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Wreck sites

The many wars fought in the water surrounding Malta has left many wrecks for us divers. In addition to this, new ones are continually being scuttled - the latest ones in October 2006.

HMS Maori
Tugboats St. Michael & 10
Lighter X-127
MV Odile
P29 Boltenhagen
Tugboat Rozi
Um el Faroud
Bristol Beaufighter

HMS Hellespont
Bristol Blenheim
MV Imperial Eagle
HM Drifter Eddy
HMS Stubborn
HMS St. Angelo
HMS Southwold
Le Polynesien
Schnellboot S-31
HMS Maori

Level:

Beginner to Advanced 
    
Maximum Depth:
15 metres

The HMS Maori was a Tribal-class destroyer, built by Fairfield in Govan, England, was launched on 2nd September 1937.  During World War II, the HMS Maori was involved in the pursuit and destruction of the enemy German battleship Bismarck in May 1941 and served with the 14th Destroyer Flotilla during the Battle of Cape Bon in December 1941.  The HMS Maori was attacked by enemy German aircraft and sank at her moorings in the Grand Harbour on 12 February 1942 with the loss of one of her crew.  She was raised and scuttled on 15 July 1945. 

Located a few hundred metres from the shore from Valletta, the HMS Maori is now a popular dive site.  She lies in white sand at a depth of 16 metres.  Much of the bridge and superstructure are still extant, including the front gun base.  Much marine life can be found on the wreck.
Tugboats St. Michael & 10

Level:

Beginner

Maximum Depth:
18 metres

  

These two tugboats were scuttled as artificial reefs in 1998 off Zonqor Point. The 10 wreck, named because of the still visible No. 10 painted on the wreck, is a 16 metre long intact tugboat.  From the stern, you will find the St. Michael tug at less than 50 metres distance.  Two nice wrecks suitable for beginners.

 

Lighter X-127

Level:
Beginner to Advanced

Maximum Depth:
22 metres

  

The Lighter X-127 is reached from the Manoel Island in Marsamxett Harbour.  To reach the wreck, divers should swim in a south-westerly direction at any depth between 10-15 metres.  The seabed around the wreck is muddy and scattered with objects such as hospital beds, wheel chairs and other objects thrown into the sea during and after the war.  The torpedo damage at the stern of the vessel is quite extensive.  Throughout the dive, octopus, small groupers and thousands of damselfish are encountered.

 

MV Odile

Level:
Medium to Advanced

Maximum Depth:
24 metres

The MV Odile (also known as the Margit) was an old steam-freighter that sank in course of a bombing attack on April 4, 1943 at Kalkara reef, off Grand Harbour.  The wreck was discovered in the late seventies.  The hull is in poor condition because it was devastated by the explosions (the bow and the propellers are missing) and lies on its port side.  The wreck covers a large area and is difficult to find in poor visibility without local knowledge.  It is recommended that only experienced divers actually penetrate the wreck as proper equipment including reels are needed.

 

P29 Boltenhagen

Level:
Advanced

Maximum Depth:
35 meters

This ex-East German Kondor class minesweeper was built in the 1960's and is 52 meters in length.  In 1997 she moved to Malta to carry out various duties including search and rescue before being decommissioned in 2004.  In 2005, she was sold to the Malta Tourism Authority making her environmentally safe before scuttling her on 14 August 2007. 

 

Tugboat Rozi

Level:
Medium to Advanced

Maximum Depth:
36 metres

In Marfa Point (north of Malta), once can find an old metal jetty and approximately 135 metres out from here lies the tugboat Rozi.  The maximum depth of this dive is 36 metres.  The Rozi was a 40 metre tug deliberately sunk in 1991 as an underwater attraction for glass-bottomed boat tours.  The Rozi sits upright on the sandy seabed, intact except for its engines and propeller.  This is one of the most popular dive sites on the Maltese Islands, with much to see and explore.  The ship is surrounded by thousands of fish, including seabreams, scorpion fish and cardinal fish.

 

Um el Faroud

Level:
Advanced

Maximum Depth:
36 metres

The Um El Faroud was sunk in 1998 following a terrible explosion on board that killed nine Maltese dockyard workers.  Lying on the sandy seabed southwest of Wied iz-Zurrieq, the Um El Faroud weighs 10,000 tons and is 115 metres long.  The depth to the top of the bridge is 18 metres and 25 metres to the main deck.  Divers might come across some squid and barracudas at the stem.  The port side is usually teeming with large schools of sea breams, parrotfish and silversides.  Somtimes one can come across the occasional amberjack and tuna.  The wreck can be entered fairly easily, but due to its size, this should be restricted only to divers with advanced wreck diving training.

 

Bristol Beaufighter

Level:
Advanced

Maximum Depth:
37 metres

During World War II, in 1943, the Bristol Beaufighter was flying out of Malta but underwent mechanical failure and crashed.  The Beaufighter crash landed in the sea and is still lying in the exact position, at a depth of 37 metres right outside St. Julians.  Slightly smaller, shallower and in a brighter condition than the Bomber, the Bristol Beaufighter is a highly regarded dive among our guests. Only 15 minutes by boat from the dive centre off St Julians, this is a treat for the experienced.

 

HMS Hellespont

Level:
Advanced

Maximum Depth:
41 metres

The HMS Hellespont was a paddle driven steam tug boat which was launched in 1910.  She has been in Malta since 1922 until she was bombed on the 17th of September 1940, during World War II.  She was repaired and damaged again on the 6/7th of April, 1942.  In 1944, she was deemed beyond repair and was towed to her present location outside the Grand Harbour.  The Hellespont is a good wreck with plenty to see and she is also historically interesting.

 

Bristol Blenheim

Level:
Advanced

Maximum Depth:
42 metres

The Bristol Blenheim was a light World War II bomber in the English air force, now lying in the waters of Xorb il-Ghagin.  The engines and wings are intact, but the foresection of the fuselage has been smashed off and now lies several metres in front of the main part of the wreckage.  This is a non-stop dive to a depth of 42 metres which requires careful planning.  The wreck is full of interesting marine life.

 

MV Imperial Eagle

Level:
Advanced

Maximum Depth:
42 metres

The MV Imperial Eagle was one of the ferryboats connecting Malta and Gozo.  The hull lays on a sandy bottom at a depth of 42 metres, 300m North-East of Qawra Point.  The wide hold is open and the wreck allows an easy and interesting dive.  Close by is a statue of Jesus Christ.  This 13 ton statue was reallocated here in May 2000.  It was originally sunk near St. Paul's Islands and blessed by Pope John Paul in 1990 to protect the fishermen of Malta.

 

HM Drifter Eddy

Level:  
Technical  

Maximum Depth:  
56 metres

HM Drifter Eddy was built by A. Hall and was launched as a dredger or drifter on 6th August 1918.  This 27m long minesweeper carried out duties for both World Wars but met her doom during WWII while patrolling Malta's harbour waters.  While returning from her minesweeping duties, she was struck by an Italian mine and sank.  One can see the damage caused by the mine on her starboard side as she lies upright on the seabed.  Diving on this wreck is considered dangerous due to its close proximity of the Grand Harbour entrance.

 

HMS Stubborn

Level:
Technical

Maximum Depth:
57 metres

HMS Stubborn was an S class submarine of the Royal Naxy, and part of the Third Group built of that class.  She was built by Cammell Laird and launched on November 11, 1942.  So far, she has been the only ship of the Royal Navy to bear the name Stubborn.  Stubborn spent the war in home waters, operating off the Scandinavian coast, and in the Pacific Far East.  While on patrol in the Bay of Biscay, she fired torpedoes at a group of three German submarines escorted by two destroyers.  The torpedoes however missed their targets and the attack was not observed by the Germans.  The submarines were U-180, U-518, U-530.  The two escorts were identified by Stubborn as 'Narvik-class' destroyers.  HMS Stubborn survived the Second World War and was sunk on April 30, 1946 by the British Navy after suffering extensive damage.

 

HMS St. Angelo

Level:
Technical

Maximum Depth:
58 metres

This tug boat was used as harbour transport for Royal Navy officers carrying personnel from St. Angelo to other destinations.  During the war it also served for rescue and then as a minesweeper were it hit a mine and sunk.  Diving on this wreck is considered dangerous due to its close proximity of the Grand Harbour entrance.

 

HMS Southwold

Level:  
Technical

Maximum Depth:
63 metres

This 86m long Hunt-class destroyer built in 1941 had a very successful but short life span of about one year, before running into a floating mine.  She took part in the historical 'Second Battle of Sirte' and despite being heavily outnumbered, forced the Italians to withdraw.  She now lies in two sections, the largest being the bow while the stern is about 300 meters away. 

 

Le Polynesien

Level:
Technical

Maximum Depth:
64 meters

Le Polynesien is a 19th century passenger liner sunk by a German U-Boat towards the end of World War One.  At 152 metres in length and weighing 6659 tons, Le Polynesien is one of the largest wrecks in Malta.  The ship is lying upright on the seabed, complete in one piece and not heavily broken up as many ships of this age are.  This is a magnificent wreck dive with still many artefacts onboard.  Diving Le Polynesien is only suitable for technical divers using Trimix.

 

Schnellboot S-31 (E-boat)

Level:
Technical   

Maximum Depth:
67 metres

The Schnellboot or S-boot ("fast craft") was a type of German torpedo boat that saw service during World War II.  This wreck has its anti-aircraft guns still standing and torpedoes in the tubes.  A very intact wreck dived by very few divers.  The wreck is deep but for those with mixed gas experience it is a great option.

 

Source of pictures on this page is unknown, please contact us if you need further information on this.