7R Diving

Malta is one of Europe's best-loved places to dive, and 7R Diving gives visitors a base right on the water in St Julian's. The centre sits on the seafront of St Julian's Bay at the Aquatic Sports Club on George Borg Olivier Street, within easy reach of the hotels and apartments along the St Julian's and Sliema waterfront.

On VisitMalta.co.uk it is listed among our dive centres in Malta. It is one of Malta's newest dive centres, remodelled from the ground up to create a stylish but comfortable base, and it insists on small groups so that every diver gets proper attention. Because spaces are limited, it is wise to ask early.

The 7R approach and the team

The name comes from the so-called adventure gene, a DNA sequence found in about one in five people and linked to a taste for travel and exploration. That spirit runs through the centre: it offers training and adventure opportunities for people who want a thrill while keeping safety standards high, and its aim is to create great divers in a safe, team-building environment.

The team is led by Joe Phillips, a Technical Diving Instructor Trainer in both open circuit and closed circuit rebreather (CCR) diving. He has taught beginners and experts from more than 60 countries and has dived sites such as the blue hole in Dahab. Alongside him is Sarah Guertin, who learned to dive in Malta, has taught for over ten years and is especially fond of wreck diving. Sarah teaches in both English and French.

Learning to dive and advancing your skills

Beginners can start with a Scuba Discovery, which is a try-dive experience, or work towards the Open Water Scuba Diver qualification. The centre also offers a Supervised Diver option and a refresher for inactive divers who want to return to the water after a break.

Certified divers can continue with Advanced Adventure Diver, Deep Diver, Computer Nitrox Diver, Dry Suit Diver, Rescue Diver, Wreck Diver and Scooter or DPV Diver courses, plus an oxygen administration and first aid provider course. Malta suits this kind of progression well, with shallow training sites and the most comprehensive collection of wrecks in Europe, many at a depth that is ideal for entry-level technical training.

If you are visiting for a holiday, check the Malta weather guide when choosing dates, and see things to do in Malta for ideas on non-diving days.

Technical and professional training

For divers who want to go beyond recreational limits and extend bottom time, 7R runs open circuit and rebreather courses. The list includes Advanced Nitrox, Decompression Procedures, Advanced Wreck Diver, Helitrox, Trimix to 60 metres, and a range of JJ closed circuit rebreather programmes with air diluent, helitrox diluent and mixed gas. Combination packages are available for some of these courses.

People who want a career in diving can ask about the Divemaster Internship. Malta also offers sites deeper than 100 metres, which is part of why the team calls the island home. Our Valletta city guide and the best beaches in Malta are handy for surface days.

Pleasure diving and getting there

Certified visitors who simply want to explore can choose recreational or technical dive packages, and equipment rental is part of the exploration offer. The centre can also arrange access to facilities and trips and, if you need it, local accommodation, although accommodation is not offered through this directory.

The seafront position is convenient if you stay in the hotels in Sliema and St Julian's area, and our where to stay in Malta guide compares the main areas. For another Maltese centre, see Abyss Diving Club Bugibba, and for time on the water above the surface try Adventure Cruises Malta.

Visitors arriving from the UK can compare flights to Malta before planning. To book, use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page, say which course or dives you want and the dates you have in mind, and we will pass your message to 7R Diving.