The top dive spots in Malta

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Diving-Malta

The top dive spots in Malta

Malta is an archipelago in the central Mediterranean that comprises of three main islands namely, Malta, Comino and Gozo.  The archipelago is famous for its diving and attracts divers from all around the world. Malta was awarded the second best Diving Destination of the Year in the world by Diver magazine in 2016.

Blue-Grotto-Malta

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Some of the great attractions for divers visiting Malta is the mixture of wrecks, reefs and caves that surround the archipelago. The best conditions for diving in Malta are between April and October.

These are just a few of the best diving spots in Malta

P29 Wreck
Malta-diver-wreck

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The P29 was a former minesweeper and became a patrol boat within the Offshore Command of the Maritime Squadron with the Armed Forces of Malta. The ship was cleaned and scuttled in 2007 off the port of Ċirkewwa to serve as a diving site and an artificial reef, which is now home to plenty of fauna and fish. The Ċirkewwa Point is easily accessible from the shore and marked by a buoy. The wreck lies at a depth of 35 meters but the entire dive can be done at 25 meters as the highest point is located only 12 meters from the surface. Divers will find some incredible swim throughs, although the tighter spaces are only recommended for divers with experienced in wreck penetration. 

Ghar Lapsi Cave
Underwater-starfish-Malta

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The Ghar Lapsi is great for beginners and new divers who can descend to explore the reef at 15m in its quiet and shallow waters. More experienced divers can discover the natural beauty of the Ghar Lapsi Cave which offers incredible underwater photography opportunities and boasts beautiful azure waters. Look out for shoals of painted comber around the reef as well as sea cucumbers, octopus, jellyfish, and parrotfish.

Qawra Reef
Nudibranch-Dive-Malta

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The Qawra Reef offers an eclectic dive for beginners and more experienced divers as it can be accessed from the shore and has a drop off of 40m where divers can explore several big caves. The caves have wide entrances and the depth is perfect for beginners. Divers will be able to spot spiny or slipper lobsters, hermit crabs, nudibranchs and spider crabs amongst the rocks. At the 40m drop-off, divers will discover large boulders which are home to barracudas, tuna and amberjacks that are on the hunt for the smaller fish. The reef has several shallow parts with a depth of 15m, where beginners can encounter parrotfish, groupers and cardinal fish.

Santa Maria Caves
Caves-Diving-Malta

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The Santa Maria Caves can be explored at the north of Comino where fascinating cave systems await all levels of divers and snorkelers. Amongst the ten caves known to divers are great swim throughs, large underwater tunnels and incredible views into the blue waters of the Med. There is a variety of marine life to see while diving including nudibranch, octopus, crabs, spiny lobster, eels, shrimp, damselfish, and morays. 

Reqqa Reef
Underwater-Malta

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The Reqqa Reef is located in Ghasri in Gozo and is recommended for experienced divers as it is necessary to walk a short distance in your scuba gear to reach the site. Divers descend beside a large 60-meter wall that is covered in sponges with a lot of small fish also exploring the site. There are multiple smaller overhangs and caves to discover, and at 18m divers can find a spectacular chimney. During the dive on the north coast of Gozo, you have the opportunity to see large groupers, rays, barracudas, lobsters and morays.

The Blue Hole
Diving-Blue-Hole-Gozo

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The Blue Hole in Dwerja, Gozo is one of the most popular dive sites in the Maltese Islands. It sits beside the former location of the Azure Window with the remnants of this Gozitian gem visible below the surface. The dive is suited to all levels of divers; there are several depths and routes to choose from to explore a cave located at the far end of The Blue Hole as well as a coral garden. The dive begins in a stunning natural 10m wide inland sea pool, where divers descend to see a natural rock arch that will be your doorway to explore the crystal-clear waters that Malta has to offer. There is an abundance of marine life to discover such as parrotfish, schools of bream, moray eel, lobster, and octopus.

The Inland Sea and Tunnel
Diving-Boat-Malta

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The Inland Sea and Tunnel dive is unique to Malta and is very popular as it can be completed on the same day as the nearby Blue Hole dive. Divers start the dive in a 60m wide inlet that is surrounded by the high Maltese cliffs and descends through the 80m inland sea tunnel. Some divers like to carry a torch to explore the tunnel walls. At the end of the tunnel divers will be greeted by ethereal lighting that is created by the sunlight hitting the clear waters. There you will see an all sorts of marine life including John Dory, octopus, cardinal fish, barracuda, parrot fish and Spotted Doris.

If these dive sites in Malta sound incredible to you, please contact us for more information for your next dive holiday!