Dive sites in Malta

Situated directly beneath the film set of Popeye Village on Malta's northwest coast, Anchor Bay provides sheltered diving across a rocky seabed dotted with large boulders, sandy channels, and posidonia meadows. Divers can enter from a concrete jetty and follow the reef wall along the northern cliffline into a large dome-ceilinged cavern, often referred to as Scorpion Cave, where surfacing reveals an air pocket and light beams refracting through the entrance.

The Bristol Blenheim Bomber is a well-preserved World War II aircraft wreck resting upright on an open seabed off the eastern coast of Malta. Ditched in late 1941 after sustaining damage on a mission, the plane remains largely intact with its wings, fuselage, and one of its radial engines still clearly discernible. Divers descend straight down the shot line into blue water, where the silhouette of the historic twin-engine bomber emerges from the surrounding plain.

Carved into the rugged limestone coast of Dwejra on Gozo, this world-renowned location combines a vertical geological chimney with an open-ocean underwater playground. Divers descend through a sheltered inland pool before passing under a wide natural archway out into the open Mediterranean. Surrounding the sheer drop-offs lie the colossal fractured monoliths left behind by the collapse of the iconic Azure Window, forming an intricate labyrinth of swim-throughs and crevices.

Located on the northern coast of Gozo near Wied il-Għasri, Cathedral Cave is celebrated for its cavernous interior and luminous blue lighting. Divers follow a vertical cliff wall before entering a vast submerged archway that opens into an immense domed chamber. Inside the cave, you can ascend into an air pocket where natural fissures let in outside air, creating cathedral-like acoustics and an electric blue glow radiating from the underwater entrance.

Located at the northernmost point of Malta, Ċirkewwa ranks among the most visited shore-diving locations in the Mediterranean. A network of purpose-sunk patrol boats and tugs lies across an expansive seabed alongside natural drop-offs, swim-throughs, and a submerged statue of the Madonna. Divers enter via dedicated access steps and ramps near the ferry terminal, navigating across seagrass beds and open sand to reach distinct routes like the MV Rozi, the P29 minesweeper, or the natural archway.

Located off the northernmost tip of Malta at Ċirkewwa, this site centers on a spectacular natural rock formation created by the collapse of a limestone cavern ceiling. Divers typically enter from the shore along Susie's Pool or the quay, following the wall northward past boulder fields before the dramatic archway opens out into open water. The seafloor beneath drops toward a sand plain, while the surrounding reef offers crevices, small caves, and overhangs encrusted with sponges and bryozoans.

Set just around the headland from Ċirkewwa on northern Malta, this reef offers shelter when currents buffet the exposed outer coast. Limestone ledges, scattered boulders, and Posidonia seagrass border the sand. Rocky drop-offs feature swim-throughs and fissures that shelter daytime Mediterranean marine life. Divers can track the wall outward along coastal contours or inspect sandy gullies cutting through the limestone boulders.

Located at the northern tip of Malta near the Gozo ferry terminal, Susie's Pool serves as a sheltered natural inlet carved into the limestone coastline. Divers often use this calm rocky pool for training, refresher courses, or as an easy shore entry before traversing the outer reef drop-off. Outside the enclosed pool, the seabed slopes gently across rocky plateaus and posidonia seagrass meadows scattered with boulders.

Located off the rugged coastline of Comino, Alex's Cave offers an accessible cavern route characterized by wide openings and atmospheric light shafts. Divers enter through a generous archway into an interior chamber where overhead fissures illuminate the cavern floor. The surrounding limestone walls and exterior boulder slopes provide sheltered habitats for Mediterranean marine species, while the sandy seabed outside leads toward scattered reefs.

Situated between the islands of Comino and Cominotto, this sheltered channel features fine white sand, limestone overhangs, and small swim-throughs. The sandy seabed reflects natural sunlight across the bay, creating clear conditions ideal for check-out dives, training sessions, and relaxed second dives. Divers moving away from the shallow center find gentle drop-offs with rocky boulders and patches of Neptune grass.

Sheltered beneath the sheer limestone cliffs on the western coast of Comino, this calm bay features a sandy seabed interspersed with posidonia seagrass meadows, large boulders, and a network of shallow caverns. Natural light penetrates deep into the swim-throughs, illuminating walls covered in sponge colonies and bryozoans. The location is frequently utilized for training dives, relaxed second dives, and night diving.

Situated off the southernmost point of Comino, Lantern Point offers an intricate underwater topography defined by a steep vertical chimney and extensive boulder fields. Divers enter the chimney through a fissure in the shallow reef table, descending vertically through natural skylights before emerging at the base of the wall. Outside the chimney, the seabed slopes downward through massive tumbled limestone blocks into deeper sand flats, harboring typical Mediterranean predatory fish and crevices full of nocturnal critters.

Scuttled in 2009 off the coast of Comino, the P31 is an intact former East German Kondor I-class patrol boat that served with the Armed Forces of Malta. Resting upright on a clean, light-colored seabed, the vessel was thoroughly cleared and prepared for recreational diving prior to sinking. Large access cuts allow safe, natural light-filled penetration into the engine room, bridge, and internal compartments, while the exterior attracts schooling fish and provides shelter across an otherwise open expanse of sand.

Situated along the northern coast of Comino, the Santa Marija Caves feature a labyrinthine network of shallow caverns, interconnected swim-throughs, and dramatic rock formations illuminated by ambient sunlight. Divers enter expansive chambers where light filters down through ceiling fissures to produce bright blue water columns against shadow-draped limestone. The site offers straightforward navigation and calm waters, making it suitable for all experience levels while retaining exceptional interest for underwater photographers.

Scuttled in August 2006 off the southern coast of Gozo at Ix-Xatt l-Aħmar, the MV Cominoland sits upright on a sandy seabed. The former tourist day-boat features open upper decks, an accessible wheelhouse, and interior penetration routes for trained divers. Entry from the rocky shore requires swimming across a shallow reef shelf before descending along the drop-off directly onto the wreck.

Located along the sheer cliff faces south of Dwejra on Gozo's western coast, Coral Cave is an expansive semi-circular cavern carved into the limestone wall. Divers enter a wide amphitheater where ambient light filters in from the open sea, illuminating vertical walls blanketed in fragile sessile invertebrates. The dive typically involves dropping along the cliff face into the cavern, inspecting the shaded crevices with a torch before returning along the reef wall.

Situated along the dramatic limestone coastline of western Gozo near Dwejra, Coral Gardens features an undulating topography of rocky terraces, fissures, and shallow drop-offs. The seabed is covered in calcified algae, encrusting sponges, and false corals that lend the site its name. Divers glide through natural rock corridors illuminated by ambient sunlight before descending along sloping drop-offs that meet open sandy patches.

Located directly off the Sliema seafront near the historic coastal battery, Fortizza Reef offers an accessible shore entry along rocky limestone shelves. Divers navigate a network of gullies, rocky ledges, and small swim-throughs before reaching patches of seagrass and open sand. The site frequently serves as a location for tune-up dives and night dives due to its straightforward navigation and sheltered topography in prevailing westerly winds.

Set along a quiet inlet on the southwestern coast of Malta, Ghar Lapsi centers on a shallow, interconnecting cavern network. Multiple roof cracks and wide seaward exits channel abundant natural light across the rocky floor. Beyond the cavern system, divers find rocky reefs and expanses of Posidonia seagrass sloping gently outward toward open water with views toward the uninhabited islet of Filfla.

HMS Eddy was an Admiralty wooden steam drifter converted for minesweeping during the Second World War. On May 26, 1942, the vessel struck a mine and sank while clearing the Grand Harbour approaches. Resting upright on flat sand and silt outside Valletta, the wreck's superstructure has deteriorated, though the boiler, steam engine, winch, and hull framing remain identifiable under heavy marine growth.

HMS Hellespont was a steam paddle tug built for the Royal Navy in 1910 and deployed to Malta's Grand Harbour, where she was bombed by Axis aircraft in April 1942. After the air raid she was towed out and scuttled off the coast, settling upright on a flat seabed. The bow was shattered by the explosion, but her engine assembly, boilers, and twin paddle wheels remain visible and structurally recognizable.

Resting directly below the bastion walls of Fort St. Elmo in Valletta, HMS Maori is one of the most accessible historic shipwreck dives in the Mediterranean. This British Tribal-class destroyer was launched in 1937, served in the North Sea and Mediterranean convoys, and took part in the sinking of the German battleship Bismarck. In February 1942, an air raid struck the vessel while anchored in Grand Harbour; after sinking, her remnants were eventually towed and scuttled in Marsamxett Harbour. Today, the forward section and bridge framework sit upright on a clean sandy seabed, heavily colonised by marine life and easily navigated without deep decompression constraints.

Sunk during the First World War after striking a German mine while searching for survivors of HMS Russell, this Arabis-class fleet sweeping sloop sits upright on an open seabed off the Maltese coast. The ship rests virtually intact aside from the mine damage near her coal bunkers. Technical teams descending the shot line encounter preserved bow contours, deck winches, and coral-encrusted railings emerging from the gloom. The site is designated as an underwater cultural heritage monument and requires specific permit clearance before descent.

HMS Russell is a British Duncan-class pre-dreadnought battleship sunk by naval mines during the First World War off the coast of Malta. The massive hull rests upside down on a flat seabed, split into distinct sections with heavy armament and machinery strewn across the sand. Managed as a historic underwater heritage site, access is restricted to properly certified trimix and rebreather teams.

HMS Southwold was a Royal Navy Hunt-class destroyer that struck a mine in 1942 while escorting the supply ship Breconshire during the Second World War. The wreck split into two distinct sections that rest on a flat, silty seabed off the coast of Marsaskala. The bow section lies on its starboard side displaying an intact forward gun turret, while the upright stern section showcases engine machinery, propellers, and depth charge launchers. Exploration requires trimix certification and permits through Heritage Malta.

HMS Stubborn is a British S-class submarine sunk deliberately in 1946 for use as an ASDIC sonar target. Resting upright on a flat sandy seabed off the northeastern coast of Malta, this intact wreck retains its distinct naval profile. The submarine's periscope tower, open conning hatch, external hydroplanes, and torpedo tube doors remain recognizable, drawing trimix and technical decompression divers.

HMS Trusty Star was an armed steam drifter requisitioned by the Royal Navy for minesweeping duties around the Maltese Islands during the Siege of Malta. After surviving an initial mine blast and repair, the vessel struck another mine and sank just outside Grand Harbour. The wreck sits upright and largely intact on a seabed of coarse sand and silt, featuring its original bow structure, winch gear, and boiler assembly, preserved in deep, quiet water.

Located near Dwejra Point on Gozo's west coast, this dive begins in a landlocked saltwater lagoon before passing through a natural tunnel carved straight through towering limestone cliffs. As divers navigate the dark corridor, sunlight gradually illuminates the far end in vibrant cobalt blue hues. Emerging from the canyon into the open Mediterranean reveals an expansive vertical wall that drops sharply towards the seabed.

The MV Karwela is a scuttled passenger ferry resting upright on a sandy slope off the southern coast of Gozo. Stripped of hazardous materials before sinking, the wreck features open decks and an intact central staircase popular with photographers. Divers typically enter from the rocky shore at Ras il-Ħobż and navigate across the reef drop-off to locate the vessel.

Situated at the northernmost promontory of mainland Malta, L'Ahrax Point offers rugged limestone underwater scenery marked by gullies, shallow caves, and boulder-strewn seabed. Divers often explore the perimeter walls and swim-throughs before heading towards the sandy floor that borders the open channel facing Comino.

Sunk by a torpedo in 1918, the French ocean liner SS Polynesien rests upright on a flat seabed outside Marsaskala. Renowned among technical divers as one of the Mediterranean's premier deep shipwrecks, the vessel retains much of its striking passenger-liner architecture. Divers descending the shot line meet the intact bridge, forward deck guns, and rows of passenger cabin promenades.

Resting upright on a seabed of sand and Posidonia meadows off the northern coast of Malta, this Lockheed P2V Neptune maritime patrol aircraft offers a distinct wreck profile. The plane was damaged during a landing incident in the 1950s and later scuttled in shallow offshore waters for underwater film work before being moved deeper. Divers can explore the remaining fuselage, wings, and engine nacelles, which have become an artificial shelter for Mediterranean fish.

Located directly off the shoreline of St. Julian's, this sheltered house reef features rocky plateaus stepping down into scattered boulders and patches of coarse sand interspersed with Posidonia seagrass meadows. Dive centers based nearby frequently use the site for introductory dives, skills refreshers, and relaxed night excursions due to its gentle topography and straightforward navigation.

Set within a secluded, steep-sided canyon on Gozo's southern coast, Mġarr ix-Xini features a gently sloping seabed flanked by vertical cliff walls. Divers navigate between sandy patches, extensive seagrass meadows, and shallow caverns carved into the limestone. The enclosed bay provides exceptional shelter from most wind directions, making it a reliable spot for macro photography and training dives.

Located off the coast of Delimara Point in southeastern Malta, this site features the remains of a British Royal Air Force de Havilland Mosquito twin-engine combat aircraft that ditched in the sea in the late 1940s after engine failure. Because the aircraft fuselage was constructed largely of moulded plywood, much of the wooden structure has rotted away over decades underwater. Divers find the twin Rolls-Royce Merlin engines, bent propeller blades, wing structure, and landing gear resting upright on an open, sandy seabed.

The MV Xlendi is a former Gozo Channel ferry intentionally scuttled off Ix-Xatt l-Aħmar to create an artificial reef. During sinking, the vessel inverted unexpectedly and now rests upside down along a sloping seabed. Divers explore the immense overturned hull and external running gear, though internal penetration is avoided due to severe structural collapse and heavy silt accumulation.

Scuttled in 2007 as an artificial reef off the northern tip of Malta at Cirkewwa, this former East German Kondor I-class minesweeper turned Armed Forces of Malta patrol vessel sits completely upright on a white sand bottom. The hull was thoroughly cleaned and prepared before sinking, leaving wide cut-outs, an intact bridge, and an iconic mounted radar tower and machine gun replica on the bow that make for distinctive exploration. Divers typically swim out past Susie's Pool reef across open sand before encountering the intact silhouette rising from the seabed.

Situated at the northern headland of Qawra, this classic Maltese shore dive offers a sheltered entry bay that transitions into a rugged reef wall. Divers explore a series of natural overhangs, rocky boulders, and a well-known L-shaped cave system lined with sponges and tube worms. The outer reef steps downward into the open sea, making it suitable for both casual navigation along the rocky plateau and deeper exploration on the outer drop-off.

The Schnellboot wreck represents a fast German attack craft from World War II resting upright on an open seabed off Malta's eastern coast. Blown apart after striking a mine, the vessel features distinct war machinery, including remnants of torpedo tubes, deck fixtures, and engine parts. Because of its extreme exposure and bottom profile, this wreck is reserved strictly for mixed-gas trimix teams.

Located along the coastline of St. Paul's Bay, Sirens Bay features an accessible shore entry right off the concrete promenade. The dive follows a gently sloping seabed composed of rocky reefs, scattered boulders, and broad patches of Posidonia oceanica seagrass that lead outward toward open sand. Given its sheltered layout and calm conditions, it frequently serves as a location for refresher training, leisurely photography dives, and night excursions searching for nocturnal critters.

Resting upright on the silty seabed of Kalkara Creek inside Malta's Grand Harbour, this historic passenger-cargo steamer was sunk by German air raids during World War II. Originally christened the Odile before being renamed the Margit, the vessel has broken down over decades into an atmospheric structural framework covered in harbour silt and marine growth. Navigating the wreck requires cautious finning because fine sediment easily clouds the water.

Sunk deliberately in June 2013 as an artificial reef off Exiles Point in Sliema, Tug 2 sits on a flat seabed close to the rocky shoreline reef. A winter storm later shifted the vessel closer to the reef wall, making navigation between the natural limestone drop-off and the metal hull straightforward. Divers can swim through open doorways and explore the wheelhouse without tight restrictions, making it an accessible wreck experience in calm coastal waters.

Located off Zonqor Point in Marsaskala, this dive features two scuttled harbor tugboats sitting upright on a flat seabed. Both vessels were cleaned and intentionally sunk in the late 1990s to form artificial reefs. Divers usually navigate across the shallow rocky reef before dropping onto the sand where the wrecks lie a short distance apart, making it easy to explore both hulls on a single tank.

Scuttled in 1998 off the coast of Wied iz-Zurrieq, this former Libyan single-screw motor tanker rests upright on a sandy seafloor. Winter storms split the massive hull into two sections, exposing the internal framing and creating accessible passageways through the engine room, bridge, and holds. The swim out from the narrow coastal inlet crosses open sand and sea grass before the towering stern looms into view.

Located on Malta's southern coast, Wied iz-Zurrieq is a deep, narrow rocky inlet that serves as the gateway to diverse coastal topographies. Divers step off the concrete quay into clear water flanked by vertical limestone walls, descending onto a seabed of coarse sand, scattered boulders, and thick Posidonia oceanica meadows. Heading out along the eastern or western cliff lines reveals overhangs, swim-throughs, and drop-offs, while a straight bearing across the open plateau leads to the famous Um El Faroud tanker wreck.

Resting on a silty slope off Manoel Island in Marsamxett Harbour, the HMS X-127 is a historic World War II water lighter sunk by aerial bombardment in 1942. The wreck lies bow-up along the incline, presenting accessible external framework alongside open holds that harbor diverse macro life. While harbour silt demands careful buoyancy control, the sheltered topography provides an intriguing look into wartime maritime history.

Xlendi Bay is a sheltered inlet on Gozo's southwestern coast that serves as a primary site for training dives, night excursions, and relaxed exploration. The dive path navigates along vertical cliff walls bordering sandy seafloor, leading to a shallow natural tunnel that punches entirely through the headland into open water. Natural light filters down through fissures in the tunnel ceiling, creating dramatic shafts of illumination against the encrusted walls.