Malta, Gozo and Comino

The Republic of Malta comprises of three inhabited islands in the Mediterranean Sea: Malta, Gozo and Comino.  Malta has been inhabited since 5900BC and as such has an incredibly rich ancient culture.  Together with the blend of cuisine and landscape, the excellent diving and comfortable Mediterranean climate, this magical combination makes Malta a pretty unbeatable holiday destination. 

Gozo is the second largest island and is a quieter destination just a 25 minute ferry ride from its larger sister. With beaches and clear, warm water, its more rural atmosphere makes this relaxing island a place to really unwind.  Comino has several excellent dive sites and is accessable by boat from Malta or Gozo.  Whether you prefer the bustle or quiet as a base, these islands offer some truly world class diving with over 100 sites to choose from.

Malta

The wreck of the Um El Faroud Oil tanker, scuttled in 1998, is widely considered to be one of the best wrecks in the Mediterranean. At 115m in length and weighing 10000 tons it is an impressive wreck.  The top of the bridge is at 18m and the deck at 25, so it is suited to advanced and wreck divers.

Cirkewwa port in northern Malta has a collection of dive sites including the P29 Patrol Boat which is easily accessed from shore and has a max depth of 35m, the MV Rogi tug boat wreck, and Cirkewwa arch and reef, which boast a picturesque arch leading to a cavern.

The Blenheim Bomber is an airplane wreck offering something a little different for experienced divers.  Located off the east coast of Malta in 42m of water the wreck is in good condition having been ditched into the sea with no loss of life after sustaining damage from an enemy aircraft in WWII.

Gozo

The Blue Hole is perhaps Gozo’s most famous site.  Located at the bottom of Dweija Point, this rock formation carved by centuries of wind and wave action starts in a natural reservoir.  This small hole opens up into a huge archway and leads to a chimney swim-through.

The Inland Sea tunnel has prolific marine life.  The dive starts at just 6m and the tunnel quickly drops to 15m with views out to the indigo blue of the open ocean.  Once out of the tunnel the reef can be explored in either direction.

Double Arch is a unique T shaped reef at 20m and just 200m from shore.  Two archways are carved into the reef starting at 27m and stretching to the seabed at 36m.  With prolific life and magnificent topography this is an excellent spot for underwater photography.

The MV Karwela served as a ferry for 45 years before being sunk as an artificial reef in 2006.  Standing upright in 40m of water, the wreck is safe to penetrate with access to a photogenic staircase in the centre, leading to the lower deck.

Reqqa Reef is a vertical wall covered with sponges and a spectacular chimney.  The reef is home to grouper, moray eels and scorpionfish, with a good chance of seeing octopus and barracuda.

Comino

The Santa Maria caves are suitable for all levels of diver, with light filled caves and abundant life.  Divers can explore gullys, swimthroughs and caverns surrounded by hundreds of saddled bream.

The P31 was a German built minesweeper sold to the Maltese government in 1992 for use as a patrol boat.  In 2009 she was scuttled to create an artificial reef, lying upright on a sandy bottom. This dive has a max depth of 20m and so is suitable for less experienced divers.

Alex’s cave, at the southern end of the famous blue lagoon, is an islet with an underwater cave featuring a cavern open to fresh air.  The dive includes a pinnacle called mushroom rock and a tunnel linking the lagoon to the sea with ledges, home to nudibranchs and scorpionfish.

May to September provide the best conditions and is the main season but the islands are diveable all year-round.