Malta might be a small country, but divers have come to know it as the European wreck diving capital. After all, the country offers a plethora of historical and scuttled wrecks that can be explored by divers. Thanks to these wrecks, diving in Malta is a bucket list experience for many divers.
Earlier in the year, a conference made me head to Malta, and of course, I decided to extend my time in Malta. Over the course of two months, I logged 18 dives during which I got to see how much the Maltese underwater world offers divers. Hereby, I only did recreational dives within the 40-meter depth limit. And after a trip full of wreck dives, I can confirm that Malta has some of the best diving in Europe.
If you have more than a few days, I recommend splitting the diving trip between the main island and Gozo. As a result, this article focuses on the recreational dive sites of the Maltese main island.
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At a Glance: Diving in Malta
Best Dive Center: Dive Systems in Sliema
Best Place to Stay: AX The Palace
About Scuba Diving in Malta
Thanks to the numerous wrecks and usually great visibility, diving in Malta is fantastic. However, diving in Malta is sporty. After all, most recreational wreck dives tend to be done as shore dives, so divers usually have to swim to many of the wrecks for 10 to 15 minutes. And then there are often at least a few steps that divers have to walk down and up while carrying their gear.
Prior to coming to Malta, I never had to swim out that long while staying at a depth between 5 to 10 meters, so let me tell you that diving the Maltese can be a learning experience even if you have already logged your fair share of dives – especially if you are used to boat diving like me.
It is allowed to enter many of the scuttled wrecks, so ensure that you do not have any dragging gear. Meanwhile, it is not allowed to dive into historical wrecks that are protected by Heritage Malta.
While I was in Malta, the visibility was only around 20 meters. And while that would be good for many Mediterranean diving destinations, it was quite low for Malta. In fact, the visibility is often above 30 meters.
Malta has a hyperbaric chamber, but as always, you should do what you can to decrease the risk of needing it by keeping an eye on your non-decompression limit, depth, and air consumption, and doing decompression stops if necessary. There have been recent cases where dive buddies faced criminal charges after dive accidents, so do your utmost to dive in a safe manner.
The Best Time to Dive in Malta
It is possible to dive in Malta year-round, but the summer months from June to September with their excellent visibility and warm water are the main diving season.
The dive boats are typically in the water from May to September, so not all dive sites in Malta are available in the winter months. Weather-depending, the boat of Dive Systems is sometimes in the water as early as March.
The winter months have the lowest water temperature of around 14°C. While I was in Malta, the water temperature was 15°C at the beginning of April and between 17 to 18°C near the end of the month.
Usually, the water temperature in Malta rises around 1°C per week during that time of the year. However, I experienced it dropping 2°C to 16.1°C after two stormy days with heavy rain.
In June, the water temperature reaches 21°C before rising to 24.5°C in July. August sees the warmest water temperature with up to 26°C before the water starts to cool down again. In September, the water temperature in Malta is still a pleasant 24 to 25°C, and in October you can expect around 22°C.
Hereby, the listed water temperature is only the surface temperature and can drop up to 3 to 4°C at a depth of 30 meters. In my experience, the temperature starts to drop somewhere between 10 and 20 meters.
Wreck Diving in Malta: The Best Dive Sites
While Malta’s main island also offers other dive sites, the wreck dives are its main appeal. Among them, the following are the most interesting wrecks for recreational divers:
1. Um El Faroud Wreck
The Um El Faroud is my favorite wreck dive in Malta, and I was fortunate enough to dive it three times. It is one of the most famous wreck dives of the Mediterranean and there is a lot to be seen. Due to this, you need at least two dives to see the wreck. However, I encourage you to plan more dives on it.
In fact, Mark of Dive Systems said you could do more than 200 dives on the Um El Faroud wreck and still find new things. Hereby, it seems to be especially intriguing to dive it over the years. Another diver who first dove it just after it was scuttled said it had only become more interesting over time (including the fact that it broke apart). According to him, it was “nice to see details in the beginning, but it is much more interesting now”.
Built in 1969 in England for a Libyan company, the 109.53 meters long, 15.5 meters wide, and 22-meter-high oil tanker sustained structural damage during an explosion while in the Malta Dry Dock on February 3, 1995. Sadly nine shipyard workers died, and divers can see a plaque dedicated to them on the wreck.
After a debate over who would take the ship, it eventually fell into the hands of divers who scuttled on September 2, 1998 near Wied il-Zurieq.
While it was scuttled in one piece, it split apart during a heavy storm in the winter of 2005/2006. Thanks to the bow half being twisted north, it now feels like you are exploring an actual wreck instead of an intentionally scuttled ship. Due to the depth of the dive site, it is only suitable for advanced and technical divers.
dive 1: stern — 35.7 meters — 53 minutes
The dive is usually done shore dive that starts at the Blue Grotto Canal after assembling your gear in a steep area where the dive shops park the trucks. Trucks might squeeze through while you are changing tanks after your first dive, so even the assembly process is an adventure.
After walking down a long staircase, divers descend in a buoy-surrounded area of the canal before following the wall to the right. There is a small crack in the wall where you might see big groupers, but sadly I never spotted one. From there, you continue along the wall for three minutes and then turn into the open water.
A ‘sand highway’ through seagrass fields will lead you right to the wreck. One sea grass batch is supposed to have the shape of Africa, but it took a lot of imagination to see it. In total, it takes around 10 minutes to the stern of the ship.
Once there, it is best to look at the massive, sponge-cover propeller first. With a depth of 36 meters, it is the deepest part of the dive site, and you will want as much time as possible to look at it. Therefore, it is good to dive EAN 29 or EAN 30 to maximize your non-decompression limit.
After that, you can then work your way upwards around the stern half of the Faroud and look at the funnel on which you can still see some details of a logo. If you are lucky, you will see barracudas schooling around it. Be sure to keep an eye on your air consumption, as it will take you at least 10 minutes to dive back.
The dive ends with a safety stop in the Blue Grotto Canal during which it is vital to be mindful of the tourist boats above you. During my first dive, there were several mauve stingers, which made for an interesting photo subject.
dive 2: bow — 29 meters — 51 minutes
During my second dive to the Um El Faroud, I ended up exploring the bow section. Given that you have to swim along the entire length of the wreck, it takes around 15 minutes to reach the bow. Along the way, you pass over the section where the wreck split in two.
If you want to spend some time at the sandy bottom in front of the ship, so you can look up at the imposing sight of the wreck seemingly swimming on the sand, you should not spend more than a minute near the split. Due to taking photos, my order was reversed, but it is best to first dive down to the sandy bottom before exploring the main deck.
Keep in mind that it will take 15 minutes to swim back if you make no navigation errors, so you have to be very conscious of your air consumption.
dive 3: interior (kitchen & engine room) — 30.8 meters — 57 minutes
If you only spent a minute at the propeller, you could see the kitchen and engine room during the first dive, but I highly encourage you to split it into two dives so you can take your time. It is what I did, and I am more than happy about it, as it gave me the time to look at smaller details.
Upon reaching the stern, I first ended up in the kitchen at the very back of the ship. Here, one can clearly recognize the mixer even if it is now covered in rust. Some cables are hanging from the walls and ceiling, so pay attention and do not get entangled.
Upon leaving the kitchen, I ended up along the outer passages towards the engine room. Given the construction, air bubbles have formed on the ceiling and created a mirror effect.
The engine room is a real highlight of the Um El Faroud and you have to dive down between steel beams to reach the engine. It goes down two more floors from the top of the engine, and every wreck lover will have an amazing time looking at the valves, pipes, and cylinders.
Knowing how to frog kick is vital during this dive so you stir up as little rust and particles as possible while inside the wreck and particularly inside the engine room. Do not be the diver that ruins the visibility for everyone and be aware of where your fins are at all times.
Being able to explore some of the interior of the wreck made it my favorite dive in Malta, and the fact that I got to see a John Dory during the safety stop just felt like the chef’s kiss at the end of a fantastic dive.
2. P29
dive data: 35.7 meters — 45 minutes
Aside from the Um El Faroud, the P29 patrol boat is the wreck dive one has to do in Malta. The 51-meter-long wreck is significantly more overgrown than its sister ship P31 in Comino and is an ideal dive site for advanced divers. It rests in an upright position on sandy ground.
Originally a minesweeper called ‘Boltenhagen’, it was built in the Peene Werft for the East German Navy. The Armed Forces of Malta purchased it in 1997, and after using it as a patrol boat for 12 years, it was decided to scuttle it. It was turned into an artificial reed in 2007 after parts that could damage the marine environment were removed.
The dive begins with a walk down a ramp followed by a small staircase leading into the shallow Susie’s Pool. Hereby, I recommend putting on fins once you are in the shallow pool as the last steep is quite deep. If there is a jellyfish bloom, the entry pool will likely be full of them, so you need a hood and gloves. I ended up having to hide my hands in my armpits as I did not pack any gloves that would allow me to properly use my camera, and it was not ideal.
Like many other wreck dives in Malta, the P29 dive is a shore dive that requires a longer swim to the wreck. The swimming time to the wreck is between 5 and 10 minutes whereby it is vital to follow your guide or to use a compass bearing to find it as there are no distinct natural features.
While the top part of the wreck is at a depth of 21 meters, the bow is between 33 and 36 meters deep. Therefore, it is best to look at the bow section first before heading to the shallower sections including the ‘machine gun’ on the main deck and the mast. Funnily enough, said ‘gun’ actually consists of car parts, but according to a local instructor “everyone wants a photo of it”. The most recent addition to the wreck is a bell attached to the mast.
If you are diving in Malta in late April or early May, you will likely see parts of the wreck covered with white squid eggs. Shine a light at them, and if you are lucky, you will be able to see the baby squid move inside them.
Given the depth of the wreck and that you have to swim back at the end of the dive, it is vital to keep an eye on your non-deco time and air consumption. Also, be aware that there are sometimes currents on the sides of the wreck.
3. MV Rozi
Originally known as Rossmore and Rossgarth, the 40-meter-long tug boat was built in Bristol in 1957 and came to Malta in 1972 where it was used in the Grand Harbour.
The Rozi was the first boat to be scuttled in Ċirkewwa in 1992, but originally the wreck was something to be seen during submarine cruises for tourists that were organized by Captain Morgan Cruises instead of a popular dive site. Therefore, the engine and propeller were removed before the ship was scuttled.
I was there for the dive briefing but ended up skipping the dive itself. When diving in Malta, it is better to call a dive than to tackle a deep dive with a long swim when you feel unwell for any reason.
This wreck dive is another shore dive and you enter the water with a giant stride from one of two platforms. Be sure to use the lower one if you enter the water with a camera. After that, it is a 100-meter swim along the reef to the wreck that rests in a sandy area. Given that it is 35 meters deep, it is a dive site for advanced divers.
Highlights of this wreck include the rudder where one has a greater likelihood of spotting nudibranchs and the anchor of the Rozi that rests a short swim southeast of the wreck.
4. Tugboat 2
dive data: 20.4 meters — 66 minutes
Tugboat 2 is a 30-meter-long, 9.5-meter-high boat that now rests 22 meters deep in an upright position on sandy ground. Thanks to this depth, the wreck is suitable for all levels of divers and also a great place for a check dive at the beginning of your Malta diving trip. You have to bring an SMB due to boat traffic in the area.
Given its proximity to Exiles Reef, you get to dive along said reef en route to the wreck. It is 250 meters away from the shore, so it is a 15 to 20 minutes long swim to the wreck. That is unless you have a DPV. Due to this distance, it is a good representative of what shore wreck dives in Malta are like. While the wreck was originally 20 meters away from the reef, a storm in 2016 pushed the wreck onto the reef.
Tugboat 2 was scuttled in June 2013, and as such, it is the most recent wreck of the main island (that has weathered the hands of time). While it is covered in seaweed, it is not yet as overgrown as other wrecks, and at the time I dove there, I could recognize the ship’s plaque. It is still possible to see the Maltese cross and read that it was built in the Malta Dry Docks.
It is possible to enter the wheelhouse and the engine room of the wreck. Hereby, even less experienced divers can enter the wheelhouse through the wide windows and door to get close to the fish using it as a hiding spot.
Other Recreational Wreck Dives in Malta
If you want to do more wreck dives in Malta, the following historical plane wrecks are also worth exploring. Both were on my original list of dive sites I wanted to explore, but I did not get around to doing so during my time in Malta. Due to unfortunate wave conditions, diving the Blenheim Bomber wreck on the southeastern side of the island was not possible, so it stays on the list for my next diving trip to Malta.
5. Blenheim Bomber, Marsaxlokk — located at a depth of 39 to 42 meters, this WWII plane wreck is a fantastic dive site for aviation lovers. It rests on a sandy ground and divers can see the wings and radial engine that are still in great condition. One propeller is also still in place. Due to its location, it is a boat dive.
6. Bristol Beaufighter, Sliema — The 35 to 38 meters deep wreck also rests on sandy ground, but it is upside down. While it is partially buried in sand, divers can make out the wings, and the main fuselage. Due to its upside-down position, it is also possible to see the extended landing gear. It is located 900 meters offshore from Sliema and is usually done as a boat dive.
If you are looking for shallow historical boat wrecks in Malta, there are also two WWII wrecks in Marsamxett Harbour between Valletta and Sliema. The HMS Maori is located in St. Elmo Bay at the bottom of Valletta’s fortified walls, while the X127/Carolita is located off Manoel Island.
Other Dive Sites in Malta
While diving in Malta is mostly about wreck diving, the main island also offers dive sites for those not interested in wrecks. However, you should keep in mind, that Gozo is a better option if you are looking for natural formations.
7. Exiles Reef
Many divers, including me, only pass by Exiles Reef en route to the wreck of Tugboat 2, but it is an interesting shore dive with a surprising abundance of fish. With a rather shallow depth between 10 and 20 meters, it is ideal for beginner divers but also makes for a great night dive.
As you swim over the Posidonia meadows and sandy areas, you will come across large schools of cow breams (Salema porgy), and if you are lucky, you might even spot an octopus.
8. Għar Lapsi Caves & Middle Reef
dive data: 11.3 meters — 42 minutes
Għar Lapsi is a dive site that consists of several parts including the sea caves and the Middle Reef that I got to explore. In typical Malta fashion, getting to the entry point requires walking down around 100 steps to a shallow entrance pool that also makes for a great swimming spot.
The sea caves are four small caves in a row, and while diving through them, one gets to see some nice light rays. However, this section is unfortunately only 40 meters long so you only spent a small portion of the dive in them.
Given that I logged some cenote dives while in Mexico last year, I am no newbie to diving in overhead environments. And yet, the first few meters of the Għar Lapsi sea cave felt intense, as the dive starts with a narrow section during which you cannot see an opening. Therefore, it might not be the best dive site in Malta for you if you are claustrophobic.
Generally speaking, I think it is a nice dive site if you are looking for a different environment after wreck diving and want to take some photos of the picturesque wide cave opening through which light enters the caves. Please note that the caves are rather shallow and at some points only 2 meters deep so good buoyancy control is vital.
The rest of the dive has you exploring the Għar Lapsi Middle Reef with its seagrass meadows. While diving there in late April, the only highlights of this section were a small fan shell (Pinna nobilis or Pinna rudis) and a cuttlefish. But apparently, there are a lot of nudibranchs from mid-May onwards. Overall, this area of the dive site is suitable for newbie divers.
Be sure to exit the water at the boat ramp on the left, as doing so means you only have to walk up 2/3 of the steps. It is also where you will encounter curious cats waiting to see if the divers (or fishers) brought them some fish.
Deeper Historical Wrecks in Malta
While I only explored wrecks within the recreational limits, there are also many historical wrecks at greater depths. These wrecks are protected due to their historical significance, and as such, divers have to pay a fee ranging from 6€ (Fairey Swordfish plane wreck) to 40€ (HMS Urge). The fees are used to fund more wreck research in Malta and a full fee overview can be found on the Dive Systems website.
The UCHU Underwater Cultural Heritage Unit of Heritage Malta continues making more wrecks available, with the most recent addition being the Tower Wreck (105 m) in Xlendi Bay, Gozo. You can find out more about these wrecks on the Malta Virtual Underwater Museum website.
Dive centers require the permission of Heritage Malta to organize dives to historical wrecks, and only eight dive centers in Malta and three in Gozo have this permission. So choose your dive center accordingly if you want to do some TEC dives in Malta. Dive Systems is one of these dive centers, and their boat also has an additional required permission.
Dive Centers in Malta
Given how popular diving in Malta is, it is no surprise that there are many dive centers all over the island. However, I recommend choosing a dive center in Sliema or St. Julian’s if you want to make the most of your time in Malta. After all, both of these towns are close to the capital city of Valletta while also having a lot to offer in their own right.
Hereby, I prefer Sliema (it is where I lived for a month). Aside from being a great place to stay while in Malta, Sliema is also the location of Dive Systems, my favorite dive center on the main island.
Dive Systems
Dating back to 1978, Dive Systems was among the first dive centers in Malta. Located in a prime location right at Exiles Bay, this dive center has a building with two levels and amazing facilities.
The first floor serves as a dive shop and is where the classroom is located, while the downstairs area is equipped with everything from gear storage, a washing station, a tank filling station, and hot showers.
Thanks to this setup, you do not have to worry about a thing as you can quickly grab your gear from the drying racks and put it into your dedicated box before you head to the dive sites in the morning, and wash your gear at the end of the day.
It is a diver’s dream as everything you need is in one place and more than well organized.
And the team is incredible as well and the highly experienced instructors know the dive sites like the back of their hands. I had the pleasure of diving with several of their instructors and every single one did an excellent job. Hereby, I want to give a special kudos to Mark for his incredibly detailed dive briefings thanks to which I could have navigated to the wrecks on my own even when the dive site was new to me.
The shop section is big, so you can buy scuba gear if you need a replacement for something. My inflator hose turned into a jacuzzi on my last day of diving with DiveSystems, and I was more than happy to be able to replace it before heading to Gozo.
All in all, the facilities and team of Dive Systems are way above average and a prime example of what a dive center should be like. And the fact that their boat ’Simo’ has a diver lift is just the cherry on top.
Dive Systems caters to everyone from new divers doing their OWD course in Exiles Bay to TEC divers. The dive center is equipped with a Trimix filling station and can therefore fill a variety of TEC diving tanks including CCR tanks.
The dive center is open all year except for the first two weeks of January and Christmas Day, so be sure to reach out to them when you plan your Malta diving trip.
Marine Life in Malta
Malta is not a diving destination known for its marine life or vibrant coral reefs. In fact, the Maltese waters were severely overfished for a long time. But thankfully, marine life is slowly recovering in areas that offer the fish protection. As such, divers can now find a lot of fish in and around the wrecks and near Posidonia meadows.
Common species include groupers, various breams including cow breams and two-banded sea breams, Mediterranean damselfish, parrot fish, and amberjacks.
And to the dismay of divers, fireworms are also very common. They can be found everywhere, so be sure to avoid accidentally touching them at all costs. Their bristles are venom-filled and you do not want to get stung by them.
Common sights
Fan Worms (Mediterranean & Peacock)
Flying Gurnards
Mediterranean Moray Eel
Common Cuttlefish
Barracuda
Common nudibranchs:
Pink Flabellina (common)
Pilgrim Hervia (common)
Elysia Viridis
Thuridilla Hopei
Okenia Picoensis
Occasional sights while diving in Malta:
Mauve Stinger (occasional jellyfish bloom): The entry areas of some dive sites were full of them while I was diving in Malta
John Dory (rare; most likely in colder months): I managed to see one during my safety stop in the Blue Grotto canal
Monkfish (rare): I missed it, but my dive buddy spotted it while diving at the Rozi wreck
Malta Wreck Diving Packing List
Given that you will be wreck diving, it is best to travel to Malta with your own scuba diving gear. Aside from a mask, fins, BCD, dive computer, and regulator, you should bring boots with thick soles as many recreational wreck dives in Malta are shore dives.
Depending on the water temperature, you should pack either a 5mm or 7mm wetsuit alongside gloves and a hood. Hereby, you should note that it is advised to have a hood and gloves year-round, as jellyfish blooms can occur. Additionally, you need a diving torch, an SMB, and at least one reel.
If you want to take some photos of the wrecks, you should also remember to bring your underwater camera setup or a diving phone case (like the Divevolk Seatouch 4 Max). Please bear in mind, that you also need video lights if you want to film inside the wrecks.
Malta Diving Costs
Diving in Malta is often shore diving, and a single dive without rental gear tends to cost around 50€ and 60€ with rental gear. Depending on the dive center, the base fee for 2 dives is between 85 and 100€. If you book packages, all dive centers offer a discount that can be up to 15% if you book at least ten dives.
Therefore, diving in Malta is slightly more expensive than diving in other European destinations like Gran Canaria if you only want to dive for a day, but in the same price range if you are planning a longer diving holiday.
In Malta, a single boat dive costs an additional 20€ and a double boat dive 30€. Hereby, there is often an additional fee for long-distance boat rides such as the one to Comino. Diving Nitrox tends to cost an additional 5€ per dive.
Where to stay in Malta?
It is always a good idea to stay close to the dive center, so I recommend staying at the ocean-facing side of Sliema. It is a great area with many fantastic restaurants and is also close to the local dive centers. The apartment I rented with a friend was only a 10-minute walk away from Dive Systems, and it was perfect.
However, chances are, that you will not stay in Malta for an entire month, so I recommend staying at the 5-star hotel AX The Palace or the nearby Hostel Malti (in St. Julians). I stayed there at the end and the beginning of my time in Malta, and both were great options.
Hotel AX The Palace
AX The Palace is a modern 5-star hotel in the heart of Sliema within walking distance of my favorite dive center. The modern rooms have comfy beds and even a small office area where you can get some work done. But the highlight is the great view from the balcony of the upper-level rooms. I had a room facing the ocean and got to see a beautiful sunset over the ocean.
If you want to, you can order breakfast in the room and enjoy the view while eating. However, I only recommend doing so on days you do not have a set schedule. Please note, that it is not a traditional Malteses breakfast, so it is best to eat elsewhere if that is what you are looking for. Meanwhile, you should eat dinner at the fantastic Asian restaurant on the top floor.
The rooftop pool is another highlight of this hotel, as it’s the perfect place to relax on sunny days. On colder, cloudy days, you can do what I did and spend some time at the indoor pool area that also has a small sauna and steam room.
It is not a diving hotel, so there are no places to dry your gear in the room, but ultimately it would not be necessary. After all, you can wash and dry your gear at the dive center. I stayed there for two nights at the end of my time in Sliema and simply picked up my gear at the dive center once it was dry.
Hostel Malti
Hostel Malti is located in St. Julian’s and is a great option if you are traveling on a budget or prefer to spend your money on experiences. Aside from hostel rooms in the main building, there are several private rooms in a side building. There is a kitchen and lounge area in the main building, where you can meet fellow travelers and expats.
In the warmer months, you will love the rooftop area that also has a jacuzzi. Please note that the water is not particularly warm in the cooler months like April, so it is not the best option if you want to relax.
How long to stay in Malta if you want to scuba dive?
If you are wondering how long you should stay in Malta to see all the highlights of this island’s underwater world and to see at least some of the things not to be missed in Malta, the exact answer depends on your certification level.
If you want to have enough time for the most popular recreational wreck dives in Malta, you need at least three diving days. But given the number of fantastic dive sites in Malta, you could easily extend it to a week without running out of new places to see underwater.
Malta has a lot to offer aside from diving. If you have never been to Malta and want to explore its cultural side, you need at least two days to explore the capital city Valletta, the Three Cities, and Sliema. Mdina is also worth a visit.
If you want to see the natural highlights of the main island, I recommend renting a car for one day. Doing so allows you to make the most of your day as you are not constrained to the bus schedule.
If you have two weeks, I highly recommend spending a few days in Gozo after you have explored the main island.
FAQ
Does Malta have good scuba diving?
Thanks to a combination of historic and scuttled wrecks, Malta has become known as the European wreck diving capital. In addition to that, the waters off the coast of Malta are known for their excellent visibility which often exceeds 30 meters in the summer months. Therefore, it should come as no surprise, that Malta offers excellent scuba diving.
Is diving in Malta suitable for new divers?
The main island of Malta offers a large variety of dive sites and some of them are suitable for newer divers. However, only a few wreck dives in Malta are suitable for divers without a depth certification – at least, if you want to see all the wrecks have to offer.
Given the depth of the dive sites and that the main island is all about wreck diving, I recommend planning your wreck diving trip when you are more experienced and feel comfortable exploring wrecks between 30 to 40 meters. Nonetheless, it is worth it to include one to three days of diving in your itinerary, as Malta and its sister islands offer several great dives in the 18-meter depth range.
Which wreck dives in Malta are suitable for Open Water Divers?
At the time of writing, the main island of Malta offers five wrecks that are suitable dive sites for Open Water Divers. Hereby, Tugboat 2, Tugboat 10, and Tugboat St. Michael are boats that were scuttled for divers, while the X127/Carolita and the HMS Maori were both sunk during the Second World War.
The P31 wreck is another comparatively shallow wreck dive and is located at the country’s third largest island Comino.
Diving the other Islands
Malta’s main island has a lot of fantastic wreck dives, but if you want to experience the vast range of different dive sites this country has to offer, you should also dive in Gozo and Comino.
While one day of boat diving in Comino allows you to see the highlights of the small island, I recommend planning at least three diving days in Gozo. After all, the island offers many incredible dive sites that should not be missed. Here is what you need to know about diving the other Maltese Islands:
Gozo
Malta’s smaller sister island Gozo also boasts four scuttled wrecks at Xatt L-Ammar, but the most famous dive site is the Blue Hole. Once framed by the Azure Window, the remains of the natural formation have only enhanced the fantastic dive site.
However, there it is not the only dive site worth exploring, as Double Arch and Inland Sea also feature intriguing natural formations. Additionally, you can also dive into some smaller caves including Cathedral Cave and Billinghurst Cave.
And if you love macro photography, you will more than enjoy diving in Xlendi Bay and at Ras Il-Ħobż (Middle Finger). So be sure to bring your macro lens!
Read this article about the best recreational dive sites in Gozo.
Comino
Comino has fewer dive sites than the two biggest Maltese islands, but it is worth the boat trip. The two best dive sites on the small island are the Santa Maria Caves and the P31 wreck.
Hereby, the caves and the surrounding area feature interesting geological features including a Z-shaped cut that looks like Zorro visited the dive site.
Meanwhile, the P31 wreck is the sister ship of the popular P29 wreck dive in Malta. Given that it is a shallower dive site, it is ideal for macro photography.
Read all about it here: Diving in Comino
Planning a trip?
Check out these useful websites and resources I use to plan my own adventures.
Roundup: Diving in Malta
If you love wreck diving, Malta is the ideal diving destination for you. With wrecks all around the main island, alongside an additional five closer to the two biggest sister islands, you will not run out of wrecks to explore. And given that the plants growing on the wrecks keep changing, the country is worth it to be revisited. Especially, as the Malta Tourism Authority keeps scuttling new wrecks.
While I only explored wrecks within recreational diving limits, I loved diving in Malta and can only encourage you to plan a trip to the Mediterranean country. It might be a small country, but it offers a lot of interesting scuttled wrecks alongside deeper historical wrecks that are ideal for tec divers. So plan your trip there now so you can explore wrecks like the Um El Faroud yourself!
More about Diving
If you love scuba diving, you might also be interested in these diving guides:
Cozumel Diving
Diving in Murcia
Did any information about Scuba Diving in Malta surprise you?
Let me know in the comments below!
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This post about diving in Malta is based on a collaboration with a dive center. As always, all opinions expressed in this post are my own and not influenced in any way.
