Montenegro stages two-week underwater cultural heritage event
Held in the Adriatic coastal town of Kotor, “Underwater Cultural Landscapes of Montenegro” will run from 21 April until 3 May. The event aims to illuminate and make accessible to the general public the numerous cultural facets of Montenegro's underwater cultural heritage.
The project will promote underwater cultural assets and target tourism development by using a multidisciplinary approach to present and document the shipwrecks, navigation routes, harbours, anchorages, and other archaeological sites along the Montenegrin coast.
The event includes an open-air exhibition, VR (virtual reality) experiences, and a screening of films. A research unit, the Laboratory of Maritime Archaeology, plans to present its latest shipwreck discoveries along with 3D models, VR products and apps. There will also be workshops and panel discussions all of which are open to the public free of charge.
Montenegro, which has a 300km eastern Adriatic coastline, is keen to start attracting scuba-diving tourists so international visitors are encouraged to take advantage of the diving opportunities in the area during their stay.
One of the shipwrecks that the organisers feel are likely to appeal to international divers include the French WW1 destroyer Dague, which lies 18m deep near the port of Bar. Dague struck a mine in Antivari harbour in February 1915 and sank with the loss of 38 lives.
