Baron Gautsch Wrack
After a 45-minute drive, we reach what is probably the most famous and beautiful wreck in the upper Adriatic. An absolute must for all lovers of old metal.
Built in 1908, the Baron Gautsch was a passenger ship of the shipping company Österreichischer Lloyd. It originally carried passengers from Trieste to the Adriatic coast, an initiative of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy to open up the northern Mediterranean region. With the outbreak of the First World War on July 28, 1914, the merchant ships of Austria-Hungary were called up for military service and placed under the control of the Imperial and Royal Navy. Navy. They were painted in camouflage and now served as auxiliary cruisers, troop transporters or supply ships. In 1914, the ship sank due to a course error in its own minefield.
Once we arrive at the wreck, we dive down the buoy rope and start our exploration. Divers with the appropriate certification can dive to the top deck via the foredeck through a large window hatch. The bottom planks are no longer visible due to corrosion, allowing us to view the lower decks. Around us, schools of fish move through the water, small and large perch, conger and maybe even a cat shark looking in our direction. Despite the incredible impressions, you should always keep an eye on your no-decompression time here.