- Features of diving in the archipelago
- Best places to wreck-dive
- Underwater natural sites
- Dive centers
Malta is an island state in the Mediterranean Sea. It is separated from Sicily by 93 km, from African Tunisia - 228 km. Malta consists of 10 islands, of which only three are inhabited: the largest island in the archipelago of Malta, small Gozo and the very miniature Comino. Most tourists arriving in Malta stop at the resorts of the main island, and go to Gozo and Comino by ferry excursions. However, if you wish, you can stay in hotels located in Gozo and Comino.
Malta can be recommended for recreation to absolutely everyone: lovers of history and architecture, natural attractions and ancient megalithic structures, beach activities and shopping. People who want to improve their knowledge of the English language, tourists who love hiking, gourmets and fans of active sports come here. Malta is surrounded by the purest Mediterranean Sea, its shores do not have dangerous currents and eddies, there are no ebb and flow, daylight hours in high season lasts 10 hours, so this archipelago, as if by nature itself, was created for surfers and divers.
Features of diving in the archipelago
Diving in Malta is a fairly popular pastime. The most picturesque rock formations in the Mediterranean are located in the vicinity of the Maltese Islands. There are underwater caves, arches, sinkholes, tunnels near the coast. In order to make scuba diving more interesting, a large number of water and air transport have been flooded near Malta. True, some ships sank on their own. Diving to technology and other artificial objects resting on the bottom of the sea is called wreck-dive. Freediving is also popular in Malta. This is a type of diving in which the diver dives without scuba gear, relying only on his own strength.
In principle, diving in the Maltese Islands is possible all year round, but most tourists choose summer for diving, when the water warms up to 27 degrees. In winter, the water temperature is kept at around 13-15 degrees. Such conditions are not terrible for a quality wetsuit, so there are also enough people who want to make scuba diving. By the way, dolphins come close to Malta during the winter months. To see them, swim with them and take pictures, fans of underwater photography gather in Malta.
It should be especially noted that spear fishing is prohibited in Malta. It is also prohibited to fish from a boat in the area of dive sites.
There are sites around Malta that are considered valuable from an archaeological point of view. Divers are not allowed here. Divers will be informed about these places at the dive centers. Any historical item found at the bottom of the sea near the islands is the property of the State of Malta.
In order not to suffer from the movement of catamarans, boats and ferries that carry tourists along the coast of Malta in summer, divers are required to signal their dive site using a special buoy.
In the event of decompression sickness, the diver must be transferred to Saint Luc Hospital, where a recompression chamber is available. However, instructors of all dive centers are aware of this, so tourists may not bother with unnecessary information. They may need knowledge of Malta's interesting underwater natural and technical locations to understand what to see first.
Best places to wreck-dive
Christ from the abyss
Around the island of Malta, tugs, bombers, barges and even statues, to which vacationers love to scuba dive, rest at different depths.
- Near the town of Chirkehua, at a depth of 36 meters, there is a tugboat "Rosie", which was specially lowered to the bottom in 1991. Its frame is completely overgrown with algae, in which various fish have settled. Photo hunters especially love to dive here.
- In the southern Maltese bay of Schrobb L-Ajin, at a depth of 42 meters, you can stumble upon the destroyed British bomber "Blenheim", the reasons for the death of which during the Second World War remained a mystery. The barge Karolita was also sunk by the Germans in 1942. She sank in Marsamshett harbor.
- There is also an interesting wreck near the capital city of Valletta. This is the Maori destroyer that sank in 1942. Diving to this ship is available not only for professionals, but also for beginners. You need to dive to a depth of 13-17 meters, if you wish, you can inspect the ship from the inside.
- Perhaps the most interesting man-made object flooded off the coast of Malta is the three-meter statue of Jesus Christ, commissioned by divers by a local craftsman. The sculpture was placed vertically, so for those who dive with scuba diving, an amazing picture opens up: Christ stretches out his hands up to the light. At first, the statue was lowered to a great depth, but after a while it was moved to its current location - in St. Paul's Bay. Divers are brought to her by boat.
Underwater natural sites
Blue hole
The underwater world of Malta promises many more interesting things for divers.
- In the bay near the already mentioned resort of Chirkehua, you can find an underwater arch that drops sharply downward. It resembles a deep tunnel, over which a stone bridge has been created by nature itself. It is under this jumper that divers penetrate.
- In windy weather, scuba divers move to Anchor Bay, which is sheltered from the high waves. 150 meters from this bay, at a depth of 28 meters, there is a picturesque grotto where squid, minke whales, parrot fish and other representatives of the marine fauna live.
- The island of Gozo is home to the most famous local underwater natural site. This is the Blue Hole, located off Cape Dweera. It is a vertical tunnel 26 meters long, which leads to a spacious cave. The Blue Hole is accessible directly from the shore. Steps that enthusiasts have created in soft limestone lead to it. In the wall of this well, at a depth of 8 meters, there is a gap through which you can swim out into the sea. The Blue Hole got its name from the rich color of the water.
- Two more interesting objects are located very close to the Blue Hole. These are Crocodile cliff and underwater Coral Cave, the entrance to which is at a depth of 22 meters. It is dark here, so divers are advised to bring a flashlight with them when diving. Coral Cave is home to sedate goldfish.
- Another cave will be shown to divers in Xlendy Bay. You can get into it only through a tunnel located at a depth of 12 meters. The cave is overgrown with corals, between which various marine life scurry.
- There is also the Inland Sea in Malta, which the locals call Aura. It is also suitable for scuba diving. Its underwater beauty was highly appreciated by Jacques-Yves Cousteau, and divers from all over the world followed him to Malta. The Inland Sea is a body of water that connects to the Mediterranean Strait.
- On the island of Comino, the site at Cape Ir'i'a should be especially noted. The cape has a steep slope that goes under the water to a great depth. Sardines are gathered here, and larger marine fish such as tuna and yellow tails come to profit from them.
Dive centers
The first schools to teach scuba diving professionally were opened in Malta in the 1960s. Since then, the number of diving clubs in the archipelago has increased to 50. Experienced divers who have decided to improve their qualifications and receive a PADI, BSAC or CMAS certificate, and beginners who only dream of underwater adventures are welcomed here.
The main feature of diving in Malta is its safety. Therefore, in diving centers, only proven, relatively new equipment is provided, which is the key to comfortable diving. By the way, if a tourist does not like to rent the necessary equipment, he will be able to purchase it right on the spot in specialized stores, of which there are a lot in Malta. Here you will find diving equipment from all the world's most famous brands.
The work of the diving clubs and the quality of the services they provide are overseen by specialists working in the Malta Tourism Authority. Many diving training schools have been in operation for over 30 years. Some were founded not so long ago, but have already gained great popularity among diving enthusiasts.
The most famous diving centers are located in Maltese, that is, located on the main island of the country, Sliema, St. Julian's, Bugibba, St. Paul's Bay, Mellieha, on the islands of Gozo and Camino. Dive schools are taught in different languages. English is spoken absolutely everywhere, but there are establishments where instructors who know Russian work. These include, for example, the Starfish Diving School, founded by the Russian diver Mikhail Umnov. This dive center, operating since 2002, is located in St. Julian's. They offer diving to sunken ships and planes, night diving, boat diving. Corsair Diving Malta in Bugibba, Neptunes in St. Julian's, Oxygene Malta in Sliema, Subway in Comino, Calypso in Gozo and many others are well received.
A course for beginners lasting 6 days will cost 280-470 euros. One boat trip to the dive site costs 25-35 euros. Equipment rental is offered for 15-25 euros.
Novice divers are first given instructions on land, then they are allowed to dive with scuba diving in the pool, and only then they organize a trip to the open water area, where it is shallow and safe. The dive lasts about 30 minutes, accompanied by an instructor.
