Malta

Diving in Malta & Gozo

49 sites98 species14–28 °C10–30 m vis

Photo by Igor Sporynin on Unsplash

With over 80 wrecks spanning 3,000 years from Phoenician merchants to WWII warships, Malta is Europe's undisputed wreck-diving capital. The Maltese archipelago's soft limestone has been carved by millennia of sea into a diver's playground of caves, arches, fissures, and swim-throughs — from the iconic Blue Hole at Dwejra to the sunken ocean liner Le Polynesien. Budget European flights, English widely spoken, and a density of PADI 5* centres make it the most accessible advanced wreck-diving destination on the continent.

Malta's limestone temples (Ġgantija, Ħaġar Qim) are among the oldest free-standing structures in the world, predating Stonehenge and the Pyramids.The Azure Window at Dwejra was a 40 m tall limestone arch that collapsed in a storm on March 8, 2017. Its 60,000+ ton rockfall created a new dive attraction.Malta was awarded the George Cross in 1942 for its heroism under Axis bombardment — the only time a whole country has received this medal.Malta has no permanent rivers or lakes — all freshwater comes from underground aquifers and desalination plants. This lack of runoff contributes to excellent underwater visibility.Malta was a British colony from 1813 to 1964 — hence the left-hand driving and widespread English.The Maltese language is Semitic (derived from Arabic) but written in Latin script — the only Semitic language in the EU.Malta is Europe's wreck-diving capital with over 80 wrecks spanning 3,000 years of maritime history, from Phoenician merchants to WWII battleships.Despite being a relatively sparse ecosystem compared to the tropics, Malta hosts the Mediterranean's apex predator — the bluefin tuna.St Paul shipwrecked on Malta in 60 AD (Acts of the Apostles) — the island's first recorded wreck.Malta was ruled by the Knights of St John from 1530 to 1798 and built the fortified harbour that now hosts some of the best shallow wreck dives.The islands are a migration hotspot for amberjack and barracuda, which aggregate around wrecks in summer.There is no hyperbaric chamber on Gozo — emergency cases must be evacuated by ferry or helicopter to Mater Dei Hospital on Malta (90+ minutes).

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Conditions

Water temp

14–28 °C

Visibility

10–30 m

Depth

5–40 m

Current

Mild

Best season

May through October

Month	Summary
Jan	January brings the coldest water at 15–16 °C. Seas can be rough with winter storms, but the Grand Harbour area offers sheltered diving. Visibility drops to 10–20 m after storms. Only the most experienced winter divers venture out; 7mm wetsuit or drysuit essential. Few dive operators are running.
Feb	February is the coldest month at 14–15 °C water temperature. Rough seas limit dive days, but the sheltered east coast (Sliema, Grand Harbour) remains accessible. Winter visibility 10–20 m with plankton blooms adding life. Drysuit recommended. Some shops operate reduced schedules.
Mar	March water warms to 15–16 °C. Transition month — seas begin to calm but winter weather still possible. Visibility improving to 15–20 m. Dive shops resume full schedules. Good month for wreck diving with fewer crowds. Wetsuit still recommended; drysuit comfortable for deeper dives.
Apr	April water reaches 16–18 °C. Shoulder season begins — good balance of conditions and fewer crowds. Visibility 15–25 m. Plankton blooms bring vibrant marine life. Most dive shops fully operational. Excellent month for intermediate divers seeking quality dives without peak-season crowds.
May	May marks the start of peak season. Water warms to 19–21 °C, seas calm, visibility excellent at 20–30 m. Air temperature 25–30 °C. All dive shops running full schedules. Best month for beginners — warm enough for 5mm wetsuit, calm seas, great visibility. Ideal for the Cirkewwa Arch, Blue Hole, and shallow wreck dives.
Jun	June is peak tourist season. Water reaches 22–25 °C, visibility 20–30 m. Cirkewwa-Comino area busy with dive boats. Air temperature 25–35 °C. Book dive shops 2–4 weeks ahead. Still excellent conditions — the crowds are on the surface, not underwater. Best month for the Blue Lagoon and shore dives.
Jul	July is the warmest month — water 25–27 °C, air 30+ °C. Peak visibility 25–30 m. Plankton minimal, seas calm. Maximum occupancy at all dive shops. Best conditions for technical wreck diving with stable weather windows. The south coast can be hot and crowded; consider north coast alternatives.
Aug	August matches July in warmth — water 26–28 °C, the warmest of the year. Peak season continues with all dive operators at capacity. Best month for night dives and the Blue Hole. The Azure Window remnants draw photographers. Consider diving in Gozo for a quieter experience away from the Malta mainland crowds.
Sep	September is the sweet spot — water still warm at 25–27 °C from summer heating, but tourist crowds thinning. Visibility remains excellent at 20–30 m. Ideal conditions for advanced wreck diving. Best month to book last-minute dives with better availability. Seas calm, air warm.
Oct	October water cools to 23–24 °C but remains comfortable. Visibility still good at 20–25 m. Shoulder season — fewer boats, better pricing. Wreck diving excellent with stable autumn weather. 5mm wetsuit recommended. Good month for the technical wrecks with fewer divers competing for boat space.
Nov	November is the end of the diving season. Water drops to 20–22 °C, seas becoming rougher. Visibility 15–25 m with plankton blooms. Fewer dive operators running; some close for winter. Good for experienced divers seeking solitude. Drysuit recommended for deeper dives.
Dec	December brings winter conditions — water 17–19 °C, rough seas, limited dive days. Only the hardiest operators run. Grand Harbour sheltered sites remain the best option. Visibility 10–20 m. Drysuit essential. A month for dedicated winter divers who enjoy the solitude and challenge.

Dive Sites (49)

Anchor Bay (Popeye Bay)

3–6m · Beginner

Shallow · Shore dive · Sheltered

Azure Window (remnants)

10–40m · Intermediate

Arch · Collapsed · Limestone

Billinghurst Cave

3–12m · Beginner

Caves · Shore dive · Shallow

Blue Hole (Dwejra)

8–25m · Intermediate

Sinkhole · Blue hole · Arch

Blue Lagoon (Comino)

2–8m · Beginner

Shallow · Lagoon · Shore dive

Bristol Beaufighter

30–37m · Advanced

Wreck · Wwii · Aircraft

Bristol Blenheim Bomber

35–42m · Advanced

Wreck · Wwii · Aircraft

Cirkewwa Arch

12–20m · Intermediate

Arch · Caves · Shore dive

+41more sites in the appGet the app →

Marine Life (98)

must-see

Mediterranean Monk Seal

must-see

Loggerhead Turtle

must-see

Green Sea Turtle

must-see

Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin

must-see

Lightbulb Sea Squirt

must-see

Night Anemone

Goldblotch Grouper

Common Guitarfish

Yellow-Rose Chromodorid

Mediterranean Boxer Shrimp

Red Sea Squirt

Mediterranean Feather Star

+86more species in the app

Dive Shops (42)

Scuba Malta | Diving Center

★ 4.9Moderate

Diving in Malta & Gozo

Explore the map

Conditions

Dive Sites (49)

Anchor Bay (Popeye Bay)

Azure Window (remnants)

Billinghurst Cave

Blue Hole (Dwejra)

Blue Lagoon (Comino)

Bristol Beaufighter

Bristol Blenheim Bomber

Cirkewwa Arch

Marine Life (98)

Dive Shops (42)

Scuba Malta | Diving Center

Blue waters dive cove diving centre

Blue Hole Diving Gozo Ltd.

OK Diving Malta

Bubbles Dive Centre

Deep Med - Freediving Malta & Gozo

Gozo Freedivers - Freediving and spearfishing in Malta & Gozo

Atlantis Gozo Diving Centre

Cresta Dive Centre

Malta Blue Diving

DSDIVERS Malta

Divewise Malta

Centrum Nurkowania - Octopus Garden

Scuba Kings Gozo PADI Diving Centre

Dwejra Divers

Extra Divers Gozo

Dive Deep Blue Malta

7R Diving Malta

Gozo Diving & Gozo Technical Diving

Maltaqua

Nautic Team Gozo

Scubatech Diving Centre

Gozo Aqua Sports Dive Centre

Watercolours Dive Centre Malta, Diving Courses, Boat Dives, Recreational & XR Courses

Islands Tec Dive

Calypso Diving Centre

Dive Vision Malta Ltd.

Paradise Diving Malta

OrangeShark Diving Centre

Apnea Total Malta - Freediving Gozo

Family Diving Gozo

Dive Gozo

Seashell Dive Centre

Utina Diving

Dune Malta Dive centre

Diver by Design

Gozo Dive - St Andrew's

Ritual Dive Gozo Malta

Freediver Malta&Gozo

Scuba Dive Malta

Bliss Dive

Neptunes Diving Malta

Guides

The Complete Malta Diving Guide

Top Dive Sites in Malta and Gozo

Malta Dive Conditions by Month

Safety

Bring Malta & Gozo underwater