Nadiža under the Napoleon Bridge (Robidišče)
In the far west of Slovenia, near Robidišče, the torrential Nadiža river has dug a beautiful pool more than 100 m long and up to about 5 m deep beneath an old stone 'Napoleon' bridge – not to be confused with the better-known one over the Soča at Kobarid, about 11 km east. At low summer flow the water warms to around 20 °C and the current is weak, making it an easy, shallow dive. You swim upstream under the bridge to the head of the pool and return the same way, roughly 30 minutes. Fish are smaller than in the Soča or Idrijca but wait in the deepest spots; the gravel bottom is mostly bare, with many leaves in autumn.
Facts
- Region: Slovenia – Lakes, Rivers & Caves
- Area: Soča Valley (Bovec – Kobarid – Solkan)
- Depth: 0–5 m
- Level: beginner
- Current: low
- Type: drift, night
- Coordinates: 46.22923, 13.43944
- Highlights: old stone Napoleon Bridge, 100 m-long pool up to ~5 m deep, warm river water in summer (up to ~20 °C), fish lurking in the deepest parts
- Tips: Check the bank access before kitting up; the atlas suggests starting and ending at the lower (eastern) end of the pool from the right bank. The Nadiža rises fast after rain – dive only once flow has dropped. Parking right at the bridge is not allowed; the car park downstream is paid in summer. The atlas lists a small compressor at the Kobarid fire brigade.