8 Reasons You Should Never Swim in the Adriatic!

Sv. Ivan beach - Lubenice, Cres

​Warning: swim at your own risk when you travel to Croatia! These are the top hidden dangers you should watch out for when you head to the coast this summer. 

First, I’ll dive into a few unexpected dangers regarding secluded beaches, sea temperatures, water clarity, to name a few. Next, I'll address what most people are concerned about: sharks - are there any in the Adriatic?! Finally, I'll talk about those pesky sea urchins, and what to do in case you step on one!

Read on to find out more!

8 Hidden Dangers of Swimming in the Adriatic Sea!

Below are the dangers that take everyone by surprise each year. Stay alert, watch your step, watch who you sit next to on the beach and you should be just fine!

​1. Secluded Spots

Stiniva, Vis/Photo credit IG @morley7274

There are too many secluded spots around the islands so you might get lonely without the crowds. You can easily find hundreds of hidden coves and bays that are scattered off the coast, so this is a big danger and takes many by surprise each season.

To best explore these quiet coves and bays, take a private sailing or boating excursion for the day and discover the Adriatic as you please! 

2. Sea Temperatures

Veli Zal, Dugi Otok - Photo credit IG @ananovak__

The temperature can be too perfect, it’s almost not even refreshing during the summer. You’ll swim all day and your skin will be completely pruney - a real risk, especially for kids. It might take days for their wrinkly fingers to become smooth again. ​

3. Heartbreak

You might find some dolphin-friends that will eventually swim away, leaving you heartbroken. This usually happens if you take a sailing excursion (there are many dolphins in the Adriatic, and they love "playing" and swimming alongside boats). 

Many hearts have been left behind on our boating days after bonding with the dolphins for hours, only for them to swim off without so much as a good-bye. ​

4. Water Clarity

The Adriatic is so clear, you might see your dinner swim by, then you’ll be too sad to eat the incredibly fresh fish served for dinner. It’s happened to too many people, and local fishermen are scared of losing sales. 

Do them a favor and order a big platter of fish while dining out (eat with a blindfold if you must).

5. Pebbly or Rocky Beaches

Proizd Island -Photo credit IG @heja.mateja

Most beaches are pebbly/rocky, so you might miss the extra crunch from the sand in your sandwich at your beach picnic. To solve this problem, I usually bring a little sand in a plastic bag to sprinkle on my lunch - I love a little crunch in my ham & cheese … reminds me of beach days back home.

7. Vacation Planning Nightmare

Metajna, Pag - Photo credit IG @giuseppelongo2806

The Adriatic is so clean that you’ll be put off swimming in other bodies of water for life. This danger really caught me by surprise, but we just don’t want to swim anywhere else anymore. It's very tricky trying to convince ourselves to plan a beach vacation anywhere else. 

7. Shock

Sumartin, Brac - Photo credit IG @landscapes_nd_more

You might suffer from B.L.O. (beautiful-landscape-overload) and go into a state of shock. This tragedy takes hundreds by surprise every year. Croatia is working on a public-health campaign to warn tourists.

8. Watch Who's Sitting Near You

Pula, Istria - Photo credit IG @koloi_drone

The sunsets are a little bit too romantic. You might catch yourself falling in love with the anyone sitting within arm's reach. Seriously, be careful, or you might wind up living in Croatia, married to a Croatian, with 3 Croatian/Canadian kids... like me ;)  

There you have it - consider yourself warned. I know it might be difficult now to enjoy your vacation in Croatia with all of these hidden hazards in the back of your mind, but do your best and let me know how it goes.

​
​And now.... 

Sharks in Croatia

Everyone wonders about the presence of sharks in the Adriatic, but this is really a non-issue. According to the “Shark Research Institute,” over the last 150 years (which is when record-keeping of shark attacks began), there have only been 11 attacks leading to death in Croatia. ​

Photo credit IG @matt_mcgee_underwater

• The most recent deadly attack took place way back in 1974 near Omis. 

• The last known recorded attack (non-deadly) happened in 2008 near Vis Island. The victim was a Slovenian diver who was spearfishing and had tied some fish he had caught around his belt. The shark smelled the blood from the fish, and bit the divers leg (the diver was saved, and so was his leg!).  

The Adriatic Sea is still deemed extremely safe for swimming. There are only two dangerous species of shark (Mako and Great White), and attacks are incredibly rare.

Sea Urchins

Sea urchins can be found all over the Adriatic Coast and they look like little, black, spiky balls. They can be found at the bottom of the sea, around the rocks, and can be spotted along the beach. 

They’re more commonly found on natural/private beaches than public ones (since public beaches are often cleaned of these), however, even on public beaches, the odd one can be found. ​

Sea urchin in the Adriatic sea - Photo credit IG @mb78_marianna

​They’re pretty obvious to spot once you know what they look like, so do your best to avoid touching or stepping on them. If you do accidentally step on one, the spikes will prick you and stay in your skin, making it uncomfortable / painful to walk. 

​Stepping on a sea urchin is more of a nuisance than anything to be seriously worried about, so don’t panic if you do step on one, just follow the steps below:

​
​What to do if you step on a sea urchin?

• Try to remove it carefully if it’s still stuck in your foot (but try not to prick your hand while doing so)

• Clean the affected area

• Remove any spikes that can be reached with tweezers (some will be too deep to remove)

​

• Apply cream (Go to a nearby pharmacy and the pharmacist will give you a special cream that will help the spikes come out on their own. FYI, the cream smells TERRIBLE, but it helps!)

To prevent a sea urchin injury altogether, pick up a pair of water shoes. Yes, they’re ugly, but they’ll do wonders for protecting your feet! ​

Sea Urchins in the Adriatic sea -Photo credit IG @sofija_n

​A sea urchin is probably the ONLY actual danger you’ll encounter in the Adriatic, so relax, have fun and enjoy some of the most beautiful beaches in Europe! 

Check out our article on some of Croatia's best beaches here, and enjoy!

​Here are some emergency numbers in Croatia just in case you might need them for any reason throughout your vacation (most likely NOT due to any Adriatic dangers, though)!

Ihtamol cream helps that the spikes come out

​If you’re interested in reading a few of our other posts about Croatia:

• 25 Strange Things Croatians Do (And Would Never Do)!
• Croatian Culture, Etiquette & Social Norms: A Complete Guide!
• My Kids Don't Speak English: Raising Bilinguals is Tough!
• 15 Places in Croatia You've Probably Never Heard Of!
• 50 Insanely Spectacular Photos of Croatia: Start Packing!
• Croatia’s Best 20 Beaches: Sandy, Pebbly & Hidden Gems​
• Is Croatia Safe? Read Our 20 Useful Safety Tips for Tourists
• 5 Reasons Croatian Grannies are Cuter than Kittens
• Top 10 Day Trips From Zagreb, Within 1hr Drive
• ​Croatian Money: KN or EURO, Exchanging $, and Daily Costs
• How I Learned to Speak Croatian as an Adult (in 7 Steps)
• Driving in Croatia (A Helpful Guide With Practical Tips)
• 38 Local Tips & Mistakes to Avoid When Traveling to Croatia
• Travel to Croatia With a Toddler or Baby (From Experience!)
• Tipping in Croatia: A Complete Guide With Suggested Amounts!
• 20 Croatian Habits Everyone Should Adopt

Sarah Cosic
Royal Croatian Tours - Specializing in custom made, luxury trips throughout Croatia. We offer exclusive experiences all over the country, and we’re passionate about providing you exceptional service that goes above and beyond for your tailor made vacation! 

Send us an email or give us a call to start planning today!