“Divers open and close the season.”
That is how the local Tourist Board describes Stara Novalja. Several diving centres are listed in the settlement, and the wider Pag underwater story includes walls, caves, wrecks and archaeological interest.
Visit Novalja highlights an amphora site from a Roman merchant vessel dated to the 1st century BC in Vlaška Mala Bay near the Žigljen ferry port, around 30 metres deep. The site is protected and is one of the most distinctive underwater heritage stories associated with the area.
Why it matters for the destination
Diving shifts demand away from a single July–August model. It gives spring and autumn a specialist reason to visit, supports longer stays and makes the bay relevant to repeat visitors who come for skills and sites rather than only sun.