First shown last summer in Split's Old Town Hall, the exhibition attracted over 10,000 visitors and included objects previously "hidden" in museum stores and private collections. The Zagreb edition, enriched with new sites, will run for three months.
Curator Saša Denegri explained that the exhibition presents the heritage chronologically, typologically and geographically, from Neanderthal stone tools, small objects, maritime and ship equipment to shipwrecks, plane wrecks and modern metal-hulled vessels, spanning the entire county waters, including the islands of Brač, Hvar, Vis, Šolta, Palagruža, Sveca, Biševo, Brusnik and Šćedro.
The exhibition features a multimedia approach with underwater videos, interactive content and virtual reality, allowing visitors to experience a virtual dive and explore submerged ships and planes firsthand.
Matea Dorčić, deputy mayor of Split and project initiator, called the exhibition the culmination of years of research and promotion of underwater heritage, praising its combination of historical content and modern technology.
Ivan Radman-Livaja, director of the Archaeological Museum in Zagreb, said the exhibition opens the museum's 2026 programme and noted the public fascination with underwater archaeology.
The exhibition will be accompanied by lectures and educational programmes until its closing on 3 June. It is funded by the City of Zagreb, the Ministry of Culture and Media, Split-Dalmatia County and the City of Split.