Scuba Diving - VisitMalta UK

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SCUBA DIVING EDITION

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Map of the Maltese Islands Where to stay Learn to dive Preser ve & protect Top dive sites More adventures

M A LTA : A S C U B A D I V E R’ S PA R A D I S E The Maltese Islands, repeatedly voted second best dive destination in the world, boast an abundance of reefs, stunning caverns, caves and spectacular wrecks. The water surrounding the Mediterranean archipelago is known for its pristine transparency, warmth and azure blue colour.

Malta, Gozo and Comino are home to over 100 dive sites collectively. Whether you’re an experienced diver or a beginner, the diverse dive offering appeals to all levels and has divers returning year after year.

If you’re yet to experience scuba diving, you can feel confident diving in Malta; there are over 50 dive centres across the islands and English is an official language in Malta. A full range of programmes are available from ‘try dives’ to qualified diving courses.

The relatively small archipelago offers more shore-dives than anywhere else in the Mediterranean. This provides a great opportunity for divers to rent a 4x4 and visit the incredible sites at your own pace – the islands are very easy to navigate and the ferry crossing from Malta to Gozo is just 25-minutes.

The sparkling Mediterranean Sea also offers non-divers a tranquil environment for snorkelling, swimming, kayaking, windsurfing, deep-sea fishing and exploring the many coves by boat; whilst the topographical island landscape encourages rock-climbing, mountain-biking, horseriding, trail running and jeep-safaris.

Just a three-hour flight away, there’s every reason to visit the islands in any season.

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W H E R E T O S TAY The Maltese Islands are small in size and surrounded by over 100 dive sites, which makes scuba diving accessible wherever you stay in Malta or Gozo.

BUGIBBA The sheltered waters off Bugibba’s rocky beach are ideal for basking in the sunshine and enjoying water sports. Bugibba boasts an idyllic promenade lined with a selection of bars, restaurants and cafés to choose from.

MELLIEHA This quiet area in the north of the island is ideal if you’re looking for a relaxed atmosphere. Home to Malta’s longest white sandy beach with great views over the Mediterranean-Sea, this is one of the most peaceful resorts on the island.

QAWRA Located in St. Paul’s Bay, Qawra is a lively resort home to a bustling promenade lined with cafés, restaurants and bars. Take a walk to the historical 17th century Qawra Point watch tower, overlooking a small bay popular with sunbathers, or visit Ta’ Fra Ben beach, perfect for swimming and snorkelling.

VALLETTA With its rich heritage and bustling centre, Valletta is ideal for travellers wanting to spend their time in Malta's thriving cultural centre. The Baroque capital boasts stunning boutique hotels and waterfront alfresco dining overlooking the spectacular Grand Harbour.

ST. JULIAN’S & SLIEMA Built around the stunning Spinola Bay, St. Julian’s is the perfect location if you want to be close to the action. After a morning of scuba diving, relax on the sandy beach of St. George’s Bay in St. Julian’s, or enjoy the afternoon shopping in neighbouring Sliema.

GOZO Gozo is just a 25-minute ferry crossing from Malta, and boasts a picturesque rural landscape teamed with tranquil sea views. There are plenty of hotels in Gozo, but if it’s relaxation and scuba diving you’re after, why not stay in a Gozitan farmhouse? There are plenty of adventure activities to try here too, from rock-climbing to kayaking.

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LEARN TO DIVE Explore bucket-list dive sites whilst learning to scuba dive in Malta or Gozo. Boasting over 300 days of sunshine and just a threehour flight from the UK; there’s every reason to take your dive qualification on the Mediterranean archipelago.

The waters surrounding Malta, Gozo and Comino are known for their warmth, un-rivalled visibility and world-class dive sites. There are no tides and few strong currents, making the Maltese Islands the premier destination in Europe to experience scuba diving for the first time, or obtain a dive qualification.

The PADI Open Water Diver course consists of three main phases; online or independent study to understand the basic principles of scuba diving, confined water dives to learn basic scuba skills and open water dives to use your skills to explore the ocean. The course can be taken over 4 days and started from the age of 10.

DIVE CENTRES The Mediterranean archipelago offers a wide choice of dive centres where English-speaking, professional, qualified diving staff are trained to teach all levels, from beginner to instructor courses. Dive centres are located throughout Malta and Gozo and will provide all the equipment you need.

The BSAC Ocean Diver Course develops your skills to ensure you are competent to dive safely in open water through six theory modules, five sessions in a pool or sheltered water and five openwater dives. The course can be taken over 5 days and from the age of 12.

DIVE QUALIFICATIONS Both, the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) and British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC) have presence on the islands.

Remeber to factor in your 12-hour minimal surface interval before flying.

DIVE SITES The islands boast over 100 dive sites, some of which can be explored whilst taking a dive course.

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P R E S E RV E & P R O T E C T UCHU (Underwater Cultural Heritage Unit) and Heritage Malta have introduced a set of rules and regulations for diving historical shipwrecks, to ensure dives are managed to preserve and protect the incredible historic dive sites.

For a number of years, systematic underwater archaeological research has been conducted off the coasts of the Maltese Islands, resulting in important underwater cultural heritage being discovered, mapped and studied.

The historical wreck sites discovered range from a 2,700 year-old Phoenician shipwreck, the oldest in the central Mediterranean, to WWI battleships, and dozens of aircraft crash sites.

The Government of Malta created the UCHU within Heritage Malta, which is the national agency for the management of Malta’s cultural heritage collections, sites and museums, to create underwater archaeological parks that will protect the islands’ important underwater heritage.

The protected dive sites can only be visited by arrangement with a dive centre appointed by UCHU.

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TOP DIVE SITES

With over 100 dive sites it’s hard to know where to start, check out the top wrecks, caves, reefs and bucket-list dives.

TOP 5 WRECKS The Maltese Islands are a wreck divers paradise catering to all levels, from recreational to technical divers. The position of Malta in the Mediterranean Sea has led to heavy ship traffic since the early ages. Many wrecks have also been scuttled purposely to create artificial reefs.

HMS MAORI, VALLETTA Discover HMS Maori, a 115-metre-long tribal class destroyer that was sunk in the Grand Harbor of Valletta by a German air raid attack in 1942.

The wreck was raised in 1945 and the forepart of the ship was scuttled in St Elmo Bay. HMS Maori is the shallowest dive wreck in Malta with a maximum depth of 16 metres.

PATROL BOAT P31, COMINO P31 was previously an East German minesweeper that was commissioned in 1969. Following the dissolution of the East German Navy, Malta purchased the minesweeper and it was used as a patrol boat in border control operations. P31 was scuttled off Comino in 2009 and lies in bare sand at a depth of 18 metres.

MV KARWELA, GOZO Visit MV Karwela, a 58-metre tourist ferry that once toured the Grand Harbor. The Karwela was scuttled in 2006 to form an artificial reef on Gozo’s

southeast coast. The wreck stands perfectly upright at a maximum depth of 40 metres. There is plenty to explore on its three decks, with the nearby reef providing an excellent continuation of your dive.

MV IMPERIAL EAGLE, QAWRA POINT The Imperial Eagle was launched in 1938 as a ferry ship between Gozo and Valletta. In 1999, the ship was scuttled 500 metres northeast of Qawra Point and was later joined by the Statue of Christ in 2000. The shipwreck currently sits perfectly upright on a sandy seabed at a depth of 42 metres.

HMS STUBBORN, ST. PAUL’S BAY Visit HMS Stubborn, a 66-metre Royal Navy submarine commissioned in 1942. The Stubborn defended British domestic waters during World War II. In 1946, the Royal Navy scuttled the Stubborn approximately 3 kilometres north east of Qawra Point. It remains upright and intact on a sandy bottom at a depth of 50 metres and is covered by hundreds of brightly colored sponges.

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TOP 5 REEFS Excellent visibility and beautiful underwater scenery in the crystal-clear waters surrounding the islands make reefs in Malta and Gozo appealing to divers worldwide.

CORAL GARDENS, SLIEMA Coral Gardens is a shore dive site located off the seaside promenade of Sliema. The shallow reef boasts valleys, canyons and gullies with some interesting rock formations and swim through tunnels for divers to explore. Coral Gardens reef is home to small marine life and great for underwater photography.

Keep your eyes open for moray eels and sea bream, found in Malta’s waters.

FINGER REEF, GHAR LAPSI Finger Reef, a name given because of its shape, is located in southern Malta. Explore a colourful wall full of false coral, home to small but brightly coloured fish. As you make your way along the reef, you will find a cave with an eye-catching hole in the roof, through which you can exit.

MIDDLE REEF, GHAR LAPSI Middle Reef offers divers a number of shallow reefs to explore, surrounded by areas of sand, sea grass and small boulders. The reef is the shallowest dive site in Ghar Lapsi and is perfect for beginners.

REQQA REEF, GOZO The Reqqa Reef, found in Gozo, is recommended to experienced divers as it’s necessary to walk a short distance in your scuba gear to reach the site. You’ll descend beside a large 60-metre wall covered in sponges with a lot of small fish also exploring the site. There are multiple smaller overhangs and caves to discover, whilst keeping your eyes open for large groupers, barracudas and morays.

QAWRA REEF, QAWRA The dive can be accessed from the shore and has a drop off of 40 metres where you can explore several big caves. The caves have wide entrances and the depth is perfect for new divers. Spiny lobsters, hermit crabs, nudibranchs and spider crabs can also be found hiding amongst the rocks on the sandy seabed.

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T O P 5 C AV E S Malta, Gozo and Comino offer unique cave diving experiences with a spectacular variety of rock formations; making diving here some of the most interesting in the Mediterranean.

BLUE HOLE, GOZO The Blue Hole is one of the top dive sites in Europe. The deep blue water provides the perfect environment for an array of marine life including parrotfish, bream, lobster and octopus. The combination of marine life, capitulating rock formations and huge underwater boulders make the Blue Hole an amazing dive experience.

corals and sponges and is home to shrimp, giant mussels as well as many other marine species.

The surrounding limestone rock walls beautifully sandy bottom and clear blue water.

XLENDI TUNNEL, GOZO Also known as the Xlendi Cave, the dive site is located at the northern wall of Xlendi Bay in southwest Gozo. The tunnel is 70 metres long and is suitable to most divers as it’s possible to partly surface in parts throughout the tunnel. The natural lighting in the tunnel makes it an appealing site for divers.

CORAL CAVE, GOZO Coral Cave is a huge cavern boasting a sandy bottom with large boulders scattered under its entrance. The cavern is filled with a variety of soft

THE BLUE DOME. GOZO Also known as Cathedral Cave, this dive site is located off the north coast of Gozo. The ceiling of the cave rises 20 metres above the water’s surface and the cave is 30 metres deep. A stunning visual effect is created when sunlight bursts through the arch-shaped entrance and the ceiling openings in the cave.

FINGER REEF, GHAR LAPSI Finger Reef is located in southern Malta and is a picturesque dive site with several reef and cave structures. The reef has a maximum dive depth of 20 metres and its calm shallow waters make it a great dive site for beginners. The small cave system has superb lighting and offers multiple entry and exit points.

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B U C K E T- L I S T The Maltese Islands’ world-class dive sites feature wrecks, reefs, rock formations and marine life. The sites below should be added to every diver’s bucket-list.

INLAND SEA & TUNNEL, GOZO The Inland Sea & Tunnel is one of the most spectacular dive sites in Malta and Gozo, offering beautiful lighting effects and abundant marine life.

The dive begins in a 60-metre-wide scenic inlet surrounded by limestone cliffs. The unique tunnel connected to the inland sea is 80 metres long and its walls can be explored by torch. Discover an array of marine life such as John Dory, octopus, cardinal fish, barracuda, parrot fish and Spotted Doris.

AZURE REEF, GOZO The famous Azure Window, often referred to as the ‘Window to the Mediterranean’, fell into the ocean after a storm in March 2017. The shattered remains of the limestone archway have been renamed the Azure Reef, which calls to be discovered by divers. The colour of the honeycoloured rock formation against the azure-blue ocean is a spectacle in itself and the impressive dive site boasts canyons and narrow passages to explore.

STATUE OF CHRIST, MALTA Statue of Christ, also known in Maltese as Kristu tal-Bahhara (Christ of the Sailors), was created

by Maltese sculptor Alfred Camilleri Cauchi.

Cauchi was commissioned to create the statue to commemorate Pope John Paul II’s first visit to Malta in 1990. Christ’s face is turned up towards the surface and the sailors above, his arms are outstretched and he stands 3 metres tall on the white sandy seabed.

FILFLA ISLAND Filfla is a small uninhabited islet, 5 kilometres south of Malta, which is the most southerly point forming the Maltese archipelago. Until 1971, the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force used the island for target practice. Diving on the island boasts stunning drop-off reefs, deep blue water and the possibility of encountering large predators such as barracudas and tuna. Access to Filfla is granted by the Environment & Resources Authority (ERA).

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ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES

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EXPERIENCE MORE

1 // ROLLING GEEKS Enjoy a Rolling Geeks Tour of The Three Cities; a collective description of the three fortified Medieval cities of Birgu, Senglea and Cospicua in Malta. Please note that a driving license will be needed to operate the fiveseater self-drive electric cars, complete with pre-programme GPS.

2 // QUAD BIKING Explore Malta’s sister island, Gozo by quad bike. Travel through off-road trails to discover picturesque villages, rural landscapes, stunning beaches and beautiful flora and fauna. Whether you take a trip with friends or your partner the experience isn’t one you’ll forget.

3 // BOAT TRIP Charter a sailing boat and take in the breath-taking views of the Mediterranean Sea. Sail round Malta and visit the islands of Gozo, Comino and Cominotto, renowned for their pristine beaches and caves. Peaceful, unspoilt Gozo boasts lots of quiet anchorages where you can swim in turquoise waters.

4 // ROCK CLIMBING The Mediterranean archipelago is a climber’s paradise; there are over 1,300 excellent climbing routes in Malta, Gozo and Comino. The topographical terrain and sheer cliffs that characterise much of the Maltese Islands are ideal for practicing this thrill-seeking sport.

5 // SWIMMING The Mediterranean Sea boasting warm water and excellent visibility all year round - calls to swimmers. Malta’s most popular sandy beaches, Golden Bay, Ghajn Tuffieha Bay and Mellieha Bay, can be found in the north of the island and are perfect for a day of sunbathing and swimming.

6 // WALKING The Maltese Islands have an array of minor roads, country footpaths and off-road trails to explore magnificent valleys, scenic routes and distinct topography. Take in the breathtaking scenery and discover rugged countryside, spectacular cliffs, jagged coastline and hidden inland valleys.

7 // SNORKELLING Picturesque coves and caves enable snorkelers to explore the ocean’s surface. Witness natural magical light-shows in the transparent azure-coloured waters. Be on the lookout for marine life including jellyfish, octopus, parrotfish and the blue damselfish in the warm Mediterranean Sea.

8 // HORSE RIDING Explore the Maltese Islands on horseback to experience the unspoilt peaceful countryside and picturesque views at your own pace. End your day horse riding at Golden Bay, a sandy beach in the north of the island, watching the sun set on the azure-blue Mediterranean waters.

9 // KAYAKING The Maltese Islands boast an abundance of water-based activities for adventure seekers.

There are plenty of idyllic bays to encourage kayaking, windsurfing, paragliding and kite surfing away from the tourist trail; perfect for visitors who want to reconnect with nature.

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To learn more visit www.maltauk.com for further information and travel offers