Black Pearl Diving Center

Set on the island of Hvar, Black Pearl Diving Center is a PADI Five Star Diving Center established in 2013 in Jelsa. Since 2022 it has operated from two bases — Jelsa, in the Austro-Hungarian hotel Jadran, and Vrboska, at the LABRANDA Senses Resort — both on the island's north coast.

Courses and diving

The center offers PADI courses and diving excursions for certified divers. Beginners can try PADI Discover Scuba Diving, a roughly 3-hour experience from USD 143, while the PADI Open Water Diver Course runs approximately 4 days from USD 700. A team of four PADI instructors and four dive masters looks after divers and their safety throughout planning and execution.

Two boats of up to 8 metres carry up to 10 divers per session, and a house reef sits close at hand. Facilities include an onsite classroom, free Wi-Fi and parking, with staff speaking English, Spanish, German, Croatian and Serbian. The Jelsa diving season runs from 1 May to 1 October, making it a welcoming choice for newcomers and experienced divers alike.