Experience the Thrill of Diving from Stari Most Bridge

“You up for this?” asked Macca Sherifi’s dive instructor as he stood on the ledge of Mostar’s towering, 16th-century Stari Most bridge, readying himself to jump.

Zipped up in a wetsuit and clinging on to the railings, Sherifi started to question whether he was. The famously emerald-green Neretva River that flows through Bosnia and Hercegovina was in full view below him – and the 75ft plunge looked more terrifying than ever.

This is really far, he remembers thinking, as tourists gathered around him, eagerly snapping photos in anticipation of the jump. Little did they know it was a tourist about to take the leap rather than the trained divers often seen doing it for money in the same spot.

No backing out now, he thought.

He reminded himself of the certification training he had recently completed with the local Mostari Diving Club – the only way tourists get qualified to take the plunge.

Step forward, don’t throw yourself off or dive headfirst. Put your hands by your side and make a pencil.

He took a deep breath – and launched. “It was so exhilarating; I mean it’s properly high,” he says, as he describes the big jolt that went through his body when he hit the water. “It didn’t hurt – but you could see how it could be pretty catastrophic if you did it wrong.” He remembers how tourists clapped from the bridge as his head bobbed up from the surface of the water.

Diving into History

Sherifi is one of several daring tourists who have undertaken the extreme diving experience at the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Yet folks have been diving from the Stari Most for more than 450 years.

Construction of the bridge is thought to have been completed around 1567, when the town was under Ottoman rule. The history goes that young people would jump off it in a bid to entertain wealthy onlookers, sparking a tradition that is still alive today.

A Monument Destroyed, Then Rebuilt

In the 1990s, Stari Most became a symbol of resilience and hope following its destruction and subsequent reconstruction after the Croat-Bosniak War, one offshoot of the larger Bosnian War. During that tragic conflict, it’s estimated that 100,000 people died, with a further two million displaced.

This year marks 30 years since the relentless shelling struck the Balkan-Islamic arched structure, causing it to completely collapse into the waters below. It would take more than a decade before the bridge was rebuilt. Next year will mark 20 years since the reconstructed bridge was unveiled.

Many Ways to Take the Plunge

Today, the bridge is the setting for a diving contest between local divers held annually at the end of July. For eight years in a row, it has also been a popular stop for the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series.

This September, thousands of tourists lined the riverbanks to watch athletes from all over the world compete, packing the town’s cobbled streets and nearby shops, bars, and cafes.

Yet diving isn’t the only way to enjoy the beautiful waters near Mostar. The strong current makes the Neretva a popular place for rafting, with tour groups running day excursions from Mostar to Konjic (about an hour away), including options for breakfast and BBQ lunch.

In addition, kayaking and canoeing on the calmer river Buna – which flows off the Neretva about 10km (6 miles) south of Mostar – is also growing in popularity.

Elsewhere, the idyllic Kravica Waterfall, located in Kravica nature park, is the place to head during Mostar’s sweltering summer months; the waterfall is open for swimming between June and September. Visitors can easily reach the waterfall with a car or by joining a round-trip tour from a local travel agency.

Back in town, stroll through Mostar’s fairy tale–like streets for a sunset you’ll never forget. On a good night, the sky will fill with orange and pink hues, while spotlights illuminate the architectural details of Stari Most as the sky darkens.

You’ll quickly see why this monument defines life for Mostar and its residents.