From April 7 to 11, the coastal city of Ulcinj became a hub of international collaboration, innovation, and expertise as it hosted a five-day Training in Underwater Archaeology and Digital Documentation of Underwater Cultural Heritage. This high-impact course brought together 20 cultural heritage professionals—ten each from Montenegro and Albania—guided by nine distinguished lecturers and trainers from Montenegro, Croatia, and Albania.

Held under the WRECKS4ALL 2.0 project, co-financed by the Interreg IPA South Adriatic program, the training marks a significant step forward in enhancing regional knowledge, institutional capacities, and long-term cross-border cooperation for the preservation and valorization of underwater cultural heritage.

At the opening ceremony, Ilir Čapuni, on behalf of the Municipality of Ulcinj, and Antonio Lulgjuraj of the Ulcinj Museum, highlighted the crucial role such initiatives play in empowering local and regional capacities for heritage protection and sustainable cultural tourism.

The training was organized by the Center for Archaeology, University of Montenegro, under the auspices of the UNESCO International Centre for Underwater Archaeology in Zadar (ICUA Zadar)—a leading institution in the Adriatic for capacity building and underwater heritage research. The initiative was supported by UNESCO UNITWIN Network for Underwater Archaeology, ensuring adherence to international standards and the promotion of best practices.

Throughout the program, participants delved into the fundamentals of underwater archaeology, including research methodologies, site documentation, artifact conservation, and heritage management principles. A particular focus was placed on advanced digital documentation, with hands-on training in 3D photogrammetry and practical exercises in both terrestrial and controlled underwater environments. Participants not only acquired technical skills but also learned how to integrate 3D modeling and digital tools into their institutional workflows.

The course featured an impressive roster of lecturers, including: Darko Kovačević (Center for Archaeology, University of Montenegro), Mladen Pešić, Director of ICUA Zadar, ICUA Zadar experts Maja Kaleb, Roko Surić, Šime Vrkić, Doris Kurtov, and Anita Jelić, Artur Mecollari, underwater heritage researcher from Albania, Vedran Dorušić, UNESCO award-winner for best practice in underwater heritage tourism.

Beyond its academic context, the training fostered networking, cross-border collaboration, encouraging dialogue, knowledge-sharing, transfer of best practices and the formation of lasting professional networks across Montenegro, Croatia, and Albania.

This initiative clearly demonstrated that underwater cultural heritage is not only about preserving the past—but about shaping a shared future. Through cross border cooperation, innovation, and education, the South Adriatic is moving towards the excellence in heritage protection and digital transformation.