Baron Gautsch
Istria · Croatia
The Baron Gautsch was an Austrian passenger steamship sunk in 1914 after striking a naval mine, taking over 200 lives — she now rests at 28 to 42 metres and is considered one of the finest wreck dives in the entire Adriatic. The ship sits upright and largely intact; penetration divers can explore the promenade deck, cargo holds, and engine room while schools of bream and conger eels have colonised every iron recess. Ochre-orange sponges and purple sea fans soften the rusting superstructure into a living reef.
Conditions
Depth
28 to 42 m
Advanced depths
Current
Usually still
Can pick up on the edge
Visibility
10 to 20 m
Clearest in the calm season
Water
9 to 27°C
3mm wetsuit
Month by month
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water (°C) | 10 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 15 | 20 | 23 | 24 | 22 | 18 | 14 | 11 |
| Vis (m) | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 10 | 10 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 |
| Current | Still | Still | Still | Still | Gentle | Gentle | Still | Still | Gentle | Gentle | Still | Still |
Your chances of seeing each animal
Common Wall Lizard
Last confirmed Jul 7, 2026 · 149 records
Almost always
Nearly every dive
Italian Wall Lizard
Last confirmed Jul 8, 2026 · 122 records
Almost always
Nearly every dive
Marbled Crab
Last confirmed Jun 29, 2026 · 84 records
Almost always
Nearly every dive
Warty Crab
Last confirmed Jun 23, 2026 · 64 records
Almost always
Nearly every dive
Gilthead sea bream
Last confirmed Sep 21, 2025 · 23 records
Very likely
Most dives
Conger eel
Last confirmed Jun 6, 2026 · 8 records
Very likely
Most dives
Octopus
Last confirmed Feb 19, 2026 · 5 records
Very likely
Most dives
Dentex
Last confirmed Sep 21, 2025 · 4 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Gear