Balzamake Rovinj

Inside the beautiful Rovinj park-forest Zlatni rt – Punta Corrente, in the immediate vicinity of Cape Kurent, is the Balzamake snorkeling location. The easiest way to get to this beach is to follow the directions to the Lovor restaurant, which is located on Cape Kurent. Then continue along the promenade for about 300 meters in the direction of Škarabica Bay. On the left side of the promenade there is a low wall against which bicycles are often leaned, the most common means of transportation in this protected park-forest. At the end of the wall, you descend to a rocky shore that is partly covered with pine tree crowns.

The rocks fall in steps towards the sea, but if you look at them more closely, you will notice that the lowest part of the sunbathing area is slightly curved in the shape of a bubble and enters the sea. Right next to the shore there is a small rock protruding from the sea. If you look out to sea, on the left you will notice the islets of Veliki and Mali Piruz, and on the right the island of Sveti Andrija. This is where your exploration of the Balzamaka snorkeling location can begin. Be careful when entering the sea, as the rocks are covered in smooth algae and can be very slippery.

A small rock protruding from the sea in the middle has a gap through which you can look to the other side. If you look closely, you may also find a sea hare hiding behind a black sponge or a hairy crab carrying a sponge on its back.

Head to the right side of the small rock towards the sea. In the shallows, there are small white pebbles that, as you go deeper, turn into large boulders. The stones are covered with a dense carpet of various brown and green algae. A special decoration on the boulders are whitish fans bent into a funnel, resembling flowers. This is the algae Padina pavonica, which is very widespread here. This Rovinj location is like a very lively crossroads for small fish, as schools of fish pass by from all sides.

Continue swimming deeper and you will notice two elongated steps that look as if someone cut them off long ago. They are overgrown with various brown algae, and are adorned with large yellow sulfur sponges mixed with green velvety sponges. The walls of the steps are layered, and their shady crevices are inhabited by red and green algae of various shapes. Between the steps, the bottom is strewn with small stones on which spotted urchins live, which are covered with shells or pebbles.

However, the most interesting inhabitants of this location are seahorses, which can be found on the slopes of the steps and in small crevices, like caves, at a depth of 4 to 7 meters. Their color varies from white to intense yellow, and they can also be dotted with stripes or dots. Their heads are adorned with branched appendages like horns. They swim very slowly, and they stalk their prey almost motionlessly, and they need very good eyesight. If you approach them closer, you will notice that they are watching you closely, most likely in fear. They are not easy to spot because they have excellent camouflage. Their color or shape resembles the sponges and algae in the environment.

The Balzamaka location is rich in wandering fish such as mullets, sea bass, gilthead sea bream and small gobies. Among the large rocks, pirke, longnose fish, knezov, sculpin, baraj and očade make their homes. At the bottom, you can notice empty shells of kunjki and Peter’s ears of very shiny mother-of-pearl, scattered between the rocky steps. These shells are reliable evidence that an octopus also lives nearby.

Interesting facts If you want to see a seahorse, keep in mind that it is not easy to spot it even for skilled divers. It takes some time for the eyes to get used to the seascape in order to notice it among the algae and notice its tiny movements that give it away. They look like fairy creatures and are very interesting to watch, but do not touch or disturb them. Recent research has shown that seahorses develop strong bonds with their partners and have certain rituals as a pair. If their social structure is disrupted, their reproduction rate decreases. Due to their delicate biology and the complexity of reproduction, they are a protected species in the Adriatic Sea.

Important notes The Balzamaka snorkeling location is located within a protective barrier marked with a cork line. Please note that this is the limit of safety and enjoyable diving, as there is a lot of marine traffic here. If you want to continue your exploration further, it is very important to stay within the protective barrier.