Um el Faroud Wreck - Comino

The Um el Faroud isn’t just a wreck, it’s a monument. We've dived it more times than we can count, and it always delivers. This former Libyan oil tanker, scuttled in 1998 after a shipyard explosion, sits upright and largely intact, split in two by a storm in 2006. That split, right down the middle, is now our favourite entry point. Dropping down, the sheer scale hits you. This isn’t some small boat. The bridge section is still there, the engine room accessible, and cargo holds open for exploration. Light shafts pierce the gloom, illuminating thick schools of damselfish and barracuda that hang around the superstructure. We often find moray eels tucked into the pipes and groupers lurking in the shadows. The stern propeller is a great spot to see nudibranchs if you slow down and look closely. It’s a dive that rewards careful exploration, not just a quick swim-through. It’s ideal for advanced open water divers comfortable with deeper wrecks and overhead environments. A strong current can pick up here, so we always suggest checking conditions with a local dive centre.

Location
Comino, Malta, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
35.818000, 14.443216
Type
wreck

Marine Protected Area: Żona fil-Baħar fl-inħawi ta\' Għar Lapsi u ta\' Filfla

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

Nearby Dive Sites in Comino

Nearest Dive Centres to Um el Faroud Wreck

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

Recommended Packing List for Um el Faroud Wreck

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