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Malta and Gozo
What to expect: Malta is all about the water, a vivid cobalt blue that doesn’ t fade to green during winter. Diving culture is prevalent here, so there are plenty of purpose-sunk wrecks to complement the scenic sites. Dives are typically carried out from the shore, with locations such as Cirkewwa offering parking and sensibly signposted entry points.
Your typical dive will involve a swim over thick seagrass, then brilliant white sand as the depth increases and you navigate your way towards your wreck of choice. At Cirkewwa you have a choice of three big wrecks – the P29 patrol boat or the tugboat Rozi, an absolute thumper of a wreck. There is also the Imperial Eagle, which bottoms out at 42m, offering something for more advanced divers.
Arguably Malta’ s premier wreck, the Um-El Faroud is located off the village of Wied Iz Zurrieq, presenting a wide depth range. This massive tanker was damaged in a shipyard fire in which several dock workers lost their lives. Beyond repair, it was sunk here
Scootering at Susie’ s Pool, Cirkewwa
The Inland Sea
Purple jelly as another artificial wreck, albeit one created as a result of a real, tragic event. The wreck has split just forward of the superstructure, but is otherwise intact and merits at least two dives. I’ d be happy diving it it for three days straight.
It’ s easy to get to the neighbouring island of Gozo – just jump on one of the regular ferries that go to and from Cirkewwa. In the Dwejra area you will find the iconic Inland Sea and Azure Alps. Visually and in terms of experience, this is a world class dive – a journey from an enclosed bay through a dark tunnel, emerging into the deep blue of the open sea.
Sea temperatures are hardly toasty from January to March, but 16-18 ° C is fairly respectable for the depths of winter. Don’ t leave without: Buying a good guidebook – Scuba diving Malta Gozo Comino by the late BSAC diver, Peter G Lemon, exhaustive in its detail and beautifully illustrated.
Smugness rating: If you get lucky with wind and weather, your self-validation will be riding high. You will have scored a bargain offseason dive trip with no jet lag. You are a decision-making mastermind!
The Port of Valetta
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