Vranjak I, a steel Adriatic liveaboard built around diving

Vranjak I is for divers who want Croatia arranged around the dive plan, not added to a sightseeing cruise. The boat reaches wrecks, walls, caverns and reefs along the Adriatic, while its compressors, technical gases and tank options support more than straightforward air diving. A Vis Tour runs from Ugljan to Ugljan over 8 days and 7 nights, and other routes can be arranged for groups or full charters. The strongest reason to choose this boat is its range: recreational divers can stay within the standard programme, while experienced wreck and technical divers have a platform for advanced nitrox, trimix and CCR work. The route is discussed with the captain and dive guide at the start, then adjusted to weather and the group’s experience. That makes Vranjak I a practical choice for divers who care more about access and diving logistics than polished resort style.

From the dock, Vranjak I presents as a working steel vessel rather than a converted yacht. It was built specifically for divers, and that purpose shows in the way the main deck is organised around the dive area, platform, saloon and bar. Equipment has somewhere to live, divers can move from cabin to dive deck without crossing a hotel-style interior, and the tender supports operations away from the boat. The upper deck adds cabins and an open sun area, while the saloon gives the group an air-conditioned place to gather. The boat also runs ordinary cruising and biking trips on request, but its character is clearest when cylinders are being prepared and the dive platform is in use. This is a solid, practical Adriatic base for a week of diving.

Vranjak I feels more like a small working expedition than a hotel with a dive centre attached. The captain and dive guide discuss the possible sites with the group on the first day, then balance weather, training levels and the route’s demands. English and German are spoken on board. With up to 20 guests and a guide ratio of 10 to 1, the group is large enough to become sociable without losing the practical focus of the trip. Evenings are spent in the saloon, at the bar or on deck after dinner, usually with the next day’s wrecks, walls or weather forming the conversation. The crew’s value is clearest when conditions force a change: the route is not treated as fixed if the sea makes another plan safer or more worthwhile.

Dive groups are organised around a maximum guide-to-diver ratio of 10 to 1, with the captain and dive guide reviewing possible sites at the start of the cruise. Guests must hold AOWD or an equivalent certification and have at least 40 logged dives. Vranjak I supports recreational diving as well as advanced nitrox, trimix, technical and rebreather work, and courses can be arranged on board in subjects including nitrox, advanced nitrox, deep wreck, twinset, sidemount and CCR diving. English and German are spoken. Oxygen and first-aid equipment are carried for boat safety. On deeper wrecks, the required decompression stage and gas plan are part of the dive design, not an afterthought. The boat is best suited to divers who arrive with their certification limits, recent experience and equipment plan already clear.

The dive deck is the boat’s strongest practical feature, with dedicated diving seats, equipment boxes and a proper platform for water entry. The standard cylinders are 12-litre steel tanks with double DIN valves. Fifteen-litre steel tanks, 11-litre aluminium cylinders, aluminium twinsets and other technical configurations are available, with 15-litre tanks rented separately. DIN adapters are carried for yoke regulators. Three Bauer compressors support filling, and the boat has membrane nitrox capability plus helium and oxygen for advanced nitrox and trimix. Nitrox and technical gases are charged separately. The 5.3 m Arimar tender carries divers to sites away from the hull and collects them after the dive. Rental equipment is available at extra cost. The setup suits both ordinary scuba diving and planned technical work, provided the gas plan is agreed before the dive.

The quiet hours are divided between the shaded part of the sun deck, its loungers, and the air-conditioned saloon with television and an entertainment area. The saloon is also the natural place to cool down after a dive, dry off and talk through what was seen before the next briefing. When Vranjak I is in port, guests can step ashore in Dalmatian towns; when the route reaches Kornati, the boat may stay in the area for several days and use ports such as Sali for overnight stops. Non-divers can swim and sightsee while the dive programme runs. The boat also operates ordinary cruising trips, so the space works for mixed groups, but divers remain at the centre of the daily layout.

The week begins with arrival at the boat on Saturday, followed by dinner rather than lunch. On the following days, breakfast at 08:00 precedes the first part of the diving programme, lunch at 12:30 breaks the day, and dinner at 19:00 closes it. The included programme is two dives per day, with one night dive during the week. Between dives, the boat may be underway toward the next island or settled in a bay, port or protected area while guests use the saloon or sun deck. The captain and dive guide shape the next stops around weather and the group’s experience, so the route is a working plan rather than a rigid timetable. Friday night is spent back in Sukošan, ready for disembarkation after breakfast the next morning.

Full board follows a clear galley rhythm after the first Saturday, when only dinner is served. Breakfast lands at 08:00, lunch at 12:30, and dinner at 19:00. Lunch includes soup, a main course and salad; dinner includes a main course and salad, with desserts or cold side dishes appearing several times during the week. The cooking combines Western and local food rather than an à la carte menu. Gluten-free and non-lactose meals can be prepared when notified in advance, and the galley can cater for guests who do not eat fish or seafood. Vegetarian and vegan food is served as part of the main meal, not as a separate made-to-order menu. Water, tea and instant coffee are available, while alcoholic and other soft drinks are extra.

The 10 standard cabins are air-conditioned, set up with twin beds and fitted with a private shower and toilet. Six are on the lower deck, while four are on the upper deck, with access arrangements differing between the middle and stern cabins. Lower-deck cabins have sea-view windows that are kept closed, with fresh air supplied through the ventilation system. The cabins are built for two rather than for spreading out, so soft luggage works better than rigid cases. Between dives, the air-conditioned saloon is the indoor refuge; at night, the main sound is the boat and its systems rather than a shore-side hotel. Linen is provided. A single cabin may be possible if the boat is not sold out.

Vranjak I departs from Sukošan, 15 km south of Zadar, and returns there at the end of the cruise. The primary airport is Zadar, with Split as a secondary option; transfers from the airports are not included. Arrival is scheduled for Saturday at 13:00, with departure from Sukošan at 15:00, so arriving in the area the night before is the sensible choice.