Lake Ohrid, said to be Europe’s oldest lake, straddles the border between Albania and Macedonia. The Ohrid region is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the quaint lakeside town is one of the most popular places to visit in the Balkans, with damn good reason. Over 250 archaeological sites with artefacts dating back to the Neolithic period have been excavated in the area around Ohrid. Diving in Lake Ohrid gives you the opportunity to uncover the ancient mystery of this stunning lake.
In Ohrid, the modern world resides side by side with ancient amphitheatres, monasteries and historical wonder.
Ohrid is an archaeological treasure trove.
It is also, an absolutely beautiful place.
Diving in Lake Ohrid
Online information about diving in Lake Ohrid is limited. After enquiring at the hostel, I was pleased to learn that diving in Lake Ohrid is possible. Even better, was that the dive centre was located right inside the Bay of the Bones Museum. The museum is one of the most interesting places to visit in Ohrid, making it a great way to kill two birds with one stone.
Ohrid would be my first lake dive, and there couldn’t have been a more idyllic place to do it. The dive site is located right underneath the Bay of the Bones Museum – stilt houses reconstructing a settlement dating back to the bronze age! It’s an enchanting site for divers.
Diving into Macedonia’s Past
Scuba diving is an exhilarating insight into the underwater world, but when there’s historical allure, it can take the experience to another level. Ohrid is an archaeological treasury, and the lake itself is an entirely different archaeological cup of tea.
For an hour, we uncovered archaeological treasures – ceramics and other artifacts laying at the bottom of the lake – fragments of history, which tell a story of a civilization from IV milennnia ago!
It was startling to me, that evidence of life from so many thousands years ago lay untouched, perfectly preserved. In a hundred years, an entirely different set of people will be on the planet, than those who are today.
That, is completely crazy.
Philosophy lesson over. Seriously, though – travelling isn’t all about partying and pretty sunsets, it is a first class education.
Say Hello to My New Little Friend
Ohrid would be my first lake dive. Having only previously dived in the sea, I wasn’t sure what to expect in terms of aquatic life. Admittedly, the aquatic life wasn’t quite on par with exotic oceans, but there was still plenty of life. I even made friends with this little guy.
There are several buses from Ohrid town to the Bay of the Bones, and Gradiste Beach, which is just a hundred or so metres away. It’s a great place to chill before or after your dive.
After diving, catch the bus to nearby Sveti Naum Monastery to continue your history lesson above ground. Sveti Naum Monastery is the the most photographed attraction in Lake Ohrid, and it deserves to be.
It is beautiful.
Advice for Diving in Lake Ohrid
There are a couple of dive centres around Ohrid. I dived with Amfora. I found the staff there to be really lovely, with great gear, and they were nice enough to e-mail over photos of the dive free-of-charge. The maximum depth of the dive was only 7 metres, making it a great site for experienced divers, and non-divers alike. One dive cost €35 – worth saving up for.
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Wow! That looks like a very cool dive. We had really wanted to get to Macedonia on our most recent trip through the Balkans, but in the end we just couldn’t fit it in. It definitely looks like an amazing country – and so full of history. Safe travels!
What a stunning place looks lie an interesting place to dive too.
What a fantastic place to go diving. The water looks very inviting. Great pictures. 🙂
That dive does look great! I am so close to Macedonia, I may make it there this year. I’ll pin this just in case.
Ooh, you should! 🙂 I feel like everyone going so close to Macedonia but not visiting are seriously missing out.
Gorgeous! I’m dying to get my diving certification. That places look beautiful! The water is so green …
I didn’t know you can actually dive to the archeological site. Seems like an unique experience. Photos are gorgeous. Love the colour of the water.
Wow that looks beautiful and amazing!! I am actually a certified diver, but I haven’t ever gone lake diving.
So cool! Love your little diving partner ;P Great photos 🙂
That’s sounds and looks like so much fun! The pictures from the dive are amazing! I would love to go diving some day!
Great post as always and some really nice photos! Love that one of you and your little waterborne friend! Please tell me you called him Bob! I would love to go diving there it seems like an awesome place! The list of places I really want to go to just keeps getting bigger and bigger!
Thanks Mike. Haha I know my list is never-ending too. I actually thought he was more of a Nigel 🙂
I can’t wait to get certified in Thailand later this year so I can dive in all these great places! Great post and photos! Can’t wait to get to Macedonia 🙂
Thanks Ashley! Ah I did my advanced diving in Thailand. You will have such a blast and then you can put it to good use! Diving is the best 😀
This place is so amazing! So cool that you can dive there too, definitely want to do that someday at a historical place. Maybe I’ll just put this spot on my to-go-to list 😀
You should, Ohrid is ridiculously beautiful! 🙂
Ohrid sounds amazing! Hellz Yeah! travel is a first class education! Partying and having a good time still has its place but I like history, being in the place something happened and activities that showcase what a place is all about.
Damn right Shaun 🙂
Bay of the Bones – what a haunting name! And how fascinating to dive where you can see archaeological artifacts!
I am from Hungary (I have been living in Spain for many years) and it is strange to think that Macedonia is not so far from my country, and I don’t think I know anyone who went there. Everyone from Hungary goes to Croatia or Slovenia (maybe Bosnia), but Macedonia is out of the sight of people. This lake seems beautiful! I hope we can discover Macedonia one day!
Yeah I totally understand. Macedonia doesn’t exactly spring to mind and many people seem to skip it or not go as far as Macedonia. I actually think they’re bonkers… I thought Macedonia was honestly wonderful!
Great blog post. We’re glad that you liked your stay so much. Greetings from Share Macedonia
Thanks Mats! I had such a blast, Ohrid was mad beautiful.
For more information, visit the website http://www.visitohrid.it
This looks like a really exciting place to dive. I love finding artifacts underwater!
Hi Anastasia, just back from a 10-days trip in Albania and Macedonia. Been diving in Ohrid lake twice with the Amfora club -actually after checking your blog before leaving- so that was a good tip. First dive was easy as you described, shallow and in warm water. Games of light when diving under the village were gorgeous. Second dive was tougher, going down -32m to look for the Ohrid lake sponges. The tough part was the temperature as down there it was down 8°C due to cold springs so you just stay there for a couple minutes then up to warmer levels. Down there lots of sediments on the bottom so you can actually ruin visibility when thinning too close. Another experience was to end the dive under the storm and thunder! Amfora Club has very serious guides, actually one of the dive was with an artillery sergeant previously in Macedonian Special Forces. Nice guy and pretty much customer and security minded. So, not the most spectacular dives but so many stories to tell afterwards, and a diving club to recommend 🙂
http://www.dnevnik.mk/default.asp?ItemID=562AE11F04B4FE4BBF5B1A65D9F5B69F
You are in one of our biggest newspapers. I am glad that you had great time in Macedonia.
Hey Mijal! How exciting, thanks for letting me know! I definitely had a great time 🙂
Hello there!! Your post is amazing!! Can I just ask, in your opinion, how long do you think is good to travel Ohrid? I was planning to save 2 days for it (including the dive)
Hey Esther, cheers for the lovely comment! Two days in Ohrid is a good time I think, and you can definitely see most sights in two days – one day to enjoy the town, and one day for the dive, Bay of the Bones and Sveti Naum sounds perfect!
Three would be ideal in the summer time if you want to spend a day at the beach though 🙂
Hey babe!! I’m so sorry that I didn’t see your reply! Thank you for your advice!! Do you happen to remember the hostel that you stayed in? =D
Hey Esther,
No problem, happy to help. I believe I stayed in a hostel called Sunny Hostel! It was great actually, right in the centre, and everyone was very helpful and a nice place to hang out at night 🙂
Hi Sofia
I just read your post, what is the best time to dive in Ohrid considering the fact that the water is really cold there? We are planning a trip in June this year, would it be good?
Radhika