be one of Cousteau’ s favourite dive spots, and the now-collapsed Azure Window.
My diving in Malta comes relatively recently in the nation’ s history. On my first visit in 2002, on my only time off that year, I spent the week in the heart of Malta’ s capital, the World UNESCO site of Valetta. From there I dived every day and made use, as a single soldier in his mid-twenties, of the nightlife.
Returning the following year, back from a tour in Iraq, I took advantage of the quieter pace of life on Gozo and the geological attractions mentioned above. Since then I have returned many more times. With my girlfriend in 2006 to teach her to dive in the warm, blue and sheltered waters. Fast forward a lifetime or two and we returned, married, in 2025 with our boys of eight and ten for a week of family snorkelling. In that time I’ ve seen the development of both the country’ s underwater landscape and its snorkelling scene. Technical diving has certainly increased and leant itself to the expansion of our understanding of Malta’ s history, geology and wildlife. But Malta’ s main attraction for me, and for my family, has always been the safe waters that offer a chance to engage in low-ley, low stress underwater exploration. Whether taking time out from operational tours, wooing your future spouse, snorkelling en-famille or finding peace in the deep and among the rocks, wrecks and marine life, I know I will return to Malta in the future. �
Clan Torbet – always developing skills
For more information on snorkelling with BSAC go to bsac. com / snorkelling Looking to introduce snokelling into your club? Find out more at bsac. com / snorkellinginstructor
Finding peace on Malta’ s rocky shores
Perfecting an elegant duck dive
PHOTO: BECKI BIGGINS
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