WK Michele

On the northern side of the Croatian island of Dugi, which is part of Zadar County, lies the sunken ship Michele. It has become a real magnet for divers and underwater adventure enthusiasts.

The cargo ship Michele is sunk approximately 1 nmi north of the island of Dugi and 0.25 nmi northeast of the island of Vela Lagna, where the sea depth is between 5 and 6 m. If you are sailing between the islands of Molat, Ist, Zverinac and Dugi otok, a visit to the sunken ship is one of the obligatory stops on your vacation. In the immediate vicinity is the iconic Veli rat lighthouse, and a good nautical mile to the south is another one of the most beautiful beaches on the Adriatic and the Sakarun anchorage.

The Italian cargo ship was built in 1962. It measured 76 m in length and 10 m in width. Its weight was 499 t.

On Saturday, June 11, 1983, a storm raged over the central Adriatic. The ship sailed through the storm in the immediate vicinity of the Veli Rat lighthouse. According to the lighthouse keeper who observed the voyage, the ship's captain intentionally sailed into the shallows. The reasons are still unknown. Perhaps the ship had a malfunction and the captain wanted to save the ship and ran aground in the shallows.

Until 2015, part of the ship was still visible above sea level. Due to the rapid decay, only a few small protruding parts remain above the water surface, so we must sail carefully in the area of ​​the wreck.

Visiting the wreck is easy. It is sunk at a depth of 5 m and the bottom in the area is sandy. The vessel can anchor in the immediate vicinity. All you need for a visit is a scuba mask and some good will. Since the ship is located in the open sea, the best time to visit is in the morning or early afternoon, before the maestral winds create waves.

Although the accident is tragic, the wreck of the WK Michele has taken on a new meaning. It has become a tourist attraction, where we can see a rich ecosystem at a depth that is inaccessible without special diving equipment. All you need is a mask and snorkel.