1 CIRKEWWA REEF

With a thrilling seascape that mixes arches, wrecks, boulders, swim-through tunnels and walls, this reef off Malta’s northwest coast also delivers a good amount of fish life between depths of 10 and 100 feet. Octopuses, moray eels, rays, cuttlefish and parrotfish are among the more commonly sighted critters.

2 VALLETTA

With more than 320 monuments, Malta’s capital, Valletta, is considered one of the world’s most densely concentrated historic areas. Buzzing with cafes and shops, it’s protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Don’t miss St. John’s Co-Cathedral, a baroque treasure.

3 IMPERIAL EAGLE WRECK

Scuttled in 1999 at depths between 100 and 130 feet, this former Gozo ferry sits upright on a sandy bottom and is a delight to explore. Fin through the ship’s hallways and over the huge bow before making your way to the nearby Jesus of Qawra statue, blessed by Pope John Paul II during his visit to the island in 1990.

The Best Dive Destinations in the World

4 DRAGONARA CAVE

A small cove surrounded by towering cliffs is your entry point for diving into this open-top cave on Malta’s north coast, accessed only by boat. The site has a maximum depth of about 20 feet, so photographers can make the most of the light dancing across the cave walls—then pop up to the surface for beautiful shots of the sea cliffs.

5 UM EL FAROUD

It’s not every day you get to dive a Libyan oil tanker, and this 330-foot-long beast—scuttled in 1998 off Malta’s west coast after a fatal explosion in 1995 disabled it—is one of the Mediterranean’s best dives. There are several easy penetrations to explore, but just ogling the massive bow is enough to inspire awe.

6 COMINO

Located between the islands of Malta and Gozo, smaller Comino Island is home to the Blue Lagoon and is popular with windsurfers and hikers.

7 HMS MAORI

With a max depth of less than 50 feet—one of Malta’s shallowest wrecks—this World War II wreck off Valletta has a bow section that comes close to the reef and absolutely teems with life, including nudibranchs, flatfish, conger eels and octopuses. The ship sank after being hit by German bombs during a night air raid in 1942, and was later raised and re-scuttled nearby as an artificial reef.

8 MDINA

This fortified town in the Northern Region of Malta is an ancient capital with a history that dates back 4,000 years. It’s one of Europe’s best-preserved ancient walled cities. Get lost exploring the markets, cathedrals and other historic sites.

9 THE BLUE HOLE

This famous shore dive off Gozo is located right near the fallen arch formation called Azure Window. Diving in the calm lagoon, then exploring the rubble field of the fallen arch nearby—with tons of natural swim-throughs—is fascinating, especially in clear water.

10 GOZO

Reached by a short ferry ride, Gozo is great for exploring sandy coves and the Cittadella, the ancient fortified city home to a remarkable cathedral.

Divers Guide

Average water temp From 80°F in summer to 60°F in winter
What to wear Shorty in summer; 7 mm with hood in winter
Average viz From 65 to 130 feet
When to go Year-round, but summer’s warm and dry months are best. More info corsairdivingmalta.com; seashelldivingmalta.com; buddiesmalta.com