Olib (Ulbo in Italian) is the port of the island of the same name, which is part of the archipelago of islands located north of Dalmatia, about twenty nautical miles from Zadar. The place is very peaceful, and life here moves at a slow pace; only a few houses belonging to repatriated emigrants stand out against the natural environment, which has remained intact over the centuries. The inhabitants engage in activities such as fishing, agriculture, and livestock farming, in some cases solely for their own subsistence and that of their families. Given the limited arable land and the lack of water sources, the island has never experienced economic development; consequently, there are no motor vehicles or industrial facilities. Finally, tourism has arrived only to a very limited extent and consists mostly of passing boaters; in fact, anyone wishing to stay overnight must rely on private homes. It is possible to find some services such as a supermarket, restaurants, and a post office. There are interesting archaeological finds and evidence of human presence from past centuries, particularly the ruins of a Roman village, a church, and a monastery.

The port of Olib is located to the west, where the island’s largest bay is found; also worth noting is Satinica Bay to the east, where lovers of sandy beaches and crystal-clear water will be delighted; It’s an excellent spot to stop for a swim but not for overnight anchoring in the bay. The port has a pier, though the ferry connecting to the island of Zadar passes by daily. The water depth ranges from 2.5 to 4 meters; at night, the pier is marked by a white and red flashing light that flashes every three seconds. The pier is clearly visible in the video below starting at the 16-second mark; from this, it’s also easy to see that berths at the ports are limited and primarily reserved for small to medium-sized boats. At the pier, it is possible to moor to several mooring buoys and access water and electricity; there are also mooring buoys both north and south of these. Prices are higher than the archipelago average, and the south side of the pier and the various buoys are unprotected in the event of westerly winds, while the north side of the pier and the various buoys in that area are unprotected in the event of northerly winds. Between the island of Silba and the western tip of Olib, watch for the cardinal danger mark, which indicates that you should stay to the west—thus passing closer to the island of Silba—due to a shoal. At night, this mark is indicated by a white flashing light (9 flashes) every 15 seconds.

To the south of the island lies the famous white-sand beach of Juzna Slatina, where you’ll find crystal-clear waters perfect for swimming. It’s ideal for families with children because the beach slopes very gently into the water and can also be reached from the port of Olib via a 20-minute walk along a trail. Please be aware of a shoal at the entrance to the bay on the west side. Additionally, there is a large amount of aquatic vegetation in the area; when setting anchorages, be sure to choose a spot where there is as little of it as possible.