HMSM STUBBORN - Malta Island
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.
- Location
- Malta Island, Malta, Mediterranean & Europe
- Coordinates
- 35.982414, 14.446663
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 51m
Marine Protected Area: Il-Ġebla tal-Għallis, limiti tan-Naxxar
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)
Nearby Dive Sites in Malta Island
- Ahrax Bay - 5-15m (reef)
- Anchor Bay (Dive Site) (reef)
- Balluta Bay (Dive Site) (reef)
- BARGE 2 - 60m (wreck)
- Cirkewwa - Outer Reef (Dive Site) (reef)
- Cirkewwa - Susie's Pool and Reef (Dive Site) (reef)
- Dragonara cave (cave)
- Filflette (Dive Site)
- Ghar Lapsi - Left Reef (Dive Site) (reef)
- HMS KINGSTON - 5m (wreck)
- HMS Stubborn (wreck)
- IMPERIAL EAGLE - 28m (wreck)
- Is-Sikka l-Bajda
- Is-Sikka tal-Qawwi
- Jesus of Qawra
Nearest Dive Centres to HMSM STUBBORN
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.
Notable Species
- Painted Comber (Serranus scriba) - Reef Fish
- Wrasse (Coris julis) - Reef Fish
- Parrotfish (Sparisoma cretense) - Reef Fish
- Ornate Wrasse (Thalassoma pavo) - Reef Fish
- Salema (Sarpa salpa) - Reef Fish
- Garrupa (Serranus cabrilla) - Reef Fish
- loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)
- Dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus) - Reef Fish
- Damsel fish (Chromis chromis) - Reef Fish
- Mediterranean tapeweed (Posidonia oceanica) - Seagrass & Algae
- killer alga (Caulerpa taxifolia) - Seagrass & Algae
- Marbled Spinefoot (Siganus rivulatus) - Reef Fish
- Scarlet Coral (Balanophyllia (Balanophyllia) europaea) - Hard Corals
- Bushy Coral (Cladocora caespitosa) - Hard Corals
- Red coral (Corallium rubrum) - Soft Corals
- Common Spiny Lobster (Palinurus elephas) - Crabs & Lobsters
- Sunset cup coral (Leptopsammia pruvoti) - Hard Corals
- Tub (Chelidonichthys lucerna) - Reef Fish
- Butterfly blenny (Blennius ocellaris) - Reef Fish
- Lanternfish (Hygophum benoiti) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for HMSM STUBBORN
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