About
Diving Center VIKING is a family-run PADI 5 Star Dive Resort on the island of Hvar, Croatia, welcoming divers since 2003. It was founded by Vinko, a CMAS 2-star instructor and boat skipper with more than 30 years of experience, together with Ksenija, who looks after information and bookings; the team speaks Croatian, English, German and Italian. The base sits in a sheltered, sun-filled bay at Podstine, with sunbeds, complimentary water, coffee and tea, and sweeping views over the sea and the Pakleni Islands. More than 15 dive sites — colourful walls, caves, wrecks and the rich marine life of the crystal-clear Adriatic — lie just 5 to 30 minutes away by speedboat, many of them around the Pakleni (Paklinski) archipelago. Brand-new rental gear is included in every course, air is filled by a new silent 320 l/min compressor, and the full range of PADI courses up to Divemaster is on offer alongside guided fun dives, night dives, intro dives and equipment rental. As a Divers Alert Network (DAN) partner, the centre also provides short-term dive accident cover.
Transport
By air: the nearest airport is Split (SPU), about 60 km away on the mainland. From the airport, transfer by taxi or shuttle bus to Split ferry port (about 25 minutes). By sea: take a fast catamaran (Jadrolinija or Krilo, roughly 1 hour) directly to Hvar Town, or a car ferry from Split to Stari Grad (about 2 hours) and continue 20 km by bus or taxi to Hvar Town. Local: the dive centre at Podstine (Put Podstina 7) sits about 1.5 km west of Hvar Town’s main square — a 15–20 minute walk along the seafront promenade or a short taxi ride. There is no train service to the island.
