Go Wreck-diving

When faced with things of extreme beauty, you seek consolation by imagining they surely must come with some flaws. It’s a bit like thinking Brad Pitt must have smelly feet, or that Scarlett Johansson farts in bed. By the same token, other islands must look at Malta's coast and say: “OK, on the surface you’ve got it going on but what’s hidden beneath those crystal clear azure waters?”

Bad news other islands! Lift up Malta’s outer garments looking for something hidden and horrific and you’ll be sadly disappointed. In fact, some might argue that Malta is even more beautiful below the waves than above them and that’s why thousands of dive enthusiasts flock to the island each year.

The Maltese Archipelago is a real paradise for divers and snorkelers and when it comes to wreck diving, for many, it is a dream come true. The attraction of Malta and Gozo for the diver, however, owes much to its unique topographic structure and the healthy water situation, which offers a visibility of more than 25 meters at most dive sites around the large amount of wrecks.

Add to all this, the combination of sheer cliffs, caves, wrecks, shelves and sandy and rocky sea beds, and you get a large variety of underwater creatures and marine plant life to see and explore in Maltese waters.

Wrecks, as artificial reef habitats, have provided a home for a great number of species in recent years and make excellent dive sites. Even more exciting for both the beginner and the experienced diver, there are also many wrecks from the First and Second World Wars to get up close and personal with. These come in all shapes and sizes making Malta and Gozo streets ahead when it comes wreck diving in the Mediterranean, or most other places for that matter.

Some wrecks have also been scuttled deliberately, and sometimes controversially, but all offer perfect living conditions for fish and marine organisms. Dives on Malta are either from land or from a boat, depending on the level of experience and the dive sites selected.

There are many Maltese diving schools and clubs and all have highly qualified and experienced professional instructors running courses under the world's largest diver training organisation, PADI (the Professional Association of Diving Instructors).

The best amongst Malta's diving schools have their own dedicated top grade scuba equipment for hire as well as all necessary support materials. Academic instruction and practical training can be carried out in English, German, French, Dutch, Italian, Russian and Arabic in some cases. So, if you’ve ever fancied taking a plunge beneath the waves then you’ll find few places in the world that offer better conditions and facilities to learn diving skills and try them out than here.

There are a good few to choose from and as a guide on prices, a two-hour introductory dive with instruction and equipment is provided for as little as €35.