The Maltese Islands are located a mere 93km South of Sicily (Italy) in Southern Europe and roughly 300km north from the Northern coast of Africa, which explains the magnificent weather, vibrant culture and amazing sunsets. Of the three islands that make up the Maltese Archipelago, the main island Malta, is well-known for its marvelous waters that are rich in marine life, interesting wrecks and historic relics (both natural and man-made).

Diving Sites

You will find 8 different scuba diving sites on the Malta Islands, which are relatively less than 2km from each other. The 8 scuba diving sites are namely the; Blue hole and Billinghurts Cave, both located in the Gozo area; the Inland Sea and Tunnel; Qawra Reef; Blenheim Bomber in Malta; the Santa Maria Caves in Comino; as well as the Imperial Eagle and Madonna statue, both located in Malta.

All these amazing sights offer you an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience underwater scenery that you won’t see anywhere else in the world, while the Maltese Islands have a multitude of professional and knowledgeable Scuba diving guides to ensure that you stay out of harm’s way throughout the whole experience. The visibility of the crystal clear waters in Malta is excellent down to around 30 metres, while scuba diving at any of the Maltese Islands will inevitably lead to a discovery of its natural harbors, sheltered creeks, cliffs, reefs and wartime wrecks, dating back all the way to the 19th Century.

Fish Encounters

Scuba diving anywhere, comes with the risk of encountering potentially dangerous fish, and this might put off novice divers or interested tourists. Fortunately, the likelihood of running into these fish while diving in the Maltese waters is exceptionally low, thanks to the clarity and stillness of the sea. This makes Malta an ideal location for first time divers, as it offers interesting but shallow dives alongside challenging and deep ones. For example, the Tunnel Point in Ghar Palsi starts off with a 12-metre dive that extends to depths of up to 50 metres, which means that you’ll be spoilt for choice in the type of experience that you’d like to have, while the past experience of other divers shows that there’s no real threat of experiencing any dangerous fish on this dive.

Temperatures

Maltese weather is tremendously pleasant all year round, and water temperatures range from 16 to 25 degrees Celsius, remaining clear and translucent for most of the year.

Diving Courses

As a diversified diving location with a wide range of options, Malta has numerous diving schools that offer different diving activities and courses. Their courses are conducted by licensed and experienced instructors only, and divers are required to indicate their fitness levels by signing a medical statement before undergoing any training or diving activities. Nevertheless, each diving school has an in-house doctor who contributes to the certification process at a nominal fee, to ensure that all safety and health procedures have been followed.

On the other hand, expert divers are required to provide proof of their experience through a PADI Advanced Open Water certification or equivalent, and will be expected to have a buddy with them at all times while diving. It’s also a good idea for seasoned divers to first confirm the suitability of the sites they’re eyeing and confirm weather conditions with their local diving centre ahead of time to stay on the safe side.

Cost

The cost of diving in Malta is not as steep as most people probably imagine, and diving holiday prices are becoming increasingly affordable as Malta continues to grow in popularity as a diver’s paradise and tourist destination.

Popular Sites

Some of the most popular must-see diving sites for you to keep in mind while you’re in Malta include the Um El Faroud wreck, the Cirkewwa area which has a reef as well as the famous statue of Madonna, as well as the HMS Maori aircraft in Valletta. There are also the Gozo wrecks to explore, plus the Blue Hole and the HMS Southwold, SS Polynesien and HMS Stubborn underwater ships.