Kvarner · Croatia · Wall · Reef
Selzine
Fields of blue gorgonians from 30 m on a wall dropping to 45 m
Area photo: Nem80 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Selzine is a wall dive off Cres that starts on a reef plateau and drops steeply to 45 m. From about 30 m the rock carries large fields of blue gorgonians, with red gorgonian patches among them and a rich variety of fish on the face. It is a deep dive for divers with deep training, and the gorgonian fields are the reason to go.
Where it is and how deep
44.9816° N, 14.4691° EPublished position for this site.
The dive
The dive usually begins on the reef plateau. Descend onto it from the boat, get your bearings, and follow the plateau to the point where it breaks and turns into the wall. The transition is the character of the site: a flat top and then a steep face falling away into blue water, with the best of the growth waiting below.
The wall slopes steeply down to a maximum of 45 m. From about 30 m the large fields of blue gorgonians begin, and red gorgonian patches sit among them, so the best of the growth is at the deep end of a recreational profile. Choose the depth you will work at before you go over the edge and hold it; there is more wall below than most divers have gas or no-decompression time for.
Fish diversity on the face is described as rich, so spend the middle of the dive along the wall at your planned depth, then work up the face and finish back on the plateau, which serves as the shallow stage for the ascent and the safety stop before you surface to the boat.
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 | Fair | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Fair | Off-season |
Season follows Kvarner: Peak season is May to September and conditions hold into October; from winter into early spring the bora churns the water and brings current, with the sea at 12–14 °C.
Know before you go
- Depth: the wall drops to 45 m and the gorgonian fields start at about 30 m, so the pull is downward. Set a hard floor before you leave the plateau.
Questions divers ask
How deep is Selzine?+
The dive starts on a plateau and the wall drops to 45 m. The blue gorgonian fields begin at about 30 m, so the site suits divers with deep training.
Sources
- Selzine — Scubago — Scubago
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