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Orca Diving Center
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Orca Diving Center

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See all things to do
Orca Diving Center
5
236
#11 of 102 Outdoor Activities in Pula
Scuba & Snorkelling
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9:30 AM - 6:30 PM
Monday
9:30 AM - 6:30 PM
Tuesday
9:30 AM - 6:30 PM
Wednesday
9:30 AM - 6:30 PM
Thursday
9:30 AM - 6:30 PM
Friday
9:30 AM - 6:30 PM
Saturday
9:30 AM - 6:30 PM
Sunday
9:30 AM - 6:30 PM
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About
Orca Diving Center is a very friendly and well equipped diving center in Pula, Croatia. We offer whole-day diving trips as well as daily diving, equipment rental, dive experience for beginners, diving courses and kayaking. We are situated at Verudela Resort, which makes our dive center a perfect spot to visit with families. Enjoy the sun and endless clearness of Adriatic sea with Orca DC!
Pula, Croatia
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
236 reviews
Excellent
207
Very good
13
Average
9
Poor
3
Terrible
4
Boonstra
Leesburg, VA272 contributions
Super Nice Staff
Jun 2022
We went snorkeling and our son went scuba diving. The staff couldn’t have been nicer or more helpful. The only suggestion I have is a sign to tell you where to find the shop. The GPS takes you to a fancy hotel. The bartender was nice and took me through the lobby to show me a building that was across a lawn and told me the dive center was under the building. The view of the sea from the dive center is amazing. A staff member even gave me a good tip where we could find beach chairs free of charge to hang out!
Written June 18, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Paul R
Cardiff, UK11 contributions
A good dive centre with helpful, experienced staff and great local knowledge
Sep 2022 • Solo
Spent two days with the team from Orca and very happy with the experience. I had 4 dives, departing at 10am and 3pm each day on their small boat, each lasting 40-45 mins, with an experienced dive guide and a divemaster in support. Really friendly and helpful, rented full kit which came to 111 Euros/day with the 2 dives. Kit was all in good order, all the shop staff very experienced and helpful and know the area and waters very well. Would definitely dive with them again. (Level: PADI OWSI)
Written September 7, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Happiness30123964947
We are pleased you have enjoyed your time with us! Thank you for your review!
Written October 6, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
IAN BLACK
1 contribution
Great diving with friendly, helpful staff.
Aug 2020 • Family
Great location for Scuba diving, right on the beach at Park Plaza Verudela hotel complex where I was staying with the family. Dived 4 times with Orca Diving, each time the staff were friendly and helpful, all oversaw by Olga.
One occasion the dive boat wouldn't start, but an alternative dive was sorted straight away, therefore no wasted time.
Thanks for the great experience, hope to see you again in Croatia.
Written August 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Happiness30123964947
Hi. Thank you for sharing your experience and for diving with us. It was our pleasure. Our Team always gives their the best. Wish to you many great dives. All the best. Olga
Written August 22, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Andrew
3 contributions
Excellent dive center
Jun 2022
I dove for 3 days (6 dives total) in June. The dives and guides were excellent. As a rescue diver about to be master diver, I respected the shop's requirements but in return was given an equal level of autonomy and respect. It was a late-planned trip, so I had to rent all of my gear but that worked out relatively well. If I can, I'll come back to Pula, and Orca, specifically. Thanks for great diving!
Written June 25, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
NinoNJ
Boston, MA166 contributions
Great Istrian dive.
Aug 2021 • Solo
Fantastic family run business. Was able to dive Fraskeric which has a beautiful underwater tunnels with live coral and sea life. Marin was a great host in a local Pula family run business. They were quite accommodating of my 7 feet frame. Would bring cash in the off chance the credit card machine isn’t working.
Written August 25, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Happiness30123964947
Thank you for the great review!
Written August 28, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
ezusinka
United Kingdom166 contributions
Worst Diving Center Ever
Sep 2016 • Couples
When we arrived to the diving centre I explained that we would like to do an intro dive as it was our first time diving, however Olga convinced us to do a Discover Scuba Diving (DSD) instead of an Intro dive (of course as it is double the price and the business was drying out at the end of the season), after hesitating we agreed to do that DSD course which was 100 Euro each. Next day we had an induction by Frank who was very funny and entertaining, he explained everything to us and 2 other new divers and we were very keen, asking questions and interested in the course. When we went under water things did not go to plan, Frank tried to explain us how to breathe and empty the mask but as it was windy (even the Parasail was cancelled due to a windy weather) and water was moving us all over the place, moreover my partner did not have enough weight on his belt and kept floating up because he was too light. We have not ruined any safety standards and were listening to Frank’s instructions at all times. After about 10 minutes under water Frank came out and made us get out of the water, he lost his temper completely shouting and swearing at us, saying that we are the worst divers he ever had and that we should get out immediately. Frank blamed us that we made other girl cry (how could we if all of us were under water) she just panicked because the day before she had a one on one intro dive with Frank and felt more comfortable rather than that day with 3 other people where Frank had to divide his attention. When 4 of us got out of the water and took our gear off, he called us to the table and continued shouting and swearing, this guy is totally mental and should never be an instructor. I have never heard so much abuse and swear words thrown at me It was my first time diving and I did not want to be taken under water with 3 other people and then be shouted at that I am such a loser. I then said that I had enough and when I wanted to leave I was told that I had to pay for that embarrassment and I was not allowed to take my bag until I pay. Eventually I got my bag back but this horrible experience spoiled the rest of the day. Olga (the owner) was not present at the time when this happened and cannot constructively reply to my review, obviously it will be defensive and blaming us on everything. Even though we should have never been shouted and sworn at as a paying customer. We await for your apology.
Next day my partner and I went to Diving Center Diving Pula (on tripadvisor) instead, who picked us up from our hotel and took diving in open water by boat where we had a private and personal experience which was amazing.
Written September 20, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Olga S
Dear Anna, As you have erased your previous review and adjusted it to my first respond to you, I will publish my previous review respond here again, with a little adjustment, not as big as yours though. "HI Anna, Thank you for your review about our diving center. Obviously we take any negative comments very seriously. We suggested the DSD course as you and your boyfriend wanted to dive together and as this course involves a more thorough knowledge briefing and skills then an intro – as it is endorsed by PADI - we all agreed that would be the better and safer option for you. As well as giving you the opportunity to credit it towards a future PADI Open Water course. As it was your first time in the water and you wanted to dive together, an intro would not have been suitable for you. The weather for that day was calm and not windy – you can retrospectively check the forecast. Frank is a very safety-conscious instructor and yes, he got mad because of the following reasons: 1. Your refusal to listen properly to the briefing and the skills 2. You and your boyfriend swam off towards the shipping lane 3. Another participant in this program felt uncomfortable with you and your boyfriend’s attitude and blatant disregard for safety and hence she got emotional. When she started crying you both laughed at her and said “we’re Russian, we’re not afraid of anything” 4. You later said that you didn’t want to be “at school” on your holiday and that you didn’t need to learn anything and just wanted to dive. Well, unfortunately as you are not qualified this cannot be the case; you need to learn the safety aspects of diving before you put yourself underwater. Otherwise you end up swimming off in to the shipping lane. Fortunately Frank saved you from any harm. Now, you should not have been sworn at and we apologies for that. You and your boyfriend put the whole group in danger, including yourselves - by not listening and trying to swim off from the instructor. This is why the dive was cancelled The other two participants on the DSD continued with Frank and loved the dives. They took him out to dinner afterwards as a thank you. I am glad you enjoyed your dive elsewhere. Best regards, Olga." I was not there personally that day, but I see absolutely no reason why should I trust you and not my team with whom I worked all summer long and who did so great so far, and keep on doing great. The apologies are made in my first review, and I would like you to apologize for a slander. You were not a "paying customer", you didn't pay anything to us. Your review is actually a good one for us, as it is showing to the people how seriously we are, so thank you again for your time, especially for the time you took to adjust your previous review according to my answer, which is the same. I am so happy you enjoyed your dive with another DC. I will also put under consideration of TripAdvisor the fact that you are promoting another DC in your review.
Written September 21, 2016
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
HollyLindleyB
Mannheim, Germany13 contributions
Great staff and great location
We rented 2 single-kayaks and were shown a route to take where we could go to small caves. We paid 10€ in advance for one hour and were told we would pay the extra hour(s) once we got back. We arrived after 2 hours (so a full hour longer than we had paid for) and when we asked about the payment they said it was fine, we didn’t have to pay the extra hour.
Would definitely recommend! Very nice staff and nice route to take with small caves to go into and places to stop and rest on other islands.
Review of: Kayak Rental in Pula
Written June 22, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
paaf5
Hampton, UK24 contributions
Only book with Orca if you are staying at a hotel near by
Aug 2017 • Family
I spent quite some time trying to organize my dive trips before going to Croatia. I sent emails and spoke on the phone to Orca. I was wasting my time: they had no record of any of the emails I had sent to prebook dive trips on the dates I had agreed and the times were wrong - I only managed to go diving on the days as there was no one else going with Orca. Most frustratingly on the first day I went, I then asked them to write down my details and ensure they were ready for my next dive trip which I had planned for 2 days later. When I arrived 2 days later they had no record of the any reservation...
Written September 1, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Darcyfreak
Dublin, Ireland30 contributions
Great instructors, great teaching!
My husband and I booked the Open Water course with Orca before arrival, which was all very easy. Our instructor, Mattija, was friendly, funny, and very good at making the lessons we were learning understandable, memorable and relevant. I found some of the confined exercises tough at first, and even took some time out of the lessons with nerves. Mattija and Sergei kindly arranged for me to have a one-to-one dive to regain my confidence, and then worked with me to get me through all the remaining tasks even though it took a day longer than planned.

Orca were kind, friendly and professional throughout, with Marin and Olga also chatting to us, and I couldn’t recommend them more highly.

The reef was also a lovely place to learn - the sea is just a short walk from the centre - and we were fortunate enough to experience a dive through tunnels and caves alongside more experienced divers.
Review of: PADI/SSI Open Water Diver Course
Written May 31, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
poshkin
London, UK8 contributions
Take a kayak and explore the amazing islands and caves!
Jun 2018 • Friends
I visited Orca with some friends as we wanted to have a little bit of an adventure! Orca dive team were very helpful. They told us all of the cool places to explore, where the secret little gems were and how to get there. We rented a couple of double kayaks and had so much fun we came back the next day to rent it again for a longer time.

We explored the cave, fratarski island, fraskeric island and frasker island. Each one is beautiful, the sea is amazing, the entire experience was fantastic!

TAKE SOME KAYAKS AND HAVE FUN!!!!

Highly recommended!
Review of: Kayak Rental in Pula
Written June 29, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Orca Diving Center (Pula) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go