Diving in Montenegro

Montenegro might not be the place that one would immediately think of when looking at places in which to Scuba Dive, but with many underwater cliffs, caverns, shipwrecks and a plethora of Marine life along with crystal clear warm waters, it’s becoming a growing trend which is beginning to have a highly positive impact on the country’s increasing tourism.

Montenegro might not be the place that one would immediately think of when looking at places in which to Scuba Dive, but with many underwater cliffs, caverns, shipwrecks and a plethora of Marine life along with crystal clear warm waters, it’s becoming a growing trend which is beginning to have a highly positive impact on the country’s increasing tourism.

The Scuba Diving season in Montenegro runs from around May to October and whether you are an experienced Diver looking for new experiences or a beginner who is just starting out there’s a good range of clubs to choose from, most of which are not only PADI members (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) but will also carry out tours to groups and individuals.

If you love the idea of checking out shipwrecks then Montenegro has four of them which are recommended ‘Must See’s’. These are Tihany, Oreste, Fisherman’s and Patrol. Tihany was a steamship built in 1908 whose main activity was to transport workers to and from their destinations, however, it didn’t last very long unfortunately sinking in 1917 due to bad weather. You’ll need a diving certification to visit the wreck, which is at a depth of 40m. Oreste, was a privately owned Italian ship which sank in 1942 having been hit by a mine. Halved in two parts it now sits at a depth of 32 metres and is one of the most popular dive sites in Montenegro, as it’s open to anyone who has an open water, advanced open water or deep diver certificate. Fisherman’s wreck is a ‘divers favourite’ as it’s located in crystal clear waters, with very good visibility and has a basic requirement of the Open Water certificate, which can usually be granted in just a few days. The last wreck is the Patrol Wreck, which belonged to the Yugoslavian Navy and was responsible for monitoring the coastlines to report anything unusual back to base. In it’s final few days it actually served as a practise target, and after being hit in 1983, it was towed to the bay of Zanjic where it succumbed to its injuries and sank.

One of the best sites for beginner divers is actually in and around the Island of St Nicholas where the depth is only 9m, giving you a chance to experience the underwater tunnels & Marine Life of the Adriatic in a safe environment without the need to pass a certificate first. Cove Mogren is also fully recommended for the beginner diver too with a depth from 5 to 25m along with excellent visibility and a passage carved into the rock, allowing you to see hidden wildlife and plants that you might not see elsewhere.

Other dive sites throughout Montenegro include the underwater island of Galiola, the Sweet Cave of Platamuni, The Blue Cave or Blue Grotto, Mikovica Cave, Posiedon City, Mamula Island, Bigovica Bay and Donkova Seka Reef (soon designated to become the first MPA zone in Montenegro).

Diving Clubs & Schools in Montenego include: Dive Montenegro , Diving Team R , Pro Diving Montenegro  and Budva Diving Centre.

*photo credit to Dive Montenegro

21.04.2023