Professional diving, evolving over the last decade in Albania, has emerged as a new leisure activity in the country’s sports tourism. Thanks to recent developments, Albania's rich coastline offers unique opportunities for divers to explore diverse fauna found in the Mediterranean across two different seas, as well as discover various sunken ships that live under these waters.
For enthusiasts interested in diving into the Adriatic Sea, divers can rely on ‘underwater sports centers’ that are located north of Vlora. On the other hand, for divers interested to explore the Ionian stretch of the Albanian coast, there are other similar centers stretching from Vlora to Saranda. In the Adriatic, divers can practice the sport in Vlora Bay and the Cape of Rodon. On the Ionian Coast, divers can alternate between the area north of Saranda, Dhermi, and Jal.
In recent years, Albanian-American expeditions have played a crucial role in discovering old and sunken ships in the area, some reaching depths of 33 meters and lengths of 150 meters. Vlora Bay is home to several such treasures, including sunken ships of considerable antiquity. However, the most famous and popular sunken ship discovered in Albanian waters is the Italian hospital ship “PO,” which sank in March 1941 after being shot down by a British airplane called “Swordfish.”
A ship dating back to the 3rd or 4th century B.C.E was discovered north of Saranda Bay and is considered one of the best-preserved relics in the Mediterranean. Some large amphoras were also found in the vicinity. Beyond these historical objects, divers can observe the beautiful underwater scenery created by green and black algae, corals, and other marine life.
