BOLANA - Budva & Bar

We love a wreck with a story, and the Bolana has a cracker. This tugboat, sunk by the Allies in 1943, lies upright and relatively intact at 25 metres. It’s a proper dive for wreck enthusiasts, especially those with some buoyancy control under their belt – we’d suggest Advanced Open Water divers will get the most out of it. Dropping down, the Bolana slowly takes shape, dark against the blue. You’ll spend most of your bottom time circling the superstructure, peering into what were once doorways and windows. Big groupers often lurk in the shadows, and we’ve seen schools of damselfish flitting around the mast, which still stands proud. It’s not a massive wreck, but there’s enough here to explore for a good 30 minutes, picking out details like the davits or the outline of the funnel. Our favourite part is the stern, where you can often spot nudibranchs clinging to the metalwork. Go in the morning; the light then really highlights the wreck’s profile.

Location
Budva & Bar, Montenegro, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
41.883335, 19.233334
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
25m

Wreck History - BOLANA

Year Sunk
1943
Vessel Type
unknown
Cause
unknown

The wreck known as the Bolana is a World War II mystery resting in the beautiful Adriatic waters of Montenegro. It sank on October 18, 1943, a period of intense military activity in the region following the Italian armistice. While its specific identity and the exact cause of its sinking are not definitively known, its date of loss places it squarely in the middle of the conflict, making a wartime event-such as an air attack or a naval mine-the most probable cause.

Lying at a maximum depth of 25 meters, the Bolana is a fantastic dive for advanced recreational divers. The wreck is significantly broken up, its 'dangerous' classification a testament to the violent nature of its demise. This scattered structure, however, has created a complex and fascinating artificial reef. Divers can weave through sections of the hull and superstructure, which are now heavily encrusted with sponges and home to schools of fish, octopus, and moray eels. The Bolana offers a poignant glimpse into history, an anonymous casualty of war now enjoying a second life as a vibrant marine habitat.

Marine Protected Area: Park prirode Stari Ulcinj

Nearby Dive Sites in Budva & Bar

Nearest Dive Centres to BOLANA

Marine Life in Budva & Bar

Home to 71 recorded species including 40 reef fish, 16 sharks & rays, 4 other, 3 seagrass & algae, 3 whales & dolphins, 2 octopus & squid.

Notable Species