Malta Diving — Europe's Finest Underwater World

The Blue Hole at Dwejra is widely considered Malta's finest dive site and one of the best in the Mediterranean. A natural circular opening in the limestone rock leads through a short tunnel to open water, dropping vertically to around 60 metres along a dramatic wall. The adjacent Inland Sea — a natural lagoon connected to the open sea by a tunnel — offers a memorable boat dive and is accessible to all levels. Since the collapse of the Azure Window arch in 2017, the underwater structure has created additional dive interest.

The Um El Faroud is Malta's premier wreck dive — a 109-metre Libyan oil tanker that sank in 1995 after a gas explosion in the engine room. Now lying on her starboard side at depths between 18 and 36 metres, she is fully penetrable and home to an extraordinary variety of marine life including grouper, barracuda, and large shoals of amberjack. The wreck is intact enough to offer genuine exploration but accessible enough for intermediate divers.

HMS Maori is one of Malta's most accessible wreck dives — a British destroyer sunk during the Second World War and now lying in relatively shallow water in Valletta's Grand Harbour. At just 14 metres maximum depth, she is ideal for beginners and those completing their first wreck dives. The historical significance adds a dimension beyond the purely visual — the Maori was part of the force that helped sink the Bismarck in 1941.

The Blue Grotto sea caves on Malta's southern coast create an underwater experience that is as much about light as marine life. The bioluminescent blue light that fills the caves from the water below is remarkable — a phenomenon caused by sunlight refracting through the clear water and reflecting off the sandy bottom. Best dived in the morning when the light is most dramatic.

Cirkewwa, at Malta's northern tip, is the best site for beginner and novice divers. A deliberately sunk patrol boat and tugboat provide accessible wreck diving in calm, sheltered conditions. The rocky reef that surrounds the site supports excellent marine life including octopus, moray eels, and nudibranchs. This is where most Malta dive centres bring learners on their first open water dives.

St Peter's Pool is a natural swimming and snorkelling spot carved into the limestone on Malta's southern coast. The water clarity is exceptional even by Maltese standards, and the underwater rock formations provide interesting exploration for snorkellers and shallow divers alike. There are no facilities, which keeps crowds manageable, and the dramatic cliff scenery above the water adds to the experience.