Pomena is a small village with a harbor; it lies on the western end of Mljet and has under 100 permanent residents. This area is located only 15 minutes from Mljet National Park, making it a popular destination for visitors from all over the world. When you dive near Pomena, you'll find yourself enjoying pristine dive sites with crystal clear water and healthy, abundant marine life. There are many sites you can access in the area; here are just five to help you begin planning your getaway.
Zakamenica
Located just about 150 meters from shore, Zakamenica Crag rises up from a depth of 30 meters to just 8 meters from the surface. In addition to the crag itself, there is a canyon approximately 40 meters long and 15 meters wide, here; both of its walls are peppered with holes and crevices where lobsters, octopuses, and other creatures take shelter; there is also a cave which is large enough to accommodate two to three divers. Just west of the canyon, a wall drops away to a depth of 55 meters. Here, you'll find beautiful gorgonians, and as you make your way back to the shallows, you'll also find splendid red coral and lots of sponges. Not only is Zakamenica a fantastic multi-level dive site, it is also a photographer's dream come true.
Greben Stit
Another outstanding multi-level dive site, Greben Stit is located off Miljet's southwestern shore. Around the crag, there are shallow areas suitable for snorkeling; a short drop leads to a plateau at 6 meters, after which a wall drops away to a depth of 55 meters. Adorned with red coral and fantastic sponges, the wall is home to lobsters, crabs, and moray eels, along with many other invertebrates and crustaceans; the water here is filled with fish, including barracudas and schooling amberjack. Use caution as you explore the wall; there are nesting scorpionfish among the rocks.
Vanji Skoj
Vanji Skoj rises up from a seabed of brilliant white sand to tower over the boats that pass as they make their way to Mljet. This site offers massive, monolithic rocks, vertical crevices, and many ledges festooned with vibrant red algae, along with a fissure that forms a swim through. Your boat will anchor in the shallow area, where the depth is about 8 meters; this area is actually an underwater plateau about 60 meters across. From the edge, you can either watch schools of fish pass below, or you can descend further, to a maximum depth of about 55 meters. This site is well-known for its anemones, huge groupers, gaping moray eels, and lobsters; look for wrasse and parrotfish as you enjoy exploring its many crevices and grottoes.
Lenga
Located on Mljet's south side, Lenga features a fantastic wall that drops all the way to a depth of 86 meters, plus a shallow plateau where newer divers can enjoy a relaxing sightseeing dive. Colonies of red coral and huge gorgonians grow at depths below 25 meters; all throughout the site, you'll encounter rainbow wrasse and damselfish, moray eels, octopi, lobsters, crabs, and many other creatures. If you are lucky, you'll also encounter grinning Mediterranean barracudas and huge tuna, along with schooling dentex and garfish.
Rikavica
Also known as Roaring Cave, Rikavica features air filled siphons and a main chamber large enough to accommodate a large group of divers. The site is located on the south side of Mljet, beneath a cliff face. The main entrance to the cave is located at a depth of 5 meters, with a pair of tunnels leading between 12 and 15 meters into the cliff's side. A second entrance is situated at a depth of 12 meters, and extends 15 meters into the cliff to access the main hall. Maximum depth inside the cave is 18 meters; there is a huge pocket of fresh air inside, plus tubes into which you can climb to hear the cave's "roar," which is a load noise much like that you can hear if you hold a conch shell up to your ear. Look for forkbeards, conger eels, and scorpionfish among the sponges and anemones which cling to the rocks inside and outside the cave.
Despite its small size, Pomena does have a bustling downtown, with cafes, coffee shops, and a fantastic hotel. The dive operators are well equipped and knowledgeable, and the local people are friendly and welcoming. Whether you enjoy just one of these fantastic sites when you visit, or if you get the opportunity to dive all of them and more, you are certain to come away with a lingering sense of wonder.