Baron Gautsch - Wreck of a Passenger Ferry

Baron Gautsch - Wreck of a Passenger Ferry

The waters around Istria are shallower, of lesser clarity and visibility than elsewhere in the Adriatic Sea. However, they do abound in one of the most popular attractions in diving tourism - shipwrecks. Among the best known wrecks of the northern Adriatic is undoubtedly the passenger ship Baron Gautsch, lying immediately before Rovinj, a location where about ten diving centres are operating.

Baron Gautsch -Passenger Ferry

The Baron Gautsch was sunk in 1914 when it struck an underwater mine, taking with it 240 innocent lives to the bottom of the sea. It is located 6 nm SW of the lighthouse Sveti Ivan na pucini at a depth of from 28 to 40 m. This well-preserved wreck is among the most beautiful in the Adriatic and offers the unique possibility of exploring the ferry's interior. The lower sections of the ship have not yet been fully researched, but it is known that many divers illegally searching for precious items and souvenirs have significantly devastated the wreck.
Today, the remains of the Baron Gautsch are under the protection of the Ministry of Culture, and diving is possible only if organized by a licensed diving centre.
Necessary experience: experienced divers.