Diving & Snorkeling in Malta: Best Sites, Schools & Everything You Need to Know

Malta is consistently rated as one of Europe's top diving destinations, and for good reason. Crystal-clear waters with 30+ meter visibility, dramatic underwater topography, fascinating wrecks, and year-round diving make it a paradise for underwater enthusiasts. Whether you're getting certified for the first time or an experienced diver, Malta has something special to offer.

Why Dive in Malta?

• Exceptional visibility: Mediterranean waters offer some of Europe's clearest diving
• Year-round diving: Water temperatures never get too cold for comfortable diving
• Diverse sites: Wrecks, caves, reefs, walls, and swim-throughs
• Easy shore diving: Many world-class sites accessible without a boat
• Rich marine life: Octopus, moray eels, barracuda, grouper, seahorses
• Affordable: Some of Europe's best value diving

Best Dive Sites in Malta

🏊 Blue Hole & Chimney (Gozo)

Arguably Malta's most famous dive site, the Blue Hole is a natural rock formation that drops to 15m before opening to the open sea through a dramatic arch.

• Depth: 15-40+ meters
• Level: Open Water and up
• Highlights: Stunning topography, excellent visibility, azure window memorial
• Access: Shore dive with a short walk
• Best time: Morning for light effects

🏊 Cirkewwa (Malta)

Malta's most popular dive site complex, offering multiple dives for all levels.

• Sites include: Cirkewwa Arch, Paradise Bay, Tugboat Rozi
• Depth: 5-40 meters
• Level: Beginner to Advanced
• Highlights: Arch formation, intentionally sunk tugboat, reef life
• Access: Easy shore entry

🏊 HMS Maori (Valletta)

A WWII destroyer lying in relatively shallow water, perfect for less experienced divers.

• Depth: 14-18 meters
• Level: Open Water
• Highlights: WWII history, coral-encrusted wreck, abundant fish
• Access: Shore dive from Fort St Elmo

🏊 Um El Faroud (Zurrieq)

A 115-meter oil tanker intentionally sunk in 1998, now one of the Mediterranean's best wreck dives.

• Depth: 18-36 meters
• Level: Advanced Open Water
• Highlights: Massive size, excellent penetration opportunities, marine life
• Access: Boat dive from Wied iz-Zurrieq

🏊 Inland Sea (Gozo)

A unique geological formation - a lagoon connected to the sea by a dramatic tunnel.

• Depth: 6-25 meters
• Level: Open Water and up
• Highlights: Tunnel swim-through, beautiful light effects
• Access: Shore dive, easy entry

🏊 Cathedral Cave (Gozo)

An enormous underwater cavern with a hidden air pocket where divers can surface.

• Depth: 20-30 meters
• Level: Advanced
• Highlights: Cathedral-like cavern, air dome, stunning light
• Access: Boat dive

🏊 Santa Maria Caves (Comino)

A complex of underwater caves off the island of Comino.

• Depth: 5-25 meters
• Level: Open Water and up (outer areas)
• Highlights: Cave exploration, crystal-clear water
• Access: Boat dive

Best Snorkeling Spots

You don't need scuba certification to enjoy Malta's underwater world. These spots offer excellent snorkeling:

🐠 Blue Lagoon (Comino)

Malta's most famous swimming spot also offers good snorkeling. Go early to avoid crowds.

• What you'll see: Small fish, clear water, sandy bottom
• Access: Ferry from Malta or Gozo
• Best time: Before 10 AM or after 4 PM

🐠 St. Peter's Pool (Marsaxlokk)

Natural swimming pool carved into the rocks, popular with locals.

• What you'll see: Fish, interesting rock formations
• Access: Walk from Marsaxlokk
• Note: Rocky entry, water shoes recommended

🐠 Wied iz-Zurrieq (Blue Grotto)

Snorkel near the famous Blue Grotto cave system.

• What you'll see: Cave entrances, clear water, small fish
• Access: Rocky shore

🐠 Dwejra (Gozo)

The Inland Sea area offers protected snorkeling with lots to see.

• What you'll see: Fish, interesting geology, divers below!
• Access: Easy entry in the lagoon

🐠 Paradise Bay (Malta)

Sandy beach with a reef on one side, perfect for beginners.

• What you'll see: Reef fish, octopus if lucky
• Access: Beach entry
• Rental: Gear available at beach

Dive Schools & Centers

🏫 Top-Rated Dive Centers

Divewise Malta (Sliema)

One of Malta's largest and most reputable dive centers, ideal for beginners and continuing education.

• PADI Open Water: €395
• Discover Scuba: €75
• Fun dive: €40 (equipment included)
• Nitrox available
• Multiple languages

Dive Systems Gozo

Premier dive center on Gozo with access to the island's best sites.

• PADI Open Water: €350
• Fun dive: €35
• Technical diving courses
• Accommodation packages available

Maltaqua (St. Paul's Bay)

Large operation with boat access to many sites.

• PADI Open Water: €400
• Daily boat trips
• Night diving available

Atlantis Diving (Gozo)

Small, personal service with excellent instructors.

• PADI Open Water: €370
• Fun dive: €38
• Small group sizes

Diving Seasons & Conditions

🌡️ Water Temperature

• Winter (Dec-Mar): 14-16°C - 7mm wetsuit or drysuit
• Spring (Apr-Jun): 16-22°C - 5mm wetsuit
• Summer (Jul-Sep): 24-27°C - 3mm wetsuit or shorty
• Autumn (Oct-Nov): 20-24°C - 5mm wetsuit

👁️ Visibility

• Best: June to November (30-50m visibility)
• Good: March to May (20-30m)
• Variable: December to February (15-25m, weather dependent)

🌊 Sea Conditions

• Calmest: May to September
• Roughest: November to February (some sites inaccessible)
• Always a site available: Sheltered options exist for most conditions

Equipment & Costs

💰 Rental Equipment

• Full set (BCD, reg, wetsuit, mask, fins): €25-35/day
• Computer: €10/day
• Underwater camera: €25-40/day
• Torch: €5-10/day

💰 Own Equipment

Bringing your own gear? Malta has several dive shops:

• Dive-In (Sliema): Full range of equipment
• Fill stations: Available at most dive centers, €5-8 per fill
• Servicing: Available locally for most brands

💰 Snorkeling Gear

• Rental (mask, snorkel, fins): €10-15/day
• Buy at Decathlon: Full set from €25

Technical & Specialty Diving

Malta is a great place for advanced diving education:

🎓 Technical Courses Available

• Deep diving (40m+)
• Wreck penetration
• Cave and cavern diving
• Trimix courses
• Sidemount configuration
• Rebreather diving

🎓 Popular Specialties

• Wreck Diver: €250 - Essential for Malta's wrecks
• Deep Diver: €280 - Access sites below 30m
• Night Diver: €180 - Different perspective on familiar sites
• Nitrox: €150 - Longer bottom times

Marine Life in Malta

🐙 What You'll See

• Common: Octopus, moray eels, grouper, sea bream, damselfish
• Regular: Barracuda, dentex, amberjack, nudibranchs
• Seasonal: Tuna, eagle rays, sunfish
• Rare: Seahorses, dolphins (from surface)
• No dangerous marine life: No sharks to worry about

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Malta a good place to learn to dive?

Excellent! The warm, clear water, variety of easy shore dives, and abundance of professional dive centers make Malta one of Europe's best places to get certified. Many divers from the UK and Northern Europe come specifically to learn here.

Do I need to book dive courses in advance?

For Open Water courses, booking a few days ahead is wise, especially in summer. For fun dives, most centers can accommodate walk-ins. Popular Gozo trips may need advance booking.

Can I dive if I'm not certified?

Yes! "Discover Scuba Diving" experiences allow non-certified divers to try diving with an instructor. No experience needed, just basic swimming ability and being comfortable in water.

Is night diving available?

Yes, many dive centers offer night dives. Popular sites include Cirkewwa, where you might see octopus hunting, and HMS Maori, which takes on a different character at night.

What about diving with kids?

PADI offers Junior programs from age 10. Many centers offer "Bubblemaker" experiences for kids 8+. Malta's calm, shallow sites are perfect for young divers.

How do I get to dive sites?

Most dive centers provide transport to sites. For independent diving, you'll need a car for shore dives. Gozo requires a ferry (25 minutes from Ċirkewwa).

Is diving expensive in Malta?

Malta offers excellent value compared to other European diving destinations. Fun dives are €35-50 including equipment, significantly cheaper than Croatia, Greece, or France.