Cavtat & Konavle · Croatia · Wreck
Amphora Site
Ancient jars still stacked where the ship went down, guarded by a metal cage
An ancient cargo of amphorae on the Big Shallows (pličina Velika), north-west of the entrance to the Bay of Cavtat. It is the largest and best preserved ancient amphora wreck on the eastern Adriatic coast, and divers come to see the jars in place on the seabed under the protection of the Croatian Ministry of Culture.
Also known as Antique amphora wreck, Big Shallows.
Where it is and how deep
No published position for this site — the map shows Cavtat & Konavle and its other sites; operators know the mooring.
The dive
The dive is on the cargo itself, which lies on the Big Shallows at 27 m. A metal cage encloses the main site to keep thieves away from the amphorae. Morays, lionfish and stonefish hide in the gaps between the jars, along with smaller fish and other small organisms.
The wreck
- Vessel
- Ancient amphora cargo ship
- Type
- Ancient merchant ship
- Cause
- Unknown
- Lies
- Amphora cargo on the Big Shallows at 27 m, the main site fenced in by a metal cage
The type of amphora dates the cargo to the 2nd century AD. The find was made in 1996 by the owner of the Epidaurum diving centre, and the site has since been preserved with the help of the Croatian Ministry of Culture. Because the amphorae are worth a good deal of money, the main site was fenced in with a metal cage, and only that one centre holds the concession to bring visitors to this underwater museum.
Marine life and season
The sources we used don't single out particular species here.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Prime | Prime | Prime | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair |
Season follows Cavtat & Konavle: Summer is the warm stretch, with the sea at 21 to 26 °C; January brings the coolest water of the year.
Know before you go
- Croatia forbids individual diving at archaeological sites, so the cargo can be visited only on a guided dive.
Questions divers ask
Can the Amphora Site at Cavtat be dived without a guide?+
No. Individual diving at archaeological sites is forbidden in Croatia, and the Epidaurum diving centre in Cavtat holds the only concession to take divers to the cargo.
Sources
- “The deep blue” treasures of Cavtat — Adriatic Luxury Hotels
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Lamboglia 2 amphorae from the 1st century BC, the area's oldest wreck
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Eight grain jars of about 2,000 litres each, sunk with their ship
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