HMS Helespont - Comino

The HMS Helespont, just off Comino, is one of our favourite wreck dives in Malta for its character alone. You really feel the history here. This World War II tugboat sits upright at around 40 metres, and the visibility often makes for a dramatic approach, the dark hull appearing slowly out of the blue. We love exploring the superstructure, especially the wheelhouse, which is still largely intact and easy to fin through. Inside, the light plays off the rust, and you often find schools of damselfish flitting through the doorways. Around the deck, we’ve spotted moray eels peeking out from pipes and scorpionfish camouflaged against the metal. It’s a dive best suited for experienced divers comfortable with deeper wrecks and potential currents, which can pick up around the point. For us, it’s not just a wreck, it’s a time capsule.

Location: Comino, Malta, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates: 35.895380, 14.532595
Type: wreck

Marine Protected Area: Fortifikazzjonijiet tal-Port

Best Time to Dive in Comino

The warmest water temperatures in Comino occur in August, averaging 28.1°C. The coolest conditions are in March at 15.3°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

January: 16.4°C
February: 15.5°C
March: 15.3°C
April: 16.2°C
May: 18.7°C
June: 22.9°C
July: 26.9°C
August: 28.1°C
September: 27.3°C
October: 24.9°C
November: 22.2°C
December: 19.3°C

Nearest Dive Centres to HMS Helespont

ABC Diving - PADI
Aquamarina
Aquatica Scuba Diving
Atlantis Diving Centre - PADI, BSAC, VDST, TDI
Blue Waters Dive Cove - ["PADI"]
Bubbles Dive Shop

Marine Life in Comino

Home to 24 recorded species including 12 reef fish, 4 sharks & rays, 2 whales & dolphins, 2 seagrass & algae, 2 hard corals, 1 other.

Notable Species

Painted Comber (Serranus scriba) - Reef Fish
Wrasse (Coris julis) - Reef Fish
Parrotfish (Sparisoma cretense) - Reef Fish
Ornate Wrasse (Thalassoma pavo) - Reef Fish
loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)
Salema (Sarpa salpa) - Reef Fish
Garrupa (Serranus cabrilla) - Reef Fish
Dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus) - Reef Fish
Blue-white Dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) - Whales & Dolphins
Mediterranean tapeweed (Posidonia oceanica) - Seagrass & Algae
Cowfish (Tursiops truncatus) - Whales & Dolphins
Damsel fish (Chromis chromis) - Reef Fish
sting ray (Dasyatis pastinaca) - Sharks & Rays
killer alga (Caulerpa taxifolia) - Seagrass & Algae
Marbled Spinefoot (Siganus rivulatus) - Reef Fish
dogfish (Scyliorhinus canicula) - Sharks & Rays
Moonfish (Mola mola) - Reef Fish
Scarlet Coral (Balanophyllia (Balanophyllia) europaea) - Hard Corals
Red coral (Corallium rubrum) - Soft Corals
Bushy Coral (Cladocora caespitosa) - Hard Corals

Recommended Packing List for HMS Helespont

Based on average water temperature of 21.1°C, currents 2 cm/s.

Wetsuit (3-5mm) - comfortable for 21°C water
Mask - essential for every dive
Fins
BCD - buoyancy compensator
Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories