Ursus Wreck

A 35 m armed Italian tug that was towing a gun pontoon towards Albania when the British submarine Rorqual shelled her off the north-east coast of Vis in early 1941. A hit to the ammunition sent her quickly to the bottom; the hull, interior and armament are well preserved and the impact holes are easy to see. She lies at 45–66 m in open water.

Facts

• Region: Adriatic – Dalmatia
• Area: Vis & Biševo
• Depth: 45–66 m
• Level: advanced
• Current: strong
• Type: wreck
• Coordinates: 43.06384, 16.26385
• Highlights: armed WWII tugboat, visible shell impacts, open-sea currents
• Permit: Protected cultural good: may only be dived with a dive centre holding a Ministry of Culture and Media permit for this zone under the 2024–2029 underwater-activities programme; individual diving is not allowed and groups are limited to 15 divers per guide. Part of the Vis–Biševo protected zone; Entering parts of the wreck without natural light is prohibited. Check current rules. (Source: Ministry of Culture programme 2024–2029)
• Issuer / contact: Ministry of Culture and Media of Croatia (Directorate for the Protection of Cultural Heritage / competent conservation department)
  • Phone: +385 1 4866 200
  • Website: https://www.gov.hr/hr/ronjenje-na-kulturnim-dobrima/1556
• Tips: Only for experienced technical divers who can cope with strong currents in open sea.

Sources

• https://scubadiving.hr/diving-locations/ursus/
• https://diving-croatia.hr/diving-locations-komiza-vis/ursus-wreck/
• https://min-kulture.gov.hr/program-obavljanja-podvodnih-aktivnosti-u-unutarnjim-morskim-vodama-i-teritorijalnom-moru-republike-hrvatske-u-podrucjima-gdje-se-nalazi-kulturno-dobro-za-2024-2029-godinu/25860
• https://www.gov.hr/hr/ronjenje-na-kulturnim-dobrima/1556