Um El Faroud
Advanced onlyDepth15–36 m
A 110m former oil tanker deliberately scuttled in 1998 off Wied iż-Żurrieq, now sitting upright in two sections and large enough to warrant multiple dives.
- wreck
- large hull
- resident fish life
Malta
Malta & Gozo
A Mediterranean wreck-and-cave diving hub with a well-developed tourism scene and a strong European (especially French and German) diver base.
Malta and Gozo punch well above their size for wreck and cavern diving, with an unusually dense concentration of sites in clear, current-light water reachable from shore or a short boat ride. It's a well-trodden European dive destination rather than a remote one -- proper infrastructure, direct flights from most of Europe, and a dive scene geared as much toward technical/wreck specialists as toward first-time certifications. Gozo, a short ferry ride away, is quieter and more dramatic geologically than the Malta mainland.
IntermediateSee dive operators & prices ↓
IntermediateSee dive operators & prices ↓
Can I dive here?
Experience
Intermediate- Requirements
- Open Water minimum for standard sites. Requirements depend on the exact route: an open reef or the outside of a wreck is a different dive from a route into an overhead environment. Confirm the training and experience required with the shop. A guide does not replace it.
- Medical/safety access
- Hyperbaric units are at Mater Dei Hospital on Malta and Gozo General Hospital (new unit opened 2026; checked 2 Nov 2026). In an emergency call 112.
Conditions
- Currents
- generally mild and easy at Malta's shore sites; some Gozo sites (e.g. the Blue Hole area) and open-water wreck dives see stronger current and swell depending on the day
- Depth range
- 5–40 m
- Visibility
- 20–40 m
- Water temp
- 15–26 °C
Malta and Gozo are built around clear, current-light Mediterranean water and an unusually dense concentration of deliberately-sunk and wartime wrecks, plus dramatic limestone topography -- caves, arches, and the collapsed-arch site once known as the Azure Window. Fish life is modest by tropical standards; the draw here is visibility, wrecks and rock formations rather than marine-life density.
Season
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Also good: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct.
Diveable year-round, but May-Oct is when the Mediterranean is warmest and calmest; winter diving is still done (drysuit territory for most divers, roughly 15-16°C) with fewer boats running and choppier surface conditions.
Malta & Gozo dive prices: 4 shops compared
- Known fees added to each price
- Prices from each shop's own site or price list
- Contact shops directly on WhatsApp
- No booking fee
Prices in
Converted at 26 Oct 2026 rates. Shops charge in their own currency.
Dive Systems Malta
Sliema dive centre publishing fun-dive prices as ranges (e.g. 1 dive €65-75) rather than a single number, and running a separate technical-diving price list alongside recreational diving.8 bookable offersFrom, with known feesEUR 60per dive · 2 Guided DivesFees we found on the shop's site includedMalta Blue Diving
Sliema-based shop selling its Open Water course and fun dives as individual e-commerce products, with the Open Water price shown as a range depending on certifying agency (SSI/PADI/NOVA).6 bookable offersFrom, with known feesEUR 66per dive · 1 Guided Dive (Cirkewwa, Um El Faroud & other sites)Fees we found on the shop's site includedScuba Malta | Diving Center
Portomaso Marina dive centre with a full published course and try-dive price list (from a €95 try dive up to a €900 Divemaster course), all stated as including full equipment, insurance and instruction materials.20 bookable offersFrom, with known feesEUR 95per dive · Open-sea diveFees we found on the shop's site included
No operators found.
What will I see?
Malta's underwater scene is defined more by geology and history than by fish density. Grouper, moray eels, octopus and nudibranchs are common on the reef and wreck sites, and the wrecks themselves -- from WWII casualties to purpose-sunk ferries and patrol boats -- have become artificial reefs with their own resident life. Visibility and sea conditions vary by site and weather, so ask about recent conditions for your dates.
Terrain
WWII and deliberately-sunk wrecks
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Um El Faroud, HMS Maori, SS Margit, P29 patrol boat and others -- Malta has one of the highest wreck densities in the Mediterranean.
Grouper & moray eels
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Common residents of the reef and wreck sites year-round.
Octopus & nudibranchs
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Macro life is a steady year-round presence across most sites.
Top dive sites
Cirkewwa Reef & Wrecks
IntermediateDepth6–34 m
A shore-accessible north-coast site with shallow reef routes used for training, plus the P29 and Rozi wrecks, which are deeper dives listed as Advanced. Suitability depends on the route you choose.
- swim-throughs
- multiple wrecks
- shore access
- reef fish
Blue Hole & Chimney, Gozo
IntermediateDepth6–25 m
A natural limestone sinkhole with several possible routes, next to the collapsed Azure Window site. Ask about the planned exit and any narrow or overhead sections.
- limestone chimney
- swim-through
- dramatic topography
HMS Maori
Beginner-friendlyDepth9–16 m
A WWII Royal Navy destroyer wreck near the entrance to Marsamxett Harbour, broken up but historically significant, and one of Malta's shallowest wreck dives, from the shore. The rusted structure is weak, so this suits novices from the outside only.
- WWII wreck
- historic site
- harbour diving
Santa Maria Caves, Comino
Beginner-friendlyDepth5–10 m
Shallow caves and passages off Comino, reached by boat, close to the Blue Lagoon. Listed as a beginner site, but suitability depends on the route and sea conditions, so ask whether the dive includes overhead sections.
- caves
- swim-throughs
- shallow water
Plan your trip
Getting there
Malta International Airport (MLA) has frequent flights from across Europe. Gozo is reached from Malta by a short public ferry from Ċirkewwa (about 25 minutes, roughly €4.65 foot passenger, more with a car); a fast ferry for foot passengers also runs from Valletta.
Certification & medical
Open Water minimum for most shore and reef sites. Deep wrecks like Um El Faroud are listed as Advanced dives, and going inside a wreck or cave is an overhead dive that needs its own training. Hyperbaric units are at Mater Dei Hospital (Malta) and Gozo General Hospital.
Infrastructure
Malta has full tourist infrastructure -- an international airport, ATMs, supermarkets, hospitals and a dense concentration of dive shops around Sliema/St Julian's and St Paul's Bay. Gozo is quieter but still well set up for visiting divers.
Connectivity
Reliable mobile data and WiFi throughout both islands, on par with mainland Europe.
Health & safety
Hyperbaric units are at Mater Dei Hospital on Malta and Gozo General Hospital; in an emergency call 112. Most recreational sites are calm, current-light diving; the deeper wrecks and cavern sites are where shops brief more conservatively.
Peak season
Jun-Sep is the busiest and warmest window; May and Oct offer a good balance of warm water and thinner crowds. Winter diving continues but with colder water (drysuit territory) and fewer boats running.
Conditions and operator availability change. Always verify locally before booking.
Malta & Gozo price guides
Common questions about Malta & Gozo
Is Malta & Gozo suitable for beginner divers?
Malta & Gozo is rated "Intermediate". Open Water minimum for most shore and reef sites. Deep wrecks like Um El Faroud are listed as Advanced dives, and going inside a wreck or cave is an overhead dive that needs its own training. Hyperbaric units are at Mater Dei Hospital (Malta) and Gozo General Hospital.
When is the best time to dive Malta & Gozo?
The best months are May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct. Diveable year-round, but May-Oct is when the Mediterranean is warmest and calmest; winter diving is still done (drysuit territory for most divers, roughly 15-16°C) with fewer boats running and choppier surface conditions.
What can you see diving in Malta & Gozo?
Divers come to Malta & Gozo for WWII and deliberately-sunk wrecks, Grouper & moray eels, Octopus & nudibranchs. Malta and Gozo are built around clear, current-light Mediterranean water and an unusually dense concentration of deliberately-sunk and wartime wrecks, plus dramatic limestone topography -- caves, arches, and the collapsed-arch site once known as the Azure Window. Fish life is modest by tropical standards; the draw here is visibility, wrecks and rock formations rather than marine-life density.
How much does diving in Malta & Gozo cost?
Guided dives and trips range from EUR 65 to EUR 900, based on operator prices verified 2026-09-16. Confirm current prices with the operator.