Herceg Novi divides its diving between two distinct sub-areas: the Luštica Peninsula and Mamula Island. Luštica offers reef and wall dives alongside wreck sites and the light-filled caverns of Plava spilja, while Mamula concentrates history and drama in the former submarine tunnel, the shallow-to-deep wall at Rt Dobrec, and the steamship wreck of the Tihani. Most sites are boat access only. Marine life skews toward invertebrates, with Crab, Eleven-armed Sea Star, Mediterranean Cardinalfish and Bream observed across nearly every site. Water stays cool through spring, warming into autumn.
2 areas
Monthly water temperature across Herceg Novi's sites, from satellite sea-surface data corrected for depth. The band shows the site-to-site spread.
Water temperature holds steady and cool from winter through spring, then climbs gradually through summer and peaks in October and November before dropping again in December. The warmest and most popular months run from May through October, coinciding with the best-rated dive conditions. Sites on the exposed flanks of Mamula Island and Luštica Peninsula can carry currents, so divers should check conditions before committing to the deeper walls and wrecks.
17 operators
Kotor, Montenegro
Kotor, Montenegro
Dobrota, Montenegro
Water temperature around Herceg Novi ranges from about 15°C in January to 20°C in October, based on satellite sea-temperature data for its dive sites.
In the warm season (about 20°C) a 5mm suit is comfortable in Herceg Novi; in the coldest months (about 15°C) step up to a 7mm or semi-dry suit.
Fin maps 11 sites in Herceg Novi (11 scuba diving sites), organised into 2 areas.
Across Herceg Novi's dive sites, May, June, July, August, September and October are most often reported as the best months to visit.
Invertebrates are a constant presence, with Crab and Snail observed at virtually every site, and Eleven-armed Sea Star, Mediterranean Cardinalfish and Bream close behind. On walls and reefs you are also likely to spot Banded Coral Shrimp, Cleaner Shrimp and Fireworm. Less frequent but confirmed sightings include Mediterranean Moray, Common Octopus, European Common Cuttlefish and even Blue Shark and Leopard Shark.
Most sites in Herceg Novi are rated for intermediate divers, reflecting a mix of walls, wrecks and cave dives that benefit from prior experience. Plava spilja on the Luštica Peninsula is the one beginner-rated site, offering a sheltered cavern with filtered blue light at manageable depths. The advanced Tihani shipwreck sits deep and is best reserved for divers with solid buoyancy control.
Luštica Peninsula sites tend to blend reef structures, walls and wrecks with the accessible cave experience at Plava spilja, giving divers varied topography across a single sub-area. Mamula Island leans more heavily into history and dramatic terrain, anchored by the former submarine tunnel, the Tihani steamship wreck and the deep wall at Platamuni. Both sub-areas require boat access for all their sites.
Every dive site in Herceg Novi is accessed by boat, with no shore entries listed across either sub-area. Several operators serve the region, including Sea Rush, Adventure Montenegro and Kotor Bay Tours, among others. Booking through a local operator is the straightforward way to reach both Luštica Peninsula and Mamula Island sites.
