MONTENEGRO. THE BLACK PEARL OF THE ADRIATIC

MONTENEGRO

THE BLACK PEARL OF THE ADRIATIC

Text and photos Klaudyna Brzostowska

Underwater canyons, uplifted rocks, grottos, caves, and wrecks – Montenegro proved to be a huge diving surprise. From the first day, I marveled at what was underwater and what was on land.

Mountainous areas covered with lush greenery, the smell of oregano and lavender wafting in the air, authentic and friendly citizens, and good cuisine – these are just a few reasons why surface breaks in Montenegro take on a whole new dimension.

Our first dives took place near the tourist town of Budva. Courtesy of the Budva Diving crew, we were able to explore nearby dive spots. The center's owner Dusan and his son jointly run the oldest dive center in Montenegro. They have been organizing daily expeditions for 25 years and their commitment and passion is evident. Together we did several dives around the Sveti Nikola Island. Called by some the Hawaii of the region, it is an undersized natural island that is about 2 km long and has several caverns and caves. In addition to interesting rock formations, the first dives surprised me with the number of fish, and quite lush flora and fauna. Often you can meet here various species of cephalopods, Mediterranean moray eels (Muraena helena), nudibranch snails such as Flabellina affinis and spotted Doris, and clusters of marine predators, namely mostly starfish.

One of the pearls of Montenegro is the Oreste shipwreck. Manufactured in 1896 in England, the ship sank in 1942 in Trsteno Bay most likely after contact with a mine. Today it lies at 30 meters deep and is undoubtedly one of the most interesting diving attractions. Our guide Dusan co-created the MeDryDive app (https://medrydive.eu/) which aims to promote Mediterranean heritage and education. With this app, anyone can become a virtual participant in the penetration of the wreck (through VR and AR).

Another place full of diving attractions is the Bay of Kotor. Near the town of Herceg Novi, more than 30 diving spots are hidden within a radius of a dozen kilometers. Numerous wrecks, caves and caverns, walls of reefs and a submarine base – all this is hidden underwater. I had the pleasure of being guided to these spots by Diving- Montenegro, an intimate dive center that charms with a crew of professional and cheerful Montenegrins. We did our first dive at the submarine base. Built by the Germans during World War II, the hatch was used after the war by the Yugoslavian Navy. The hatch is 100 meters long, 12 meters wide and 10 meters deep. An unusual place that definitely stirs up emotions. Another thrilling dive was the one on the wreck next to Mamula Island. Patrol ship PBR 512 was built in 1952 and was a property of the Yugoslav army. Sunk in 1983 during military training, it was a training target for Yugoslav missiles with which the country's navy soldiers trained. The 40-meter wreck is in very good condition, lying at 24 meters, definitely worth recommending.

It must be admitted that Montenegro looks extremely well on the European map of diving enclaves. Going to Montenegro, I did not expect much. Today I know that it is a destination worth recommending. The main advantages are interesting and diverse dive sites, empty spots with no other dive boats, excellent visibility, attractive prices, and a very good atmosphere on land.

Season: May – October Water temperature: 15°C–24°C Visibility: 10–25 m Currency: Euro Transportation from Poland: plane/ car/ motorcycle

Recommended dive centers: BudvaDiving in Budva and DivingMontenegro in Herceg Novi

PERFECTDIVER No. 5(23)/2022 43