A small but cosy marina set in a medieval backdrop on an island in the Adriatic, the Mali Losinj marina is definitely worth checking out, especially since the region also has some world famous diving sites.
Location & Approach The Mali Losinj marina can be found on the homonymous island, in the Murter archipelago positioned in the northern Adriatic. This is a very popular region with sailors that come to the region for the numerous sailing opportunities offered by the many small and often deserted islands in Croatia.
The Mali Losinj marina lies northeast of the Mali Losinj town harbor on the southern tip of the island. Though small, it seems to cover the needs of the visiting clients perfectly. It’s easy to spot the marina when approaching it from out at sea thanks to the Prolaz Privlaka canal and the shipyard which is located near the marina.
The usual approach to the marina is done around the island, in the corridor between Murtar and Zabodaski islands and then through the points Torunza and Kriz. There is an alternate route via a man-made canal Prolaz Privlaka which is 3m deep and 6m wide thus not suitable for bigger vessels. Also, there’s a drawbridge over it so passage is possible only at 9am and 6pm when the bridge is raised.
Infrastructure & Ambience The fact that this is a small marina was already mentioned, so don’t expect to find empty berths here in the middle of the tourist season. The 150 berth can accommodate boats up to 20m in length. At the marina, you’ll find the usual services required by a sailing crew. There’s a reception office, a hotel and a restaurant to provide some of your basic needs.
You can get water and electricity hookups at the berth and also gain access to toilets and showers, a laundry service and the local charter fleet. A parking lot and a café-bar with an added mini-market complete the series of services being offered to the public.
For your boat, there is no local boatyard, but there are some repairs that can be done here, such as carpentry, electrical or mechanical. There is a 35t crane, a slipway and a fuel station available for skippers.
When you’re done at the marina, feel free to wonder about town, since Mali Losinj is a lovely settlement dating back to the medieval ages and it has plenty of naval history since its main industry for a long time was shipbuilding. Even the houses around the town center are built in a style called “captain’s house” with beautiful garden that bloom in summer with colors and aromas enchanting the visitors.
There are also a couple of ancient churches worth checking out, as well as some first class diving sites on the island of Susak. This place is something out of a Hollywood movie because it has an underwater tunnel to lead you into the Te Vega sea lake and it’s surrounded by 30m walls rising above sea level.