| Dive area / region : Malta & Gozo & Comino - See the map |
 
|
||||||||||||||||||
| Best diving season : April • May • June • July • August • September • October | |||||||||||||||||||
| Recommended number of days to stay : More than 1 week... | |||||||||||||||||||
| Number of dive sites : More than 20 Dive Sites | |||||||||||||||||||
| Water temperature and wetsuit advice : 21-25C : Thin Wetsuit | |||||||||||||||||||
| Average visibility : 26 - 30 meters | |||||||||||||||||||
| Average dives depth : 25 Meters | |||||||||||||||||||
| Type of currents : Zero or none relevant currents | |||||||||||||||||||
| Months when these currents are present : December to March | |||||||||||||||||||
| General surface conditions : Medium conditions | |||||||||||||||||||
| Wreck types : Recent world ships • Artificial wrecks • Airplane • Submarine • War ships |
|
||||||||||||||||||
| Type of marine life : Anemone • Barracuda • Corals • Crayfish • Cuttlefish • Dolphins • Grouper • Jacks • Jelly fish • Lobster • Moray Eels • Nudibranch • Octopus • Plants • Rays • Reef Fish • Sea snakes • Sea urchins • Seahorses • Seals - Sea Lion • Shark - Lemon shark • Shark - Leopard shark • Shark - Reef shark • Shrimps • Softcoral • Sponge • Squid • Star fish • Tuna • Turtles • Worms | |||||||||||||||||||
| Presence of caves / caverns : Yes - Open | |||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
 |
Google embedded. Try Me!
|
Login
Scuba Diving in Malta & Gozo & Comino
|
Description
Suit: In July and August it is comfortable to dive in a 3mm wetsuit. From November through to May the water is cold enough to warrant diving in a drysuit or a semidry. A 5mm neoprene is suitable for the rest of the year.
The Maltese Islands are mostly made of Limestone Rock, clay and granite strata and are quite hilly, no mountains although they are in fact a submarine mountain top with generally fast sloping shores and sea beds and some sheer under water walls. The south west of Malta is in fact a cliff face falling down to submarine chasms. Underwater the sea bed is characterised by rock, caves and reefs and widely common vast sandy spaces giving rise to vast Posedonia fields.
Dive sites are easily accessible and in fact most of the coastline is divable on all islands. Some boat diving is done around Comino and to reach some of the wreck dives that are located in isolated locations.
Malta played a significant role in World War II, serving as a base midway between mainland Europe and Northern Africa. The consequence of this was that more bombs were dropped there than were dropped on Birmingham in the UK. The bombing inevitably had its casualties, which now make great wreck dives. One of the wrecks is the HMS Maori, the ship that helped crack the code to the 'unsinkable' Bismark. There are also a few wrecks that have been sunk purposefully to serve as underwater attractions for Malta's tourists.
Dive sites are easily accessible and in fact most of the coastline is divable on all islands. Some boat diving is done around Comino and to reach some of the wreck dives that are located in isolated locations.
Malta played a significant role in World War II, serving as a base midway between mainland Europe and Northern Africa. The consequence of this was that more bombs were dropped there than were dropped on Birmingham in the UK. The bombing inevitably had its casualties, which now make great wreck dives. One of the wrecks is the HMS Maori, the ship that helped crack the code to the 'unsinkable' Bismark. There are also a few wrecks that have been sunk purposefully to serve as underwater attractions for Malta's tourists.
Culturally, the Islands are very typical Mediterranean, cuisine is mostly based on fish especially in the Lampuki season - the Dolphin fish (Dorado or Mahi Mahi by the time it crosses into the Atlantic and migrates to the States) and Tuna which is locally farmed and exported to Japan. The Maltese people are a very welcoming people having been governed and conquered by most of the region's cultures and empires over the centuries ranging from the Phoenecians, Carthaginians, Romans, Arabs, the French and Napolean, The Knights of St. John and later established as the Knights of Malta and finally formed part of the British empire as a colony hence Malta has a vast and very rich history. Maltese are a multilingual nation having their own language Maltese with English as their second language and most people as speak fluent Italian, French, Spanish and German too.
The Maltese Islands are members of the European Union, the Euro is their currency. Modern day Malta's is economy is wholly based on Tourism ( eco tourism is there to) and advantageous Financial Banking with off shore banking services and facilities offering great tax incentives. It is a yachting center and hosts the annual and prestigeous Middle Sea Race. Many yacht marinas and yards are dotted around the Islands which cater up to super yacht and Cruise Liners too. All major European and Middle Eastern airlines service Malta (one international airport) with Air Malta, the national Airline, servicing all European and North African capital cities.
The Maltese Islands are members of the European Union, the Euro is their currency. Modern day Malta's is economy is wholly based on Tourism ( eco tourism is there to) and advantageous Financial Banking with off shore banking services and facilities offering great tax incentives. It is a yachting center and hosts the annual and prestigeous Middle Sea Race. Many yacht marinas and yards are dotted around the Islands which cater up to super yacht and Cruise Liners too. All major European and Middle Eastern airlines service Malta (one international airport) with Air Malta, the national Airline, servicing all European and North African capital cities.
Ray from CMADMALTA
User reviews
Average user rating from: 1 user(s)
UPDATE ON MALTA DIVING
| Overall rating: | 4.1 | |
| Do you agree in general with the rating proposed by this web site? : | 5.0 | |
| Marine life: | 3.0 | |
| Visibility: | 4.0 | |
| Overall dive experience: | 5.0 | |
| Accessibility: | 5.0 | |
| Surface conditions: | 4.0 | |
| Worth travel to: | 5.0 | |
| Water purity: | 4.0 |
Was this review helpful to you?
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful
I have been diving the Maltese archepelago of Islands ( Malta, Gozo, Comino, Cominetto, Filfla) for these last 35 years and still I find new things to discover! Marine life and sea creatures although not comparable to those of the Red Sea are fairly abundant with Jacks, Tuna, Grouper, Baracuda, Dolphin Fish being the most prolific. Its a mecca for critters and Squid and Cuttlefish and Octopus breeding grounds as well as Moray Eels and Star fish too.
Diving has been given a great push forward by the Government in these last 10 years, totally recognising its value to the predominant tourist industry, the mainstay income to the islands. Dive sites are clearly marked on local maps now and have varied facilities ranging from ample car parking and ladders / handrails at entry / exit points to marking all wrecks with surface buoys which can be used as shot lines down to the wrecks. More modern day purposely sunk ships are being prepared not only to enhance the diving industry but also because the environmental powers have recognised the value of these cleaned up and diver friendly ship wrecks as man made reefs adding to the prolification of more sea life and fish areas. There are now 2 marine parks and conservation areas declared too.
Diving in Malta is easy and relaxed. There are over 120 dive shops / schools / centers ranging from the Mum & Pap shop to the full blown diver IDCs! All cater for the world's recognised dive organisations with PADI and BSAC being the most catered for however SSI, TDI and NAUI are also present. All Maltese speak English and Italian mostly but French, Spanish and German are widely spoken too because of our predominat tourist Industry anyway. You do not require a permit to dive anywhere in the Maltese Islands but are always advised to take a professional dive leader / Instructor when you visit the Islands.
Malta and Gozo (the two main Islands) have a totally accessible shore line and therefore shore diving is easy but in these last 15 years boat diving has become tops. No Livaboards yet probably because its so easy to reach all dive sites by car anyway. Technical diving has a very large following too mainly due to the Second World War ship and aircraft wrecks dotted all over the Islands otherwise there are many reefs, walls down to 80 meters and more and lots of caves too catering for all levels of diver capabilities. Water quality is excellent and visability over 20 meters throughout the year.
Diving is relatively cheap here in Malta....a tank full of air costs no more tha 5 Euro or 6 USD. Equipment hire for the day will cost no more than 25 Euro for a full kit. All levels of dive training are catered for including Technical, Closed Circuit Rebreathers and Commercial diving with Nitrox and TRIMIX available at most centers.
Powered by JReviews
