Over the past year, the Ičići Tourist Board has launched the project The First Snorkeling Location in Ičići, with the aim of enriching the destination’s offer for the 2026 season.
The initiative places strong emphasis on combining active holidays with an authentic experience of nature, while also raising awareness of the importance of preserving the marine environment.Snorkeling—also known as surface diving—is a popular activity that involves exploring the underwater world at shallow depths while breathing through a snorkel at the surface.
The basic equipment includes a diving mask, a snorkel for breathing while the face is submerged, and fins for easier movement through the water.Following several months of collaboration between the Ičići Tourist Board and the Pula-based company Underwater Affair, the project was officially presented in December 2025. The launch was accompanied by an exhibition of underwater photography by Anton Unković, showcasing the richness and beauty of Ičići’s marine life.As a key component of the project, a detailed snorkeling map has been developed, offering an overview of the location, recommended routes, and guidelines for safe and responsible exploration of the seabed.
The map is available at the Ičići Tourist Board office as well as online:
The snorkeling site itself is located along the seaside promenade near Villa Florida, where an informational sign has been installed to help visitors navigate the area. The design and installation of the sign were carried out in cooperation with the Ičići Tourist Board by IP Reklamni Studio from Lovran, a company with extensive experience in promotional and advertising solutions.
The project aims to bring visitors closer to the plant and animal life of this area, while underlining the importance of preserving the marine ecosystem. Its core idea is to encourage observation and understanding of nature through responsible behavior—without disturbing the natural balance or touching marine life.
Following the summer season, the Ičići Tourist Board will continue to expand the project through workshops and activities for preschool and school-age children. In this way, younger generations will have the opportunity to explore and learn about their local underwater world through interactive and hands-on experiences.
With this project, the Ičići Tourist Board further reinforces its commitment to responsible tourism development. In an era of increasing commodification and over-tourism, the goal is to ensure that the local landscape primarily serves the community as a space for quality living and work. At the same time, it seeks to avoid reducing every natural asset to a packaged tourist product—an approach that often leads to environmental degradation or the creation of artificial authenticity in pursuit of visitor numbers and profit.
Through initiatives like this, the focus of promotion shifts toward the privilege of participating in the preservation of a valuable natural resource. In doing so, visitors are encouraged to become guardians of the sea, guided by education about local species and their ecological significance.
