Europe Explored » curious sightseers https://europeexplored.com Travel through the most beautiful places in Europe Sun, 08 Sep 2013 13:36:19 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=3.6 Undersea Adventures: Top 3 Wreck Diving Spots in Malta https://europeexplored.com/2012/11/09/undersea-adventures-top-3-wreck-diving-spots-in-malta/ https://europeexplored.com/2012/11/09/undersea-adventures-top-3-wreck-diving-spots-in-malta/#comments Fri, 09 Nov 2012 10:39:17 +0000 Claire https://europeexplored.com/?p=12118 For avid scuba divers, Malta is the perfect holiday spot with plenty of undersea adventures open to curious sightseers.  Skilled swimmers can experience the amazing sights of wreck diving, viewing a variety of sunken ships dating back from WWII. A unique opportunity that shouldn’t be passed up, travel to the Maltese coastline this summer for […]

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For avid scuba divers, Malta is the perfect holiday spot with plenty of undersea adventures open to curious sightseers.  Skilled swimmers can experience the amazing sights of wreck diving, viewing a variety of sunken ships dating back from WWII. A unique opportunity that shouldn’t be passed up, travel to the Maltese coastline this summer for a once-in-a-lifetime chance to explore historical remnants preserved in the Malta’s ocean depths.

Ship wreck diving
Creative Commons photo by Matt Kieffer

Divers who have gone to Malta rate the island’s diving spots for its dense population of ship wrecks rather than its critter life. Boasting superb visibility and interesting entrance points, wreck diving in Malta is more suited to experienced aquanauts rather than beginners, and can be quite challenging depending on your fitness level.

Top 3 Deep Wreck Diving Spots in Malta

1. Qawra Point

Resident to more than one ship wreck, diving at Qawra Point is mandatory if you’re interested in seeing submarines and battleships from the early 1900s. The HMS Stubborn P238 is a wreck that has received a particularly high rating for her magnificent condition. Built in 1942 by Cammell Laird of Birkenhead, this 66 metre long s-class battle submarine carried a crew of 44 men back in the day and was armed to the teeth with an impressive 13 torpedoes. Lying just 4km off Qawra Point at a maximum depth of 56 metres, the HMS Stubborn is the titanic of the Mediterranean and well-regarded as the best wreck diving opportunity the island has to offer.

2. Gozo

The Karwela at Gozo is a relatively easy wreck to reach from the shore. First built in 1957, she served in Malta as a passenger ferry for most of her life before she sank for unknown reasons. Highlights of this wreck diving location includes a variety of entrance points into the actual ship, as well as the infamous Volkswagen Beetle sitting on the Karwela’s deck – a landmark that arrived subsequent to the ship’s sinking, no doubt a prank performed by mischievous locals.

3. Xorb l—Ghagin

A wreck diving spot that is only accessible by boat, divers are recommended to go with a reputable scuba instructor for the chance to explore the Blenhein Bomber, a fantastic World War II aircraft that lies beneath Xorb l-Ghagin’s surface. Making for an absolutely stunning dive, the Blenheim Bomber arrival on the ocean floor is as fascinating as the dive itself. Sent out on a bombing raid in 1941, the aircraft was attacked by the enemy and aborted by its pilot before plummeting to the bottom of the sea where it still sits to this day. A dive that is reserved for experienced divers only, this underwater piece of WWI memorabilia is as thrilling as they come and well worth the effort to see.

Ship wreck diving in Malta is a sport that has evolved since the 1980s. A tourist attraction that ranges from novice scuba courses to experienced dive spots, the Maltese archipelago is littered with historical landmarks that welcome brave travellers into their murky caverns. A year-round activity, wreck diving in Malta presents an open ended invitation to holiday-makers looking to plan their next vacation.

Bella Gray is a lifestyle blogger who highly recommends Malta holidays. A travel guide for tourists looking to go abroad, Gray is the perfect go-to-gal for all your holiday advice and travelling solutions.

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