Aqualis Dive Center

Aqualis Dive Center is situated in the Mala Garska bay on Hvar, providing direct access to the sea and the dive boats. Formerly operating as Viking Diving Center, the team has established itself as a mainstay in the local diving community, focusing on the diverse underwater topography of the Pakleni Islands.

The centre serves as a gateway to a wide variety of environments, from deep walls and rocky chimneys to sheltered lagoons and historic wrecks. With more than 15 sites accessible within 10 to 60 minutes by boat, the location is ideal for both structured training and exploratory diving.

Managed by Zsanett and Robert, the centre is run by a multilingual team of highly qualified instructors. They provide instruction through both PADI and SSI frameworks, catering to a range of experience levels.

Safety and professional standards are central to their operations, with strict protocols in place for equipment disinfection and group management. The centre is also equipped to facilitate diving for people with disabilities, ensuring inclusive access to the Adriatic's underwater environment.

The centre provides a comprehensive curriculum of PADI and SSI courses. Beginners can start with Discover Scuba Diving or progress through the Open Water Diver and Advanced Open Water Diver certifications.

Training is conducted with a focus on safety and skill mastery, suitable for those looking to build a foundation in the Adriatic or for experienced divers seeking new qualifications.

The fleet includes spacious semi-rigid boats and specially designed dive boats. These vessels are equipped with sun covers, a fridge, and onboard toilets to ensure comfort during excursions.

For those looking to relax between dives, the boats offer a comfortable platform for enjoying the Adriatic scenery. The transition from boat to water is designed to be straightforward, with direct access to the sea.

A full range of rental equipment is available on-site, including BCDs, regulators, wetsuits, fins, masks, and torches for night dives. Divers can also hire dive computers to manage their profiles.

The centre maintains high hygiene standards, with rigorous disinfection protocols for all rental kit. For those who prefer to use their own equipment, the option to purchase a personal mouthpiece is available.

The reefs and walls are vibrant with fixed life, including bright yellow gorgonians and orange and yellow sponges. You will find a variety of red algae and sponges decorating the rocky structures across the archipelago.

On the deeper walls and reefs, look for scorpionfish, moray eels, and various species of lobster. Large schools of jack and sea bream are frequently seen passing through the sites, while more elusive residents like the dusky moray or common moray may be found in the crevices.

Macro life and smaller inhabitants add detail to the dives, with octopus and yellow seahorses often found in the shallower areas. If you are exploring the sandy bottoms or crevices, keep an eye out for John Dory, forkbeard, and various species of eel.

Predatory species also frequent the area, including spotted dogfish and occasionally larger fish like carangue or sea bream. The presence of various crustaceans, such as lobster, makes for rewarding observation for those watching the reef edges.

Currents can be a significant factor at certain locations, most notably at Robert's Wall, which can make the dive feel more dynamic.

While many sites offer sheltered environments, divers should be prepared for the varying conditions found throughout the Pakleni Islands archipelago.