Since when it sank close to the shore in 2007, P-29 wreck is the perfect habitat for stone basses and barracudas.
The wreck lies on a sandy seabed at -35 metres of depth; the proximity to the shore makes the access from the shore the easiest. The wreck, which is 52 metres long and easily accessible from the engine room, will be in sight just after a few minutes of swimming.
If you choose to get there by boat, you will be able to get there by descending from the chain of the marker buoy – the wreck will be right below you, with the great visibility enabling you to see it from just a few metres of depth.
This diving activity is recommended to expert divers, owning at least an advanced-level license.
A 40metres – long towboat purposefully sank in a vertic to become an attraction for divers in Malta, the wreck is a hundred metres far from the coast – which makes the visit possible from both the shore and the boat.
The Rozi is entirely intact with the exception of the motors and the screw, removed before the sinking. The average depth of – 30 metres makes the immersion suitable to expert divers, owning at least an advanced-level license.
√ Advanced Freedivers and Scuba divers with Deep Specialty License
√ Entrance allowed to expert scuba divers owning a Wreck license
Among the biggest wrecks in Malta, it represents an unmissable experience for people visiting the island for diving purposes.
Sunk in 1998 after a tragic explosion in La Valletta port (a memorial plaque can be seen at -25 metres) Um El Faroud oil tanker can be reached in a few minutes swimming from the shore.
The 110 metres-long wreck lies on the sea bottom at -40 metres of depth – starting at -18 metres – where usually a pack of barracudas guards the site.
Experienced divers will have the chance to penetrate it and discover the hidden wonders of this tanker.
No doubt such an immersion, due to the perfect visibility and the magnificence of the wreck, will stick in the minds of all the divers visiting this actual giant.
Minimum certification required: Advanced Open Water Diver
√ Advanced Freedivers and Scuba divers with Deep Specialty License
A ferry with a capacity of 70 people and 10 cars, the Imperial Eagle once served for transfers between Malta and Gozo.
Sunk in 1999 and accessible by boat or dinghy only, the 45 metres-long wreck lies on a sandy sea bottom at -42 metres of depth. In the vase hold, a crack allows to take a look inside, even if the most of the dive takes place outside of the wreck.
Before actually visiting the wreck, a stop to the underwater statue of Jesus Christ, blessed by Pope John Paul II and guarding Maltese fishermen, is mandatory.
Due to the depth the wreck lies to, this immersion is dedicated to scuba owning the Deep Specialty.
A one-of-a-kind experience, one of the most unique of your whole stay in Malta.
The tour starts from the inside of the cave, in a tide pool leading to a tunnel that is 60 metres long and with a depth of -22 metres at its deepest point: alongside this tunnel, the contrast between the low inside light and the blue of the open water at the entrance allows to take amazing pictures.
Once outside, the immersion continues alongside the wall, with a variable depth ranging from a few metres to up to -50 metres.
Close to what is left of the Azure Window, this site gives divers the chance to see the remainders of the Azure Window that still lie underwater.
The immersion takes place by the coast only after a not that short walk, yet the Blue Hole – a really popular site for divers – is definitely worth the effort.
The deepest point of the Blue Hole is at a depth of -18 metres towards the open water, which can be reached through several small caves and ravines leading to the big rocks of the Azure Window.
Its waters are populated by a rich rare Mediterranean fauna.
One of the most beautiful sites in Comino and a not-to-be-missed stop of the Full Day in the Blue Lagoon’s island, Santa Maria Caves are an incredible mix of fauna, fish and caves that make this dive fun for all divers, at all levels of expertise.
The peculiar play of lights and shadows makes this immersion a great chance to take wonderful pictures.
{:en}Cirkewwa Reef – Malta{:}{:it}Scogliera di Cirkewwa – Malta{:}
Cirkewwa is not just the gateway to the P-29 wreck; the natural reef itself is a maze of gullies, swim-throughs and a dramatic underwater arch that keeps divers returning. The reef starts just a few metres from the shore entry point and slopes gently down to sandy patches at around 18 metres. Following the rocky contours, you will spot moray eels peeking from crevices, octopus expertly camouflaged against the limestone, and clouds of damselfish that seem to escort you along the dive.
One of the highlights is the Cirkewwa Arch, a natur metres depth that frames perfect photo opportunities when the sun rays cut through. A little deeper, around 25 metres, sits the statue of Madonna that local divers visit as a sign of respect. The reef is suitable for all certification levels, and its proximity to the car park makes it one of the easiest shore dives on the island. Early morning here often brings the chance to see hunting barracuda and passing eagle rays.
The Blue Hole at Dwejra is one of Gozo’s most iconic dive sites, a natural limestone chimney that starts in a shallow rock pool and drops vertically through a 10-metre-wide opening into the open Mediterranean. You descend through the chimney surrounded by brilliant blue water, emerging at around 15 metres onto a wall smothered in colourful sponges and tubeworms. From there, follow the wall north towards the former Azure Window pillars, now a colossal underwater rockfall that has created a brand-new labyrinth for divers to explore.
Just around the corner lies the Inland Sea, a shallow lagoon linked to the open sea by a 60-metre-long tunnel in the cliff face. The tunnel dive itself is unforgettable — light pours in from both ends as you fin through, with cardinalfish and shrimps dotting the walls. Exiting the tunnel, you are greeted by a steep drop-off and boulders the size of houses, home to large groupers and the occasional John Dory. Both sites can be dived from shore or boat, and they are easily combined into one exhilarating morning for advanced divers.
{:en}HMS Maori Wreck – Valletta{:}{:it}Relitto HMS Maori – Valletta{:}
Sitting upright on a sandy bottom at just 14 metres, the HMS Maori is a rare treat — a fully intact World War II destroyer resting inside Marsamxett Harbour, protected from strong currents. The Tribal-class warship was bombed in 1942 and now serves as an artificial reef teeming with life. The shallow depth means long bottom times, so photographers and wreck enthusiasts can spend ages exploring the bow, stern and the exposed engine room sections.
The wreck is encrusted with sponges and bryozoans, and you will almost certainly be accompanied by schools of saddled bream and two-banded seabream weaving through the superstructure. Look carefully inside the twisted metal and you may spot a scorpionfish or a shy conger eel. Because the harbour is sheltered, the Maori is diveable in almost any weather, making it the perfect fallback site when the northern coast becomes rough. Entry is from a jetty, and local guides can arrange easy access.
{:en}Lantern Point – Comino{:}{:it}Lantern Point – Comino{:}
For divers seeking a dose of adrenaline, Lantern Point on the south-western tip of Comino delivers an exhilarating drift dive through a submerged landscape of towering boulders and deep channels. The dive begins at a ledge around 6 metres and quickly descends along a series of massive rock steps to a sandy floor at 40 metres and beyond. The current here can be strong, so this site is strictly for advanced and experienced divers who are comfortable with negative entries and swift descents.
The real magic of Lantern Point is the visibility of the deep blue — often exceeding 30 metres — which gives a wonderful sense of flying over the giant boulder field. Keep an eye on the blue for amberjacks, tuna and the occasional hammerhead shark that have been spotted passing through. Because of the depth and current, it’s common to plan the dive with a safety stop on the shallower reef top at 12 metres, where you can decompress among clouds of anthias and curious saddled bream while watching the boat traffic silhouetted against the sunlight above.
