Adriatic – South

The southern Adriatic runs from the islands of Korčula and Lastovo past Dubrovnik and Cavtat to Konavle and, beyond Montenegro, the Albanian coast. Clear water, steep limestone walls with gorgonians and red coral, and countless caves and swim-throughs define the diving. Two world wars and centuries of shipping left wrecks everywhere, from the Taranto off Dubrovnik and the protected S-57 off Pelješac to the hospital ship Po in the Bay of Vlorë. Ancient amphora and dolia sites in front of Cavtat are protected underwater museums. Montenegro has its own region (Montenegro – Coast).

Facts

• Best season: May – October; Albanian operators mostly run May–October, some Croatian centres dive year-round
• Water temperature: Surface about 21–27 °C in summer; 16–19 °C at 60 m off Dubrovnik
• Visibility: Typically 15–30 m; up to 20–40 m reported around Korčula
• Getting there: Airports: Dubrovnik (DBV) for South Dalmatia and Cavtat; Tirana (TIA) for Vlorë and the Albanian coast. Korčula and Lastovo by ferry
• Croatia – permits: A Croatian diving card/permit is required and is normally arranged through the dive centre; diving on archaeological sites and in protected zones only with an authorised centre. Fees and rules change – check current rules
• Protected wrecks and sites: The S-57 torpedo boat is legally protected (only with an authorised centre); the Cavtat amphora site is reported as accessible only with the concession-holding centre. Check current rules
• Lastovo & Mljet: Lastovo Islands Nature Park: diving only with a guide from an authorised centre (the tourist board names centres in Zaklopatica and Pasadur). Mljet National Park is a controlled diving zone with permits issued by the park. Entry fees and restrictions change – check current rules
• Albania: Karaburun-Sazan National Marine Park (2010) protects the Bay of Vlorë wrecks; Sazan was a military island for decades. Dive only with an established, licensed local centre – check current rules and permits
• Wind and current: Mostly mild currents; exposed sites such as Proizd, Glavat or the Kaiser Franz Joseph wreck are only dived in calm weather. Bora and southerly winds can cancel boat trips

Season

• Best months: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
• Acceptable: May, Oct
• Poor: Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr
• Water temperature: 14–26 °C

South Dalmatia and the southern islands: good May to October, warmest in late summer (25–26 C). Winter is about 13–14 C and windy. Data is thin, generalised from Dalmatian sources.

Dive sites (30)

Lastovo

• Bijelac – 5–55 m, intermediate
• Glavat – 5–90 m, intermediate
• Međedina – 3–15 m, beginner
• Seka Drašan – 3–32 m, intermediate
• Struga – 5–84 m, intermediate
• Tajan – 5–25 m, beginner

Korčula & Pelješac

• Blue Hole – 6–40 m, intermediate
• Garda Wreck – 23 m, intermediate
• Proizd Lighthouse – 6–30 m, intermediate
• S-57 Wreck – 20–38 m, advanced
• Vertical Limit – 5–40 m, intermediate
• Vranine – 6–40 m, intermediate

Dubrovnik & Elaphiti

• Cape Bezdan – 0–40 m, intermediate
• Grebeni Islands Aquarium – 3–40 m, beginner
• Little Africa – 3–30 m, beginner
• Lokrum Island Aquarium – 3–30 m, beginner
• Maro's Cave – 15–40 m, advanced
• St. Andrew Aquarium – 3–80 m, advanced
• Taranto Wreck – 23–52 m, advanced
• The Jabuka Caves – 3–40 m, intermediate
• Tomislav Wreck – 0–35 m, advanced
• Zaton Bay – 2–30 m, beginner

Cavtat & Konavle

• Cavtat Amphora Site – 27 m, intermediate
• Cavtat Cannon Wreck – 27–31 m, intermediate
• Cavtat Pythos Site – 30 m, intermediate
• Kaiser Franz Joseph Wreck – 28–44 m, advanced

Albania

• Haxhi Ali Cave – 8–12 m, intermediate
• Italian Submarine (Sazan) – 30 m, advanced
• Po Wreck – 16–36 m, advanced
• Probitas Wreck (Sarandë) – 3–22 m, intermediate

Operators (3)

• Blue Planet Diving – dive centre, Hotel Dubrovnik Palace, Lapad, Dubrovnik
• Epidaurum Diving Centre – dive centre, Šetalište Žal 31, Cavtat
• Croatia Divers – dive centre, Vela Luka, Korčula

Routes (2)

• Dubrovnik day boat dives (Blue Planet)
• Western Korčula two-tank boat trips (Croatia Divers)

Site positions are approximate unless marked otherwise and are for orientation only — never for navigation. Many wrecks and archaeological sites are protected; always dive with an authorised local centre and check current rules.