Often referred to as the pearl of the Mediterranean, although it is bound only by the Adriatic Sea, Montenegro is a place of striking natural beauty. Here, natural wonders of all kinds abound – in particular, the geology of this mountainous region is breathtaking. Some of the most fantastic sights to see include a number of caves, many of which are suitable for diving. Here are just three of the best.
Krekavica Cave
A fantastic system of sea caves located near Platamuni Point, Krekavica Cave is entered via a wide opening 32 meters beneath the surface. Once inside, you’ll begin to ascend, passing over what looks like a massive landslide of boulders contained within the tunnel itself. Look back over your shoulder, and what little light there was at the beginning of the site will be completely gone, leaving you in inky blackness, but for the beams of your dive lights. After ascending just a bit further, you will discover that you are inside a massive underwater cavern, inside an air pocket. Looking down, you can see flashes of light from your group, and once everyone is up, you can turn your lights off to see just how dark it really is. Take a few minutes to enjoy the architecture of the cave for a few minutes again with your lights on, and then make your way back to the entrance. Once outside the cave, the ascent back along the wall, which is covered in colorful corals, anemones, and sponges, and which is home to numerous fish and crustaceans, offers a splendid reintroduction to the world of daylight.
Mikovica Cave
A popular place for a first cave dive, due to its wide opening and shallow depth, as well as for its spectacular beauty, Mikovica Cave is situated near Bigovica Point near Bar. Named after the diver who discovered it, the cave offers two separate chambers which can be explored.
To the left, a corridor about 80 meters long leads into a chamber where stalactites hang from the ceiling. This corridor is the largest of the two; the one to the right features a small tunnel that can be a tight squeeze for larger divers. Less often visited than the chamber to the left, this side of the cave is more interesting, in part because the stalactites in the main chamber are even larger. Maximum depth inside the cave is 10 feet, and there is heavy silting along the bottom. Cautious finning techniques and excellent buoyancy control are a must here; while visibility is normally near endless, it drops to zero quickly if you’re not careful.
Old ULCINJ
This island is situated very close to shore, about an hour’s boat ride south of Bar. While legend says there is a sunken city here, and while that may well be true, it has yet to be discovered. Interestingly, this cave site is located only a short distance from the Amphorae site at Bigovica, so don’t give up hope of locating ruins as you explore! The caves and tunnels here begin at a depth of about 15 meters and are extraordinarily beautiful, leading their way into and through the reef and adjacent cliff wall. Be careful of the anemones that coat the tunnel entrances, and look for lobsters, moray eels, and many other creatures inside. While maximum depth is 25 meters, and while only experienced divers should enter the cave, the reef begins at a depth of only 5 meters, offering novices a bit of fun while they dream of heading into deeper, darker places.
Topside, Montenegro offers plenty of wonderful attractions, both natural and cultural alike. Dive operators are well-equipped and offer excellent dive packages at reasonable prices, as well as instruction for anyone who would like to hone his or her skills while on holiday. If you are not a cave diver but would like to become certified, this might be a nice place to do just that.