Diving in Malta Island
Why dive here
Malta Island offers some of Malta's richest diving, with 59+ marine species recorded in the area - including dolphins, octopuses, sea turtles and cuttlefish. Water sits around 17°C.
Malta Island delivers a solid punch for Mediterranean diving, especially if you’re into wrecks and a bit of cave exploration. We’re particularly fond of the intentional sunken fleet; the HMS Maori is a favourite, shallow enough for most, with that classic war relic feel. Then you have the Rozi tugboat and the Um El Faroud oil tanker, both sitting upright and begging for multiple dives to really appreciate their scale. Shore diving at Cirkewwa is a huge plus, meaning no crowded boat trips if you don't fancy them. Visibility is generally good here, often 20 metres or more outside of winter storms. You’ll be seeing plenty of painted combers darting through the tapeweed, common cuttlefish doing their camouflage magic, and if you look close, those little butterfly blennies perched on the rocks. We often spot parrotfish grazing the algae. The water in late summer and early autumn is warm, making those longer dives comfortable. We'd suggest aiming for shoulder seasons, late spring or early autumn, to beat the biggest crowds but still get pleasant conditions. Currents are mostly manageable, though a few spots can get a push, so always check with your local centre.
Malta Island Dive Site Map
Dive sites and dive centres in Malta Island
Malta Island Dive Sites
31 dive sites in Malta Island
Ahrax Bay
Ahrax Bay offers a straightforward shore dive, ideal for those looking to get wet without much fuss. We've found the shallow entry gives way to a gently sloping seabed, mostly sand and scattered rocks. Keep an eye out for small octopuses tucked away and the occasional stingray buried in the sand. It’s a solid choice for a relaxed second dive or for divers getting comfortable with shore entries.
Anchor Bay (Dive Site)
Anchor Bay (Dive Site) is a reef dive site in Malta Island, Malta.
Balluta Bay (Dive Site)
Balluta Bay (Dive Site) is a reef dive site in Malta Island, Malta.
BARGE 2
The Barge 2 wreck, sitting at 60 metres, isn't one for casual divers, but for those with the training, it’s a seriously rewarding deep dive. We love the feeling of descending into that blue, knowing you’re heading for something really substantial. It’s a genuine barge, not some flimsy fishing boat, and its size allows for proper exploration. You can spend a good chunk of your bottom time traversing its length, feeling the weight of the structure around you. What makes it standout, beyond the depth, is how well it's settled. The deck is home to scorpionfish, perfectly camouflaged, and we often spot decent-sized groupers hovering in the shadows underneath overhangs. The low light really makes your torch beam pop, highlighting the sponges and anemones that have started to colonise the metalwork. Our favourite part? Nosing around the stern, where you get a real sense of its scale. Just remember, this one demands good gas planning and solid buoyancy skills. We'd suggest going early in the morning for the calmest conditions before any surface chop picks up.
Cirkewwa - Outer Reef (Dive Site)
Cirkewwa - Outer Reef (Dive Site) offers reef diving in Malta Island, Malta.
Cirkewwa - Susie's Pool and Reef (Dive Site)
A reef dive site in Malta Island, Malta, Cirkewwa - Susie's Pool and Reef (Dive Site) is worth adding to your dive plan.
Dragonara cave
Dragonara Cave offers a straightforward cavern dive, making it a good option for those new to overhead environments. You’ll find some interesting light play filtering through the entrance, illuminating the rocky interior. It’s a relatively shallow dive, suitable for divers comfortable with basic cave navigation and looking for a relaxed exploration rather than dramatic coral.
Filflette (Dive Site)
Located in Malta Island, Malta, Filflette (Dive Site) is a dive site.
Ghar Lapsi - Left Reef (Dive Site)
Ghar Lapsi - Left Reef (Dive Site) is a reef dive site in Malta Island, Malta.
HMS KINGSTON
The HMS Kingston in Malta is a strange one, and we love it for being exactly that. You’re not diving a fully intact destroyer; you’re diving the bow section, separated from the rest of the ship after it took a hammering in Grand Harbour during WWII. It was later moved and scuttled to act as a breakwater, now resting in about 5 metres of water. We’d suggest a calm day to really appreciate the details here, as the shallowness can make it feel a bit like a washing machine if there’s any swell. What you get is a fantastic playground for history buffs and photographers. The bow section is still substantial, with clear evidence of its destroyer past, even if it's been through a lot. Our favourite part is swimming through the mangled metal, seeing how the light plays on the rusted plates and how schools of juvenile fish have made these tight spaces their home. We’ve even spotted moray eels tucked into the more protected crevices. It’s an easy, rewarding dive, perfect for extending a surface interval or for divers who appreciate a wreck with a story, even if it’s a broken one.
HMSM STUBBORN
The HMSM Stubborn, a wartime S-class submarine, lies upright at 51 metres, a ghost from 1946. We love this wreck for its sheer presence. Dropping down, the bow comes into view first, a long, dark shape against the blue. It’s a good deep dive for experienced wreck enthusiasts. You can spend a whole no-deco dive just appreciating the scale of it. Swim along the deck, past the conning tower, and imagine the crew on watch. The torpedo tubes are still visible at the bow. Our favourite part is the way the light plays on the metal, especially if you catch it on a sunny morning. Groupers have made the darker internal spaces their home, lurking in the shadows. You’ll also spot plenty of scorpionfish camouflaged against the hull. The visibility is usually excellent, often 30 metres plus, making the Stubborn an incredibly atmospheric dive. Just remember it's a deep one, so proper planning and gas management are key.
HMS Stubborn
We love a good submarine wreck, and the HMS Stubborn certainly delivers. Lying on her port side in about 57 meters, this is definitely one for the experienced trimix crowd, but what a dive it is. Dropping down, the sheer scale of her reveals itself slowly. We’ve found the conning tower still feels remarkably intact, and the torpedo tubes are a real highlight – you can almost picture the crew. Schools of barracuda often circle the wreck, glinting in the shafts of light that penetrate the deep, and the resident groupers are surprisingly bold, eyeing you from shadowy nooks. It's not a shallow potter, so plan your gas carefully, but the reward is a quiet, contemplative exploration of a vessel that saw real history. We always recommend getting an early start; fewer boats mean you might just have her to yourself, which really adds to the atmosphere.
Malta Island Dive Centres
15 dive shops and operators in Malta Island
ABC Diving
AQUAVENTURE MALTA
ASD POSEIDON DIVING LAMPEDUSA
Blue Waters Dive Cove
DIVEMASTERS MALTA
DIVE VISION MALTA LTD
DUNE MALTA
Extra Divers Worldwide Private Company Ltd.
Ocean Wildlife in Malta Island
59 species recorded in Malta Island
Malta Island Daylight & Sunrise/Sunset
Sunrise and sunset times for Malta Island, calculated from coordinates
Today - Monday 24 August
Sunrise
05:29
Sunset
18:43
Daylight
13h 14m
Golden Hour
18:08
First light (dawn) at 05:02 · Last light (dusk) at 19:10
Monthly Averages
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 07:13 | 17:11 | 9h 58m |
| Feb | 06:52 | 17:43 | 10h 51m |
| Mar | 06:16 | 18:09 | 11h 53m |
| Apr | 05:32 | 18:35 | 13h 3m |
| May | 04:59 | 19:00 | 14h 2m |
| JunLongest | 04:46 | 19:21 | 14h 35m |
| Jul | 04:57 | 19:20 | 14h 23m |
| AugNow | 05:21 | 18:55 | 13h 35m |
| Sep | 05:45 | 18:13 | 12h 29m |
| Oct | 06:08 | 17:30 | 11h 21m |
| Nov | 06:38 | 16:57 | 10h 19m |
| DecShortest | 07:05 | 16:50 | 9h 45m |
Times are approximate local times based on longitude. Actual times may vary slightly depending on the exact timezone observed in Malta Island.
Where to Stay near Malta Island
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Marine Protected Areas near Malta Island
81 protected areas near Malta Island - please respect local regulations when diving
Żona fil-Baħar fl-inħawi tal-Graben ta’ Medina
Żona fil-Baħar fl-inħawi tal-Graben ta’ Medina
Żona fil-Baħar fin-Nofsinhar
Żona fil-Baħar fin-Nofsinhar
Żona fil-Baħar fil-Lvant
Żona fil-Baħar fil-Lvant
Żona fil-Baħar madwar Għawdex
Żona fil-Baħar madwar Għawdex
Żona fil-Baħar fil-Punent
Żona fil-Baħar fil-Punent
Żona fil-Baħar fl-inħawi tal-Graben tat-Tramuntana ta’ Għawdex
Żona fil-Baħar fl-inħawi tal-Graben tat-Tramuntana ta’ Għawdex
Showing 12 largest of 81
Getting to Malta Island
Valletta
Catania
Palermo
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