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Sail into adventure Experience the unforgettable www.visitmalta.com

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An underwater gem The beautiful island of Malta, as well as its sister islands of Gozo and Comino, are the perfect places for you to enjoy the best diving experience of your life. Situated at the centre of the clear-blue Mediterranean Sea, our islands’ rocky coastline is surrounded by unpolluted waters with excellent visibility. Since there are barely noticeable low and high tides, as well as few underwater currents in our waters, Malta is considered to be one of the top scuba diving destinations worldwide, as well as one of the safest.

The possibilities for underwater photography are endless: from amazing landscapes to wrecks of ships and planes; from sheer cliffs to exciting species of flora and rich fauna; from natural reefs to thrilling caves, swim-throughs and grottos. There are dozens of dive sites in the Maltese Islands. Some of the best include Cirkewwa, Anchor Bay and the Blue Grotto in Malta, the Blue Hole and Inland Sea in Gozo, together with some great boat dives off Comino.

All dive sites are only a short distance away and it is easy to do more than one dive a day.

Examples of marine life abound, but you should be careful what you handle as some sea creatures have poisonous bristles or spines. Always be environmentally aware. In some sites you may come across archaeological artifacts.

Should this happen, please do not handle or remove these and inform your instructor or dive centre of your find.

Whether you are a beginner, intermediate or experienced diver, you will find a dive site which is perfect for your specific abilities. Malta is also a well-known destination amongst technical divers. If you would rather dive on your own with a buddy you will require a PADI Advanced Open Water certificate, its equivalent or higher.

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A year round diving destination Taking a ‘try-dive’ is a great way to experience the thrill of being underwater for the first time. If you are a certified diver, you may prefer to take a course and further develop your diving skills. You can also get qualified in Malta. There are plenty of diving schools which offer professional certified dive courses up to the highest level. It is recommended that you present a current medical statement before you start diving here.

You can also bring this along from your own country.

Our mild climate makes it possible to dive all year round and many diving schools offer their services throughout the year. Their tailor-made packages offer all types of educational and escorted day or night dives, including equipment rental for the more experienced unaccompanied divers. You can choose to dive from shore or from a boat.

A family diving holiday here can be a magical experience, with many dive schools offering snorkelling and diving courses for young sea-explorers. The Maltese Islands can guarantee the definitive diving adventure.

So, if you have a passion for diving … what are you waiting for?

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Outdoor fun and adventure Malta is not only about diving. There are so many other types of sports that you can experience while on holiday in the Maltese Islands. For example, why not try rock climbing? The islands have ideal climbing conditions, with over 1,300 graded rock climbing routes and whole-year climbing made possible by the excellent climate. Climbing crags and cliffs are easily accessible by a short car drive, followed by a few minutes’ walk.

Malta has plenty of beautiful sea cliff walls and scenic valleys to scale. They are all made of limestone, which has been molded into interesting formations over millions of years. One can also find a number of exciting rock outcrops which are often indented with caves. You can go bouldering, deep water soloing and sea level traversing, as well as single and multi-pitch climbing. All climbs are graded. There are various grades of difficulty – whether you are a novice, an intermediate climber or an expert rock climber. In Malta, you can find established and professional climbing guides who will be happy to help you out, as well as climbing tours.

Our crystal-clear waters are a magnet for sailing enthusiasts who visit us from all over the world. The archipelago’s waterways are a spectacle of sailing boats which take to the sea to explore the many inlets and coves that dot the shoreline. Malta boasts various harbours and marinas which can accommodate any kind of seacraft. You can also opt to charter a sailing boat for a week or weekend, while day cruises are a favourite with many of our visitors.

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Islands to explore The islands are a haven for the practice of all kinds of sea sports, including surfing, swimming, kayaking, paragliding and even jet skiing. Safe and well regulated facilities are available at every sea resort on the islands. You will find that the temperate nature of the sea surrounding these islands also makes it ideal for swimming practically all year round.

Hiking will give you the opportunity to really appreciate our islands’ unique character, to stray from the beaten tourist track and explore our villages, the rugged landscape and spectacular coastline. There are plenty of interesting routes that you can take. Gozo is excellent walking country and a particular favourite with ramblers.

The small island of Comino also features some great trails and good camping locations.

If horse riding appeals to you, there are a number of stables which offer well-trained horses and qualified instructors. Or you can decide to explore Malta by bike, an experience which will offer you some of the most breathtaking scenery.

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Sports events … and much more!

Whatever time of the year you are in Malta, there are sure to be sporting events of some kind going on. With our fantastic climate and the dazzling blue sea surrounding the Islands, one can organise, participate in and watch sports all year round.

Malta has also become one of the most popular venues in the Powerboat P1 calendar, appreciated by participants and fans for its good climate and unique historic setting. The beautiful waters off our capital city of Valletta play host to some of the sport’s most exciting races. Sea-farers should also not miss the Rolex Middle Sea Race – an offshore classic race which takes place in October. The race runs by incomparable scenery and is a true challenge to skippers and crews who have to be at their very best to cope with the often unpredictable and tough conditions.

If running is your thing, why not try out the Malta Marathon and Half Marathon, which usually take place in February or March? If you enjoy the thrill of the race but would rather be a spectator, horse racing takes place almost every weekend. Tennis is also a popular sport here, so you will be easy to find good tennis courts. The Marsa Sports Club boasts 19 courts, seven of which are floodlit. Marsa also hosts the prestigious Royal Malta Golf Club, set up in 1888.

If you prefer looking up to the skies, the Malta International Airshow usually takes place in September. This is a fantastic, interesting day out for all the family. A static display features a number of fascinating aircraft and there are spectacular aerial displays held over the island.

For a holiday with a difference, featuring a plethora of different things to do every day, Malta is definitely the best place to be!

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Main photography Jurgen Scicluna Kurt Arrigo Markus Kirchgessner Paolo Meitre Liberatini Nathaniel Attard Jesper Kjøller Matthew Mirabelli

Malta Tourism Authority Tel.: (+356) 22915000 info@visitmalta.com www.visitmalta.com www.mta.com.mt www.viewingmalta.com Ramla l-Ħamra Bay

GOZO

Inland Sea Fungus Rock

Dwejra

Xagħra

Victoria

Xlendi

Nadur Mġarr

Blue Lagoon

N

COMINO

E

25 minutes

W

Cirkewwa S

Landmark Index Calypso’s Cave Citadel Ġgantija Prehistoric Temples Mnajdra Prehistoric Temples Ħaġar Qim Prehistoric Temples Tarxien Prehistoric Temples

Ħ

Mellieħa St Paul’s Bay Golden Bay

MALTA

Mosta Dome St John’s Co-Cathedral Għar Dalam Cave Ta’ Haġrat Prehistoric Temples Domus Romana St Paul’s Catacombs St Agatha’s Catacombs Fort Rinella – 100 ton gun

St Julian’s Sliema Marsamxett Harbour

Naxxar Mosta

Mġarr

Valletta

Grand Harbour

Floriana

Mdina Rabat

Marsa Paola

Dingli

Vittoriosa Cospicua Senglea Tarxien Marsaxlokk

Qrendi Birżebbuġa Żurrieq 0 0

2

1 1

3 2

kilometres

Blue Grotto

3 miles

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