These are some of the sites we visit on our regular dive trips to Malta

Click on the pictures to see the full size images

Ghar Lapsi   

A small sheltered harbour on the south west part of the island.  There is a 100 metre walk from the car park to the water, and a lot of steps.

From the slip follow the concrete path round to the other side of the harbour and jump in.  Go through the archway on the right and you can enter the cave to go out onto the reef.  This cave is light with plenty of room to turn round or pass each other.  Once you are past the entrance the holes in the roof act like natural floodlighting.  A pretty dive at 10/15 mts with deeper water if you want a long swim.

Zurrieq or Blue Grotto    Often referred to as the Blue Grotto, as the tourist boats go from here to see the Blue Caves.  Beware of passing boat traffic and only enter and surface in the buoyed area.  Out of the bay to the left is a steep wall down to 30/35 mts., while to the right you can swim to the latest wreck on Malta, the "El Farouk", in about 35 mts with a lot of the superstructure at 25/30 mts.

Marfa Point

The most popular dive here is the wreck of the "Rozi", a small tug sunk deliberately at 35 mts with most of the wreck at 30 mts, and the mast at 20 mts.  A nice dive but quite a swim, and entry and exit can be exciting if there is any surf.  There is also the statue of the Virgin at 18 mts, just out from the slip at the bottom of the cliff, in a small crevice.

Anchor Bay

This is where Popeye Village is situated.  It is an easy dive in a relatively shallow bay 5/10 mts deep, with a huge cave on the left headland.  Carry on past the cave and it is very pretty, to 20/25 mts if you want the swim.  The bay is named after the huge anchor at the far side of the bay.  If you want to see it, don't bother with compass navigation.  Just go straight along the quay and to the other side of the bay, you will then come to an enormous chain, which leads to the anchor.

Wreck of "The Maori"

The "Maori" was sunk by German bombers in the war, then moved to her present position and scrapped in Valletta Harbour.  An easy dive in 10/15 mts with a 100 metre swim from the steps from the road.  The wreck is well broken up but there is a lot of life around.  Away from the wreck cuttlefish and octopus are often seen.  The swim back on the bottom can be extremely interesting, as this area seems to have been a dumping ground for hundreds of years.

COMINO

Lantern Point - "The Chimney"

A boat dive.  If your skipper is good he will drop you at the chimney in about 6 mts where you can go down through the cave and emerge at 20 mts.  There is a large cliff face with overhangs to the right and huge house-size boulders in front and to the left.  You can get to 45 mts plus here, but try going under the boulders on the left, its like cave diving but you can always escape out of the sides.

Santa maria Caves

A strange cave system on the north east side of Comino, large open caves with narrow gullies in them, and a pool where you can surface in the middle of the cave.  The strange rock formations mean that it is light throughout the cave, as the many holes let light in.  This dive usually starts with fish feeding in the bay where the boats anchor.  The local fishermen seem to have realised that this attracts the fish and have started netting there, but only seem to go there after the divers have left.

GOZO

The Inland Sea

A large sheltered bay with access to the sea through a cave open at the top.  Beware of surfacing in the cave, as small tourist boats go in and out and they cannot see you at the surface in the gloom.  The long swim through the cave is well worth it, as the view at the far end is spectacular, and the depth goes down to 50 mts plus, with almost sheer cliffs.

Blue Hole

Only a 100 or so metres from the inland sea, but a fair clamber down the rock path.  You jump into the 10 metre diameter hole and submerge to 18/20 mts.  You swim through an archway to open sea, and by following the cliff round to the left, you come to a chimney which connects up to various gullies.  Past the chimney there is a drop off to 30 mts plus.

If you think it looks good in Malta - it is!  If you're interested in joining us next year, contact us!

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