What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of travelling in Croatia? Let’s say it in three: 1, 2, 3… Swimming in the crystal-clear waters! And what better way to wrap up an active vacation like ours than by taking a relaxing snorkelling cruise from Split? One where you can chill on the board enjoying the views and then jump into an adventure (aka the water) from the deck to cool off and explore some underwater life? Sign me up!
There are many snorkelling cruises from Split to choose from. We picked “Blue Lagoon Boat Tour with Underwater Museum and Lunch Included” aka the one that looks like the pirate ship. And I believe we made a good choice. So to ease up the decision for you as well, this is going to be a bit of a review of a snorkelling cruise from Split to Blue Lagoon and Underwater Museum. We’ll talk about the good and the bad.
Location: Starts/Ends in Split
Cost: Have to purchase a ticket. Find prices and book the cruise here.
Note: You need to book in advance as the capacity on ship is limited.
Length: ~8h 30min
How to get there: The dock is in Split promenade, so walking or public transport if you are in Split.
Check out our full Croatia – Bosnia and Herzegovina itinerary
All On Board! Let’s Set Course to the Blue Lagoon, Croatia
On entering the pirate ship you have to make 2 choices. One is the meal you would like to have (fish, chicken or vegetarian). And the other one is where you’re going to sit.
On the second one you may not have that many options to choose from if you are on the end of the queue, so arriving at the last minute may not be your best move. I believe how enjoyable your snorkelling cruise from Split will be is based on what seat you get.
If you are on the sundeck – you’re having the time of your life. If you’re not (and you wanted to), you may get a bit grumpy. Although on hotter days the lover deck offers nice shade, so I can see why some people would choose that too.
We are lucky enough to snatch a seat on the sun deck, and with pirate music playing in the background the adventure can start.
The surroundings are stunning. While sailing away from the shore (same as when returning) you can see Split’s houses and many little sailboats and yachts docked near the shore. Further in the sea there are cliffs and islands. Some are more green-ish. Some look burnt out with naked trees bearing no leaves.
The sun is shining. The water in front of you is almost as blue as it gets (will get bluer). It’s very peaceful. Very chill. You can even see that some people, who probably had a late night, have fallen asleep in their sun chairs.
Snorkelling Stop 1 – The Warm Up
Time flies. And after some sightseeing and chilling in the sun the first snorkelling stop is announced. The snorkelling gear is provided in exchange to a monetary deposit or an ID. Don’t worry, those are returned to you in the end of the trip as long as you return the snorkel.
I call this a warm up spot as although it is beautiful – a blue water bay – there isn’t that much to it both above the water and below.
Nevertheless, although it’s not super hot, everyone is itching to jump in the clear blue water. It just looks… welcoming. And refreshing. And fun.
We dive in.
For me this is my first time snorkelling, so I feel ridiculously excited when I see my first marine creature. Guess what it is? A sea urchin chilling on the rocks.
Fun fact
I used to think that sea urchins are quite stationary creatures. But it turns out that they do move ever so slightly using hydraulic pressure with their tube feet.
The swim was perfect. And after such a good swim one must be hungry. The cruise company must know it as the next item on the itinerary is lunch.
Lunch on the Board
I gotta say, based on the mixed reviews I was a bit scared of the lunch.
As Croatia is famous for its seafood I thought the grilled fish would be my best bet. And I do stand by my choice, as in my opinion it was pretty tasty. You get a whole grilled fish, a bit of cabbage salad & some bread. The fish is cooked through and seasoned. So no complaints from my side. But I also am not a gourmet.
There was also unlimited wine offered with lunch, but I have to admit that I did not like the taste of it, so I question the quality. Sorry, but I have to be honest.
After lunch it is time to enjoy the views again on the way to the Blue lagoon. And this time we have company. Or maybe we are haunted? As there are tens of seagulls following our boat! This gives some apocalyptic movie vibes.
Snorkelling Stop 2 – Blue Lagoon
I wasn’t sure what to expect from the Blue lagoon. It is described as a bay with perfect, clear blue water that is great for snorkelling and swimming.. And that’s about it.
I mean – the description is right. But interestingly – it’s not one big blob of turquoise water. From the distance you can see that there are some darker blue sports too, that creates an interesting pattern. And then the pattern is enhanced with many little (and not so little) white yachts.
The views from the deck are truly picture perfect.
Unfortunately the winds are strong and most of the people are opting to sunbathe on the deck rather than fighting the waves. And as we are parked far away from the coast there isn’t much else to do then enjoying the views.
Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, I guess. So let’s take the best of it and try to catch some tan. Also I have high hopes for the next spot on our snorkelling cruise – the underwater museum.
Snorkelling Stop 3 – Underwater Museum
From the deck you can see there is something in the water. It’s a darker spot. A mystery.
But first we need to get into the water. And this is where the bravest of us show off their skills by jumping off the upper deck. I get chills watching their backflips. Do you dare?
Those of us who are a bit less adventurous can still climb in the water using the stairs or in this stop you can actually climb off on dry land and go to the beach to either sunbathe or chill in a bit shallower waters.
And here I have a confession. I didn’t see a single sculpture. Because it turns out I am not a good enough swimmer to actually stay on water for long enough to safely get to the area where the sculptures are. So my biggest snorkelling adventure was checking out the little fish swimming around the ship. What a fail!
But the good news – Miks is a good swimmer. So here is a little interview with him.
Are there really sculptures at the bottom?
Yes, there are. And it is just like in National Geographic. You dive in and see a sculpture depicting a religious figure. It is overgrown with a bit of seaweed. There are little fish swimming near it. And then you spot a crab. Have you ever seen a crab in its natural habitat?
I am so jealous. That sounds epic. At least we can get some taste of the experience by checking out the pictures in the Underwater museums website. There is a nice photo gallery there.
It’s Time to Party
On other occasions leaving a place like this would be quite sad. But not on the pirate ship!
Some of the upper deck chairs are removed to free up a space for a little DJ table and the summer hits can start. Thumbs up for mixing some Mama Mia songs in.
This time there are some party girls dancing in a circle with some cocktails they have purchased on the ship’s bar and there is also a corner of people just chilling and enjoying the music and the views. Neither seem to be disturbing others’ joy.
In this cheerful atmosphere we sail back to Split.
Thoughts?
I loved the Blue lagoon snorkelling cruise from Split – it was the perfect chill ending to our very active Croatia trip. But I do have a suspicion that me being so hyped about it is highly related to the set up we had. As at the end of May the ship wasn’t overcrowded, the weather was nice and we were able to snatch a spot on the top deck. I could, however, see how not having one of those boxes ticked could result in a less fun experience.
What to bring with you on Snorkelling cruise from Split to Underwater museum and Blue lagoon
Here are some things I consider must haves:
- Cash or ID to use as a deposit for snorkelling gear. Cash will also be useful if you wish to purchase something in ships bar.
- Water shoes (remember I met a sea urchin).
- Towel, swimwear, cover up. In May it was a bit chilly in the early morning.
- Sunscreen.
- A bag for your wet stuff when you change at the end of the cruise.
- As there is only 1 meal during the day you may want to bring some light snacks with you.
Check out the full itinerary of our Croatia – Bosnia and Herzegovina road trip
A lot more fun things to experience organized in a day-to day plan