Licence rules, costs and our honest pick.
The licence rule in plain words
Croatia asks whoever runs a boat to be qualified under the rules of the country whose flag the boat flies. If your home country requires no qualification, Croatian rules apply. Croatia also publishes a list of foreign licences it recognises (Split-Dalmatia Tourist Board).
In practice, owners in Split ask to see your licence before they hand over the keys. If they are not sure it counts, the answer is no. We check this with the owner for you before you pay, so nobody gets turned away on the dock.
Why we push the skipper (even if you have a licence)
The sea around Split is easy on a calm morning and very different on a windy afternoon. A local skipper knows which side of an island stays calm, where you can anchor without hitting rocks, and which harbours are full by noon. That is the difference between a great day and a stressful one.
They also handle the boring parts: fuel, docking in Hvar town, finding a free buoy. You swim, eat and nap.
When self-drive makes sense
- You have real boating experience, not just a licence.
- You are staying close to Split, for example a half day on the north coast of Brač or around Šolta.
- The forecast is calm.
- You are happy to leave a deposit and check the boat over with the owner.
Small RIBs and smaller speedboats are the usual self-drive boats. Yachts almost always come with a skipper.
What a skipper does not do
A skipper drives and keeps you safe. They are not a tour guide or a waiter, though many are happy to share tips and help with lunch. If you want a host on board, tell us and we look for boats that offer one.