There are countries a man visits for the sights above the water, and then there is Malta, which keeps its finest stories below it. You may arrive on business, dressed in your serious shoes, and leave having seen a barracuda give you a look that questioned your life choices. This is the Maltese way. The island does not ask whether you came for work or play. It simply waits, blue and patient, until you put your face in the sea.
Down there you will find wrecks, caves, reefs, and walls, enough to keep a curious soul busy until his fingers wrinkle and his heart is full.
What it is like for the dry-footed
If you have never dived, here is the plain truth. You go down slow, you breathe steady, and the racket of the world clicks off like a switch. The fish, who ignored you entirely from the boat, now drift up to study your mask with the mild suspicion of customs officers. You will want to announce your joy to everyone. You cannot, on account of the regulator, so you point and make muffled noises. Everybody does it. Nobody confesses.
Where to put your fins
Santa Maria Caves
On the north side of Comino sits a favorite, famous for its tangle of caverns. Some ten caves see regular traffic, and divers travel from every corner of the map to swim their water tunnels and slip through openings that steal the breath clean out of you. The shallows are kind and the marine life is generous, which makes it a happy hunting ground.
Reqqa Reef
Clear blue water and a fine spread of life. Here you may meet barracuda in their gangs, along with dentex and rays going about their business. The reef drops into a wall of some 60 meters, crusted in sponges and busy with fish. It is the sort of place that makes a person forget he has a job back home.
The P29
For the wreck lovers, the P29 was sent to the bottom on purpose in 2007 and has been collecting marine life and admirers ever since. Swim the open spaces freely, but keep yourself out of the tight and narrow corners. A wreck is a marvel, not a place to test your luck.
Blue Hole
Natural blue water and an arch of rock that you pass through like a doorway into someplace better. Once you are through, the view does the rest of the talking.
Kind to beginners and veterans both
Malta makes room for everyone. If you are new, the local centers will train you, guide you, and have you diving like you meant to all along. If you are an old hand, the wrecks and walls will keep you grinning.
A word on planning
Sort your dates and your dive center before you fly. You will find verified dive centers in Malta on Live is Dive. Compare them, then write to the center direct. No middleman, no commission, just you and the blue.
Diving in Malta: FAQ
Is Malta good for beginner divers?
Yes. Sheltered sites like Cirkewwa and Ghar Lapsi have shallow, clear water, and local centers run training all year.
When is the best time to dive in Malta?
You can dive Malta in any month. Summer brings the warmest water, while spring and autumn stay clear with fewer crowds.
What is the visibility like in Malta?
Often 30 meters (about 100 feet) or more, among the clearest in the Mediterranean.
Is Malta good for wreck diving?
Very. Wrecks such as the Um El Faroud and the P29 rest in clear water and draw divers from across Europe.
Browse verified dive centers in Malta on Live is Dive and message them directly. See dive centers in Malta.
Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Cathedral Cave by Diego Delso (CC BY-SA 4.0); Coral Cave by Pstraudo (CC BY-SA 4.0); wreck dive by Michaela Yos Niki Loxa (CC BY 4.0). Video: DIVEIN (YouTube).