July the 22nd, 2025 – Scientists still don’t know all that much about the deepest point in Croatian waters, which many think of as being entirely calm and shallow, but it isn’t quite true.
As Putni kofer writes, the Adriatic Sea is one of the most beautiful and cleanest seas in Europe and the world. The transparent aquamarine hues that form into waves and gently lap the rocky Croatian coast attract millions of visitors every year. What makes it more magical still is that almost every single little cove, bay or tiny island has its own story.
With over 1000 islands, islets and reefs, the Adriatic is the true, eternal gem of Croatian tourism, as well as a complex natural system teeming with rich biodiversity and a fascinating underwater world. The deepest point of the Adriatic Sea is located within Croatian territorial waters, and scientists still don’t know all there is to know about it. Although Croatian waters seem completely tame at first glance, especially in the north where the sea is relatively shallow, as we descend further towards the south, the seabed becomes increasingly dramatic and hides surprising depths.
The deepest part of the Adriatic Sea lies in Croatian territorial waters and is known as the South Adriatic Basin. This sea basin extends southeast from the island of Vis towards Palagruža and then towards the neighbouring Italian coast. It’s precisely in the Croatian part of this basin, just south of Palagruža, that the deepest officially recorded point of the Adriatic Sea within Croatian territorial waters is located. It reaches a dizzying depth of 1,233 metres in total.
This depth is located within the boundaries that are defined as being within Croatian territorial waters. Although most people will never dive to even a fraction of that depth, the knowledge of the existence of such an underwater abyss awakens the imagination and raises the question: What’s actually hidden down there? It turns out – not even scientists are quite certain.
Depths like this are not common in the Adriatic Sea. In the northern and central Adriatic, the sea is mostly shallow, with average depths of a mere 40 to 100 metres, while only the southern part shows significant geological differences. The South Adriatic Basin is actually the only truly “oceanic” part of Croatian waters, in terms of depth and seabed that increasingly approaches the deeper Mediterranean basin from that point on.
It’s in these still insufficiently explored depths that rare life forms, unique geological layers and possible traces of past seismic activity lie hidden. For scientists, the deepest point in Croatian waters represents both a challenge and an opportunity. It’s a secret window into the underwater world that we have yet to truly get to know.
In the immediate vicinity of the deepest point in Croatian waters is the island of Palagruža, the most remote inhabited island in the country. It is located almost exactly halfway between Croatia and Italy. It has always been a mythical place for all sailors, lovers of the sea and keen researchers.
The Palagruža archipelago otherwise consists of a dozen islands and islets, the nearest inhabited island is Lastovo, and it formally belongs to the municipality of Komiža on the island of Vis. This archipelago is truly a special place, it’s very difficult to reach, but it rewards those who do manage to visit it with incredible experiences and memorable scenes.
As for the depths that lie below this area, we’re yet to find out just what they’re hiding. Perhaps we never really will.
