or white strobe.
Are there park fees or mooring rules for boats in Croatia?
Kornati: anchoring and overnight stays are allowed only in the coves the park lists (about 20, including Stiniva, Statival, Lupeška, Šipnate, Lučica, Gujak, Opat and Lavsa). Boats may sail anywhere in the park except the strict protection zones, which visitors may not enter. Kornati: during a dive nothing may be touched or taken from the sea (except litter), marine life must not be disturbed, night diving from 19:00 to 07:00 is not allowed, and the maximum depth is 40 m. Fees: Kornati ticket, 1 day, boat 11–17.99 m, bought before entering: €50 (Jan–May, Oct–Dec) · €95 (Jun–Sep). Kornati ticket, 1 day, boat 11–17.99 m, bought inside the park: €95 (Jan–May, Oct–Dec) · €190 (Jun–Sep). Kornati ticket, 1 day, boat 7–10.99 m, bought before entering: €30 (Jan–May, Oct–Dec) · €65 (Jun–Sep).