Dive Centers Europe

Malta is considered to be the Mecca for Divers. The Maltese Archipelago - the main Island Malta, the smaller island of Gozo and the tiny little island of Comino is a real paradise for divers and snorkelers. These islands have fortunately retained their natural state, to a large extent, due to the sea and its fauna. The attraction of the Maltese islands for the diver, however, is based on their unique topographic structure, their healthy water situation and their rich fauna.

 1: Cirkewwa

Situated in the north of the island in the vicinity of the departure point of the Gozo ferry this location has long been a favorite among the locals mainly for its impressive drop off from 8m to 30m (25ft-90ft). The area boasts a picturesque arch and a number of caves. As it is on the channel, visibility is always high and apart from resident groupers one can encounter free swimming predators such as amberjack and dentex.

2: Anchor Bay

This is an ideal location when strong NE winds prevent diving in many other areas. Entry to the water is from a pier and the bottom slopes gradually, reaching depths of 28m (85ft) out on the sand. There is a large cave to be explored and the bottom is rich in red algae.

3: Ras I-Irqieqa

This is a thin strip of land at the southwest tip of Comino and most of the boat traffic going to Gozo goes past it. There is a sheer drop-off to 40m (120ft). The water is clear and the up swelling old currents from the depths support large shoals of sardines and bogue which are preyed upon by amberjacks, dentex and sometimes even tunny. The climax of the dive is the encounter with enormous grouper (2m/6ft) and his smaller relatives.

4: Reqqa Point

This is the northernmost tip of the Maltese Islands. The road on the beach is rough, the entry is tricky with a strong swell (choose a day when the sea is calm) but is a fantastic dive. The reef consists of a parapet at 30m (90ft) and then a drop to 60m (180ft). There is an excellent vantage point at 15m (45ft). Here one is literally in a cloud of small fish feeding on the nutriment-rich water. Large shoals of dentex have feeding frenzies, groupers are large and plentiful. Added to this there are large caves and deep waters.

5: Dwejra Point

Dwejra is one of the most spectacular diving areas of the Maltese Islands with deep water (60m/180ft) and many caves, arches, etc. The most dramatic is the 35m (145ft) tunnel which opens from the Inland Sea to the open sea where the bottom drops suddenly. Here large fish are to be found. The clear waters and depths can be deceptive so watch your decompression time!

The Maltese diving schools have organized themselves into the Association of Professional Diving Schools, with the result that the staff is well trained and responsible. There are various diving schools that cater for beginners and experienced divers, like Gozo Aqua Sports, Calypso and Nautic. Diving trips to the nearby small Island of Comino are also catered for. The ‘Cave Dive’ in Santa Maria and the ‘Rozi’ wreck dive off Cirkewwa are perfect for a day trip which includes morning and afternoon dives.

 From the moment I first dived the Blue Hole, Azure Window and Inland Sea in 1980, I had also marveled at the diving sites of Malta’s neighboring island, Gozo. Many thousands of dives later, I still find them as good.

In Malta a dive is of exceptional quality - at 20, 30, 40m, every ripple could be spotted on the surface, and underwater life went on. Octopuses scurried over the reef. Morays with their ever-opening and closing jaws eyed us with suspicion, and grouper floated motionless, always about 4m away, and considered us with shy inquisitiveness.

As shoals of damselfish moved to and fro in an hypnotic dance around us, I was moved to a state close to drunken euphoria. Then, in seconds, all life was gone. Too soon, the dive was over. It seemed as if only a few minutes had elapsed since we had left the confines of the Blue Hole, but my computer indicated that we had spent 50 minutes down below.

For many years the Maltese islands have enjoyed a vast influx of divers from all over Europe. With shore-diving giving immediate access into 30m-plus depths with drop-offs, caves, natural arches, reefs and of course wrecks at a number of locations, it’s easy to see why.

A number of World War Two wrecks lie in deep water (the S-class British submarine HMS Stubborn in 60m, a Blenheim bomber in 42m, a Spitfire in 50m and the “Freighter” wreck in 65m) and they are dived only infrequently, but there is still much wreckage from this period to dive at less demanding depths.

The Maltese government has initiated an artificial reef program which to date has scuttled six ships, including two car ferries, an ocean-going tug and the 5390 ton, 109m-long merchant tanker Um el Faroud, a shore dive from Wied iz-Zurrieq.

Malta and Gozo offer good diving suitable for all grades of qualification and experience, while the non-diver should never feel neglected, as there is much to see and do around the islands.

What Malta can offer is some of the best diving available in the Mediterranean, in a safe location, within three hours’ flight-time of the UK. It’s comparatively cheap, and divers are warmly welcomed everywhere.

Malta is an island from the Mediterranean Sea close to Sicily and Tunisia that doesn’t have any rivers and mountains, only hills and it only has few beaches. If you choose to go for scuba diving in Malta you will mainly be able to do shore diving. If you want to do boat dive you can do that around Comino and if you are interested in scuba diving for wrecks there are also some locations where you can visit shipwrecks. Because Malta was important during World War II there are many exciting wrecks to be found when scuba diving in its water, such as HMS Maori. Besides, there are some shipwrecks that were purposely sunk so that the tourists that get to Malta’s waters for scuba diving have more attractions to visit.

Malta’s reefs consist of an impressionable number of soft corals and a satisfying life for those who go there for scuba diving. The life that can be seen in these waters is not very prolific but it is really impressive. You can swim around lots of interesting species such as barracuda, tuna, octopus or seahorses. You can also do cave scuba diving in Malta’s waters and you will have a beautiful experience from this point of view as the erosion created lots of caves for you to visit. This destination is perfect for a family vacation meant for scuba diving. It doesn’t matter where you will stay as you can go scuba diving on the entire main island of Malta and also on Comino and Gozo. Besides, getting to the dive sites it is very easy as you can get to Gozo by ferry in about half an hour from Malta. If you are concerned about your budget, you should know that eating in Malta’s restaurants is very cheap and if you like eating fish you can get to taste lots of goodies there.

The best period for you to go scuba diving in Malta’s waters is between April and October. However, the water has the best temperature during July and August, 26C, while from November to May is the coldest. The visibility ranges to 40 meters and you can choose to do cave diving, rocky reef diving or wreck scuba diving in Malta’s waters. The conditions are good enough for having the best time while scuba diving in Malta’s waters. It is not hard to get there as you can take an airplane from many of the big towns of Europe.

If you are passionate about exploring the beautiful colors that the undersea world has to offer then you should go at least once for scuba diving in Malta. You will surely find it a unique experience to remember as Malta’s shoreline offers you lots of dive sites for you to enjoy. If you are concerned with your safety there are many safe sites for you to visit. On the other hand, if you like adventures, you should visit wrecks such as Hellespont, sunk on April 1942. It is up to you how to spend your vacation for scuba diving in Malta, one thing is sure: you will find it on your taste.

Following take-off from Luqa airport in Malta on 17 March 1943, Sergeant Donald Frazee’s Beaufort fighter, in the air with eight others from RAF 272 Squadron, began to lose speed and vibrate. His only option was to ditch the aircraft just outside the mouth of St Julian’s Bay. Both Sgt Frazee and his observer, Sgt Sandery, were rescued unharmed.