Montenegro, positioned along the southern Aegean coast on the Southern Balkan peninsula, offers beautiful beaches, as well as mountains and cliffs that cascade and plummet straight into the clear blue water. Ancient cities were served by ships that carried goods of all kinds into the many tiny harbors and ports; some of these ships met with tragic ends and are now lying beneath the sea, beckoning divers from all over the world. The quality of Montenegro’s wreck diving is further enhanced by the addition of ships and aircraft that date back to the World Wars, as well as merchant ships from various periods of history. Here are just five popular wreck dives; visit Montenegro, and you’ll be certain to find a few favorites of your own.
Supermarine Spitfire MK9
One of two British spitfires brought down by Nazi anti-aircraft fire while attacking the hydroplane base located between Zelenika and Kumbor during WWII, this plane was once part of the Royal Air Force’s 1435 squadron. We know that the pilot of this aircraft, a Lieutenant Chandler, managed to parachute from the plane before it hit the water. Unfortunately, he was captured by the Nazis and taken as a prisoner of war. His plane was torn into pieces when it hit the water, and now its remains lying in the sand beneath 32 meters of water, covering a radius of about 40 meters. Portions of the tail section, including the rudder, are still identifiable, as are one of the wings, two machine guns, and many other pieces of the plane.
Patrol Ship PBR 512
Unlike many of the wrecks you’ll find beneath the waters of Montenegro, the PBR 512 was intentionally sunk. Used by the Navy for rocket practice in 1983, and still in excellent condition but for the hole the rocket that sunk her tore straight through her hull, the ship served the Yugoslavian Navy until her decommissioning in 1972. Just over 40 meters long and with a beam of 6.3 meters, this speedy little ship was built in 1952 and lies beneath just 24 meters of water. Already acquiring a nice coating of corals and sponges, it shelters plenty of marine life and is a fantastic site for intermediate divers and up.
WW1 Austro Hungarian Destroyer Zenta
Built in 1897, the Destroyer Zenta was a jewel in the Austro-Hungarian Navy’s crown. On August 8th of 1914, she was on patrol when she was overtaken by allied forces which promptly pursued her and sunk her near Petrovac. Some of her crew did manage to escape, swimming to the nearby island of Katic or being picked up by local fishermen; others lost their lives. Very well preserved, this ship is almost 99 meters long, with a beam of just under 12 meters. She lies beneath 73 meters of water and is accessible only to the most experienced. Washed by currents that can cause visibility to go from outstanding to poor in the blink of an eye, this is a fascinating but challenging site.
WW1 French Destroyer Dague
A Bouclier Class French Destroyer built in 1908, the Dague was over 72 meters long, and while afloat, she presented an impressive picture. One of only 12 ships in her class, she was working to support the English steam ship Whitehead, when at midnight on February 24th of 1915, she struck a mine and sunk. 39 of the sailors onboard were killed; the remains of many of them lay with the wrecked ship until 1973, when the wreck was cut into five pieces and towed further out to sea. Those recovered at that time were returned to France for burial, but since then, additional remains have been discovered, causing this site to remain a war grave. Use caution while exploring this fascinating wreck, as there is also a lot of unexploded ammunition lying on the sandy bottom. Maximum depth here is just 18 meters.
WW2 Airplane Wreck
Only recently discovered, in September of 2008, this WW2 Airplane wreck lies beneath 54 meters of water with both wings and two engines still attached. The plane’s tail section appears to have been destroyed on impact, but otherwise, this mysterious wreck is in excellent condition. According to eyewitness accounts and military records, it was initially thought to be the wreckage of an Italian military plane called the Savoy; however, the plane’s specifications do not match.
In addition to its many wrecks, Montenegro boasts cave diving and fantastic reefs, as well as plenty to see and do topside between dives. A marvelous place to get away from it all, it offers affordable yet world-class holidays for divers and non-divers alike.