Kornati Islands · Croatia · Wall
Smokvica Vela Wall
A wall from 15 m to 65 m below a beginner-friendly plateau
Photo: nikola_pu · CC BY-SA 3.0
Smokvica Vela is one of the Kornati islands, and the site named for its wall is exactly that: a face that starts at about 15 m where a large plateau ends and falls to 60-65 m. The upper plateau is published as suitable for beginners, the wall itself as advanced ground, and the currents here can sometimes be quite strong.
Also known as Smokvica Vela.
Where it is and how deep
43.7272° N, 15.4759° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The dive starts on the large plateau off the island, shallow open ground and the part of the site that suits less experienced divers. The wall begins where the plateau ends, at about 15 m, and from there it is a vertical face with nothing under it: the foot is at 60 to 65 m, well below anything a recreational plan reaches. You dive it by choosing a depth on the surface and holding that line along the rock.
How far down you go is settled in the briefing rather than on the wall, because there is no bottom to stop you and nothing published marks a working depth on the face. Current is the other variable and it can sometimes be quite strong, which is why the wall is reserved for advanced categories while the plateau above stays open to everyone. Work the face in one direction, turn on gas or time, and come back over the plateau to finish the dive shallow.
Marine life and season
The sources we used don't single out particular species here.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Off-season | Off-season | Fair | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Fair | Off-season |
Season follows Kornati Islands: The park licenses diving Apr–Oct, warmest Jul–Sep; the bura wind closes the exposed outer walls at short notice.
Know before you go
- The current can sometimes be quite strong on this wall, so check the flow from the boat before you commit and start the dive swimming into it.
- There is no depth reference between the top of the wall at 15 m and its foot at 60-65 m, so set a maximum before descending and hold it.
Photos from Smokvica Vela Wall
Arnoldius · CC BY-SA 3.0
nikola_pu · CC BY-SA 3.0
nikola_pu · CC BY-SA 3.0
Questions divers ask
How deep is the wall at Smokvica Vela?+
The wall starts at about 15 m where the plateau ends and falls to 60-65 m. Recreational dives work the upper part of the face; the foot of the wall is far below any recreational plan, and no working depth for the site is published.
Is Smokvica Vela suitable for beginners?+
The upper part of the large plateau is described as suitable for beginners. The wall itself is reserved for advanced categories, and the current can sometimes be quite strong, which affects who can dive it on a given day.
Sources
- Smokvica vela - Wall (dive site) — Scubago / SSI MyDiveGuide
- Kornati — Wikipedia
- Smokvica Vela, Kornati (OpenStreetMap) — OpenStreetMap
- Diving and snorkelling - Kornati National Park — Kornati National Park (official)
Photo credits
- Smokvica Vela's rocky point and lighthouse above clear turquoise shallows. by nikola_pu, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- The lighthouse on Smokvica Vela, seen across the water from offshore. by Arnoldius, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- A traditional gaff-rigged boat moored in the small harbor below Smokvica Vela's stone houses. by nikola_pu, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Stone houses and moored fishing boats in Smokvica Vela's sheltered cove. by nikola_pu, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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