Diving in Malta Island

Explore 31 dive sites in Malta Island, Malta. Ocean conditions, marine species, and dive centres.

Best Time to Dive in Malta Island

The warmest water temperatures in Malta Island occur in January, averaging 16.8°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 16.8°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 16.8°C (air: 13.8°C)
  • February: 16.8°C (air: 13.8°C)
  • March: 16.8°C (air: 14.3°C)
  • April: 16.8°C (air: 16.2°C)
  • May: 16.8°C (air: 19.8°C)
  • June: 16.8°C (air: 24.1°C)
  • July: 16.8°C (air: 27.2°C)
  • August: 16.8°C (air: 27.7°C)
  • September: 16.8°C (air: 25.6°C)
  • October: 16.8°C (air: 22.3°C)
  • November: 16.8°C (air: 19.1°C)
  • December: 16.8°C (air: 15.8°C)

Marine Life in Malta Island

Home to 62 recorded species including 39 reef fish, 4 hard corals, 4 whales & dolphins, 3 seagrass & algae, 2 other, 2 crabs & lobsters.

Recommended Packing List for Malta Island

Based on average water temperature of 16.8°C.

  • Wetsuit (5-7mm) - recommended for 17°C water
  • Hood & Gloves (3-5mm) - helps retain warmth
  • 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

Marine Protected Areas in Malta Island

  • Il-Gżejjer ta\' Filfa - Area of Ecological Importance/Site of Scientific Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Għaram tar- Ramel fir-Ramla tat-Torri, limiti tal Mellieħa - Area of Ecological Importance/Site of Scientific Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Għadajjar ta\' l-ilma ħelu fl-Għadira s-Safra, Għallis (l/tan-Naxxar) - Area of Ecological Importance/Site of Scientific Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Għadajjar ta\' l-ilma ħelu fil-Qaliet (l/ta\' San Ġiljan) - Area of Ecological Importance/Site of Scientific Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Il-Gżejjer ta\' San Pawl (Selmunett), limiti tal-Mellieħa - Area of Ecological Importance/Site of Scientific Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Ġebel ta\' Bejn il-Kmiemen, limiti ta\' Għajnsielem - Area of Ecological Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Manoel Island/Il-Gżira ta\' Forti Manwel - Bird Sanctuary (IUCN Category IV)
  • It-Taqtiegħa u t-Taqtiegħa ta\' Delimara, limiti ta\' Marsaxlokk - Site of Scientific Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Għaram tar-Ramel f\'Daħlet Xilep, il-Mellieħa - Area of Ecological Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Il-Ġebla tal-Għallis, limiti tan-Naxxar - Site of Scientific Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Il-Ħnejja, limiti tal-Qala - Site of Scientific Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Il-Baħar ta\' Madwar Filfla - No Berthing Zone/No Entry Zone except for Fisheries (IUCN Category VI)
  • Ġebla Fessej - Site of Scientific Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Il-bajja taċ-Ċagħaq ta\' Kemmunett - Site of Scientific Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Irdumijiet Ta\' Madwar il-Kosta f\'Ta\' Buleben, San Pawl il-Baħar - Area of Ecological Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Għaram tar-Ramel fir-Ramla tal-Mixquqa, il-Mellieħa - Area of Ecological Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Il-Ġebla l-Ħalfa, limiti tal-Qala - Area of Ecological Importance/Site of Scientific Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Irdumijiet Ta\' Madwar Il-Kosta mill-Ponta tal-Miġnuna sal-Bajja ta\' San Tumas f\' Wied il-Għajn - Area of Ecological Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Il-Gżira ta\' Filfla - Bird Sanctuary (IUCN Category IV)
  • Filfla - Nature Reserve (Filfla) (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Il-Gżejjer Selmunett (Gżejjer ta\' San Pawl) - Nature Reserve (Islands) (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Il-Gżejjer ta\' San Pawl - Bird Sanctuary (IUCN Category IV)
  • L-Għadira s-Safra u l-Iskoll tal-Għallis - Special Areas of Conservation - International Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Filfla - Special Areas of Conservation - International Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Il-Gżejjer ta\' San Pawl / Selmunett - Special Areas of Conservation - International Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Il-Ġebla taċ-Ċawla - Special Areas of Conservation - National Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Il-Ġebla tal-Ħalfa - Special Areas of Conservation - National Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Żona fil-Baħar bejn Rdum Majjiesa u Għar Lapsi - Special Areas of Conservation - International Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Il-Bajja ta\' l-Armier - Protected Beaches (IUCN Category Not Assigned)
  • Il-Bajja tal-Ġnejna - Protected Beaches (IUCN Category Not Assigned)
  • Il-Bajja tax-Xlendi - Protected Beaches (IUCN Category Not Assigned)
  • Il-Prajjiet - Protected Beaches (IUCN Category Not Assigned)
  • Ir-Ramla ta\' Għajn Tuffieħa - Protected Beaches (IUCN Category Not Assigned)
  • Ir-Ramla taċ-Ċirkewwa - Protected Beaches (IUCN Category Not Assigned)
  • Ir-Ramla tal-Mixquqa - Protected Beaches (IUCN Category Not Assigned)
  • L-Għadira s-Safra u l-Iskoll tal-Għallis - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Il-Gżejjer ta’ San Pawl (Selmunett) - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Żona fil-Baħar bejn Rdum Majjiesa u Għar Lapsi - Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Rdumijiet ta’ Malta: Wied Moqbol sal-Ponta ta’ Bengħisa - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Żona fil-Baħar fl-inħawi ta\' Għar Lapsi u ta\' Filfla - Special Areas of Conservation - International Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Żona fil-Baħar fl-inħawi tad-Dwerja (Għawdex) - Special Areas of Conservation - International Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Żona fil-Baħar bejn Il-Ponta tal-Ħotba u Tal-Fessej (Għawdex) - Special Areas of Conservation - International Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Żona fil-Baħar bejn Il-Ponta ta’ San Dimitri (Għawdex) u Il-Qaliet - Special Areas of Conservation - International Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Il-Wied ta\' Għajn Żejtuna (limiti tal-Mellieħa) - Area of Ecological Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Fortifikazzjonijiet tal-Port - Area of High Landscape Value (IUCN Category V)
  • Filfla - Special Protection Areas (IUCN Category IV)
  • Rdumijiet ta\' Malta: Wied Moqbol sal-Ponta ta\' Bengħisa - Special Protection Areas (IUCN Category IV)
  • Żona fil-Baħar fl-Inħawi ta’ Għar Lapsi u ta’ Filfla - Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Żona fil-Baħar fl-Inħawi tad-Dwejra (Għawdex) - Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Żona fil-Baħar bejn Il-Ponta tal-Ħotba u Tal-Fessej (Għawdex) - Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Żona fil-Baħar bejn Il-Ponta ta’ San Dimitri (Għawdex) u Il-Qaliet - Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Filfla u l-Gżejjer ta’ Madwarha - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Żona fil-Baħar fit-Tramuntana - Special Protection Areas (IUCN Category IV)
  • Żona fil-Baħar fl-inħawi tal-Graben tat-Tramuntana ta’ Għawdex - Special Areas of Conservation - International Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Żona fil-Baħar fil-Grigal - Special Protection Areas (IUCN Category IV)
  • Żona fil-Baħar fil-Lvant - Special Protection Areas (IUCN Category IV)
  • Żona fil-Baħar fix-Xlokk - Special Protection Areas (IUCN Category IV)
  • Żona fil-Baħar fin-Nofsinhar - Special Protection Areas (IUCN Category IV)
  • Żona fil-Baħar fl-inħawi tal-Graben ta’ Medina - Special Areas of Conservation - International Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Żona fil-Baħar fil-Lbiċ - Special Protection Areas (IUCN Category IV)
  • Żona fil-Baħar madwar Għawdex - Special Protection Areas (IUCN Category IV)
  • Żona fil-Baħar fil-Punent - Special Areas of Conservation - International Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Żona fil-Baħar fil-Majjistral - Special Protection Areas (IUCN Category IV)
  • Żona fil-Baħar fil-Punent - Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Żona fil-Baħar fit-Tramuntana - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Żona fil-Baħar fin-Nofsinhar - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Żona fil-Baħar fil-Grigal - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Żona fil-Baħar fil-Lvant - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Żona fil-Baħar fix-Xlokk - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Żona fil-Baħar fil-Lbiċ - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Żona fil-Baħar madwar Għawdex - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Żona fil-Baħar fil-Majjistral - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Il-bruk (Tamarix africana) fir-Ramla tat-Torri (limiti tal-Mtarfa) - Tree Protection Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • Żona fil-Baħar fl-inħawi tal-Majjistral tal-Graben ta’ Malta - Special Areas of Conservation - International Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Żona fil-Baħar fl-inħawi tal-Punent tal-Graben ta’ Malta - Special Areas of Conservation - International Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Il-Bajja tal-Ġnejna - Area of Ecological Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Żona fil-Baħar fl-inħawi tal-Graben ta’ Medina - Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Żona fil-Baħar fl-inħawi tal-Punent tal-Graben ta’ Malta - Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Żona fil-Baħar fl-inħawi tal-Majjistral tal-Graben ta’ Malta - Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Żona fil-Baħar fl-inħawi tal-Graben tat-Tramuntana ta’ Għawdex - Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Filfla u l-Gżejjer ta’ Madwarha - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)

Getting to Malta Island - Nearest Airports

  • Malta International Airport (MLA), Valletta - 12 km away, approx 28 min travel time
  • Catania-Fontanarossa Airport (CTA), Catania - 180 km away, approx 211 min travel time
  • Falcone–Borsellino Airport (PMO), Palermo - 275 km away, approx 315 min travel time

Dive Sites

Dive Centres

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the typical water conditions and visibility like for diving around Malta Island?
The provided data for Malta Island highlights excellent wreck diving and shore diving opportunities at Cirkewwa. However, specific details regarding typical water conditions or average visibility are not included in the available information.
What kind of marine life can divers expect to see in Malta's waters?
The current data for Malta Island does not provide specific information on the marine life divers can expect to encounter. For general information on marine species, you might consult the DivePlnr wildlife database.
What are the best dive sites in Malta, Gozo, and Comino for different interests?
For Malta Island, divers can explore a variety of sites, all listed as intermediate difficulty. Wreck enthusiasts will enjoy sites like HMS KINGSTON, IMPERIAL EAGLE, and BARGE 2, in addition to the renowned HMS Maori, Rozi tugboat, and Um El Faroud. Reef diving is popular at locations such as Ghar Lapsi - Left Reef and Cirkewwa - Outer Reef, while Wall Stone Beach offers wall diving, Mini Blue Hole a unique cenote experience, and Scorpion Cave provides cave diving. Information on specific dive sites in Gozo and Comino is not available in the provided data.
Is Malta a good dive destination for beginners, and what are the experience requirements for advanced dives like wrecks?
Based on the provided data for Malta Island, all 31 listed dive sites, including wrecks like HMS KINGSTON, are categorized as 'intermediate' difficulty. This suggests that Malta Island is well-suited for divers with some experience rather than absolute beginners. Specific experience requirements for advanced wreck penetration or other specialized dives are not detailed in the available information.
When is the best time of year to go scuba diving in Malta, considering seasonal variations?
The data indicates that the 'best water temp months' for Malta Island are associated with a temperature of 16.79°C. However, the specific months are not identified, and further details on seasonal variations are not provided. For more general guidance on dive seasons, you can visit the When to Dive section.
How do travelers typically get to Malta Island and then to popular dive regions like Gozo?
The provided data for Malta Island does not include information on typical travel logistics for reaching Malta Island or popular dive regions such as Gozo. Travelers should consult general travel resources for transportation details.
What are the average water temperatures in Malta throughout the year, and what wetsuit thickness is recommended?
The available data for Malta Island specifies a temperature of 16.79°C for the 'best water temp months,' but it does not provide average water temperatures throughout the entire year. Additionally, there are no recommendations for wetsuit thickness in the provided information. For general equipment advice, you can explore the DivePlnr equipment guide.
Are there many wreck diving opportunities in Malta, and are they suitable for all certification levels?
Yes, Malta Island offers excellent wreck diving opportunities, including well-known sites like HMS Maori, Rozi tugboat, and Um El Faroud. Specific wrecks listed include HMS KINGSTON, IMPERIAL EAGLE, and BARGE 2. All listed wreck sites are categorized as 'intermediate' difficulty, meaning they are generally suitable for certified divers with some experience, but not necessarily for all certification levels, especially absolute beginners.