By: Alyson Lundstrom
Glistening in the center of the Mediterranean Sea and blissfully unbothered by the mainland hustle and bustle, you'll find Malta, a diver's paradise. Malta is remarkable for it's year around stunning dive locations that offer sunken wrecks, underwater arches, and the infamous (other) Blue Hole.
Malta has over a hundred dive sites, where almost every one could classify as a "best dive ever" scenario. Easy access, year round visibility and a cavernous under water topography make Malta a bucket list diving destination.
Check out our three favorite dives off of Malta.
MV Karwela Wreck, Gozo
The second largest island of the Maltese archipelago, Gozo, is aptly translated to “joy” in Castilian. Separated from mainland Malta by only a 5km stretch of sea, Gozo has its own distinct relaxed pace of life as well as a stunning seascape. Underneath the seashore, you can find numerous wrecks, of which the most famous is the MV Karwela. This wreck offers more points of interest than neighboring Xlendi or even the much larger Cominoland.
The Dive
Once a 50-meter Captain Morgan Cruise passenger ferry, the MV Karwela was scuttled for scuba diving in 2006. It now sits upright on a sandy bottom at 40m of depth.
Built in West Germany in 1957, the ferry was designed to carry over 800 passengers and was moved to Malta in 1986. It is considered a very safe dive as various openings were drilled before sinking, reinforcing the wreck’s stability. Its most notable features are a picturesque steel staircase in the middle of the wreck leading to a lower wooden deck, which is beautifully lit by portholes. MV Karwela's bow is approximately 80 meters south of the dive’s entry point and about 40 m from the drop-off.
Interestingly, a Volkswagen Beetle car was also sunk onto her starboard deck by the stern by some local divers, who swam it out on floating barrels; however, it no longer remains, although there are other “car wrecks” nearby.
Visibility is a solid 25-35 meters temperature ranging from 16-23C. May through September are the most amenable months for this dive, with the morning being the most highly trafficked time of day.
What To Expect
All the wrecks off of Gozo are usually shore access but can be done by boat as well. Entry is easily made by means of a giant stride from the rocks. There are two ladders on the rocks by the shore, which make getting out of the water relatively easy. The wreck lies a short swim away, at an angle to the shoreline south, southwest of the entry point. The Karwela’s forward section is usually visible soon after leaving the drop-off as divers descend towards the wreck.
The view of this large wreck is impressive and divers usually start circling the wreck staying at an average depth of 35 meters. The wreck has numerous passageway options and swim-throughs. She is now fully populated with an overall coating of algae and marine invertebrates, and the sea firs along the rails are a popular feeding ground for nudibranchs. Large spiral tube worms are common, and even microfauna such as sea horses can be spotted inside the wreck. Outside, barracuda and grouper are also common.
The MV Karwela is sheltered from the winds by the shallow Xatt l-Aħmar reef, which also makes for a perfect safety stop. The Posidonia reef is an alternative location for a great safety stop as well, with excellent reef life to check out before returning to the surface.
Double Arch Cave - Gozo
The second largest island of the Maltese archipelago Gozo is one of only three that are inhabitable and its name is aptly translated to “joy” in Castilian. The clear blue waters that surround it are some of the cleanest and warmest in Malta. Separated from mainland Malta by only a 5km stretch of sea, Gozo has its own distinct relaxed pace of life as well as a stunning seascape. The Double Arch Cave is in fact two stacked arch formations that create a stunning swim through opportunity. An extended underwater rocky headland that lies approximately 200m offshore reveals some of the most fantastic naturally carved underwater features in Malta.
The Dive
Located on the north coast of Gozo, The Double Arch is in fact two natural arches formed on top of one another. The reef here begins around 15-18 meters of depth with the first arch appearing at 27 meters. The final depth under the second arch is approximately 34 meters below the surface. The waters here are a warm 21-25C with the best time of year to dive being March to October.
What To Expect
The Double Arches can be accessed by boat or shore, but if you go the latter route you can expect a 10 minute surface swim from Xwejni Bay. This dive’s depth ranges from 18-40 meters and is recommended for intermediate to advanced divers. The arches can be difficult to find and a guide is recommended by all skill level of divers.
This spot is consistently patrolled by barracudas en masse, an amazing sight in itself. Sardines and damselfishes are known to school on the reef above as well as other abundant sealife hosted by a healthy reef. There are also some smaller caves nearby the arch that an experienced guide can lead the way to.
The Blue Hole, Gozo
Welcome to Gozo’s most famous dive site, home of the Azure Window. Located in some of the cleanest and warmest waters of Malta, this sight might really have it all. Gozo is one of three inhabited islands and is just 5km from the mainland of Malta. The Blue Hole dive sight is a headlining attraction for this area. Its natural formation resembles a tube that has been carved out over thousands of years by wind and wave power. However, this is only one of the amazing features of this dive. There is also a large cave, and the Azure Window to boot.
The Dive
Composed of a spectacular underwater landscape with amazing light effects, caverns, and even a chimney, this dive site is perfect for all levels of diving. It is not often to find such a wide variety of bucket list features are all in one dive site for every level of diver. The remains of the Azure Window, now called the "Azure Alps" as well as huge boulders with several swim-throughs make this dive an unforgettable one.
The depth of the Blue Hole itself is 15 meters, however, descending to 7 meters is enough to enjoy the gorgeous cup corals that surround the arch. The bubbles trapped on the ceiling of the arch also give a magical mirror-like effect. The water temperatures typically range from 14-25C and the best time of year to dive is May to October, while the window between October and November offers the clearest visibility.
What To Expect
This dive begins with a 200-meter stroll down a rocky path for a shore entry. In fact, the Blue Hole itself is a just entryway to reach the rest of the dive site. Here you’ll descend 1-10 meters depending on the underwater rock level you are over. Here you will dive through a rectangular archway that is open 8-14 meters in width.
The dive then continues to several large boulders that make up the Azure Alps, named because of the way it can steeply drop off to over 50 meters. Here a beginner can enjoy the underwater vistas and a more experienced diver can enjoy the investigation of the cracks between boulders.
Heading towards the Azure Window, the “ceiling of the window” will start to slope revealing megafauna such as barracuda, amberjacks, and tuna. On this dive, there is also a famous chimney feature, as well as a rock formation that resembles a human face.
Beyond this area, there is a large cave. Be on the lookout for schools of sardines on the run from jacks, as well as seabream and conger eels inside the caves. Nearby there is a remarkable stretch of 20 plus meters composing the vital Coral Gardens, also worth checking out.
It is worth noting that divers should be cautious of the open sea surroundings and when the swell is high this are can offer varying conditions.
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