Hippocampus Diving Center

Hippocampus Diving Center is situated within the Stoja campsite in Pula, set against a backdrop of lush pine forests and a nearby pebble beach. This location provides a convenient and scenic base for exploring the diverse marine environments of the Istrian peninsula.

The centre is well-positioned to take you to the protected waters of the Brijuni National Park, where the marine life is particularly abundant. Whether you are looking for shallow reef explorations or deeper historical wrecks, the proximity to these sites makes for efficient and rewarding dive days.

The centre operates as a dedicated family business, founded in 2006 by Robi, a CMAS two-star instructor. The team is comprised of professional staff including Maja, an assistant instructor, and Evelyn, who manages the logistics on-site.

During the summer season, the team expands to include two certified instructors and a Dive Master to support the increased number of divers. The staff is experienced in providing high-quality instruction and maintains a strong focus on dive preparation and safety protocols.

Communication is straightforward for international visitors, as the team is proficient in English, Croatian, German, and Italian.

Hippocampus Diving Center provides a comprehensive range of training through SSI, CMAS, PADI, and NAUI affiliations. Beginners can start with Try Scuba Diving or progress through the Scuba Diver and Open Water Diver courses.

For those looking to advance their skills, the centre offers Advanced Adventurer, Advanced Open Water Diver, and various specialty courses. These include PADI and SSI specialties such as Wreck Diving, Deep Diving, Navigation, Perfect Buoyancy, Night Diving & Limited Visibility, and Diver Stress & Rescue.

The training programme extends to professional levels, including Dive Guide and Master Diver certifications.

The centre utilises a Zodiac for excursions, providing a reliable platform for reaching the various dive sites around the Pula coast and the Brijuni islands.

Full equipment hire is available on-site, including wetsuits, regulators, BCDs, cylinders, and computers. For those planning night dives, torches are also provided.

Enriched Air Nitrox is available for divers looking to extend their bottom time or manage their nitrogen loading more effectively.

The marine life around Pula is diverse, with the protected waters of the Brijuni National Park hosting significant populations of fish, including dentex, sea bream (Sparidae), and various species of scorpionfish. You will often find large schools of fish hunting in the blue, alongside rays and various crabs (Brachyura).

Macro enthusiasts will find plenty to observe among the rocks and crevices. The area is home to nudibranchs, lobsters (Homaridae), eels (Anguilliformes), and sea catfish. During the spring and autumn, you may also encounter seahorses in the local waters.

The reef and wreck environments are frequently inhabited by lobster (Homaridae), crabs (Brachyura), and various species of eel (Anguilliformes), providing excellent opportunities for close-up observation.

The diving environment varies from shallow, sheltered coastal sites like Stoja to deeper wreck sites in the open sea. Many of the reef and canyon sites offer interesting topography, including tunnels and caves, which can be explored at various depths depending on your certification level.