Best Dive Site(s) in Malta?

[TheOriginalJanice]

I'm due to head out to Malta in August and am hoping to fit in a dive or two. Due to the limit of the number of dives I'm able to do, I want to ensure that the sites I do are the best!

I am a Sports Diver qualified up to 35m. I prefer dives with drop offs and marine life, as opposed to wrecks.So what sites does everybody recommend?

[Lazlo]

Marine life? Unfortunately there's not a great amount to be had. Ironically however, the best chance for life is usually around the wrecks. So the Rozi and Umm El Faroud are good sites. Maybe your best bet would be to hop on the ferry to Gozo and do a couple of dives there - including the Inland Sea which is spectacular. Another picture and another link

I stand to be corrected as regards life

[Maltaman]

My own experience is that it can vary quite a lot between sites and even on differnt days. I agree that there's usually a lot of life around the wrecks..my faves are the Rosi and the Um el Faroud. The added advantage of the Rosi is that there is a nice drop off plus quite a bit of life along the walls of same. On the Rosi itself there are usually loads of fish..am not very good at identifying them by name I'm afraid. I would go for the Rosi if i were you. Come to think of it the Santa Maria caves on Comino are lovely and theres actually a spot for fish feeding where you can kneel down and feed hundreds of fish. Hope this helps.

[Lazlo]

Originally Posted by Maltaman

Come to think of it the Santa Maria caves on Comino are lovely and theres actually a spot for fish feeding where you can kneel down and feed hundreds of fish.

I've done that and it was a lot of fun - got mobbed by bream (?). Turns out that they love bananas

[ScubaSue]

My vote is for Comino too if it is fish life you are after. Take a good torch for the swim-throughs and caverns as there are some amazing colours and rock formations.

The Um El Faroud is a 'must-dive', as you swim towards it, it looms up in front of you out of the 'gloom' and it is HUGE.

[TheOriginalJanice]

I've also heard that the 'Madonna' is a good dive, due to the drop off and vis in the area. Have any of you experienced that?

[ScubaSue]

The Madonna is (I think) at Cirkewwa (near where the Gozo ferry leaves from), and it is very pretty around there generally. I wasn't overly enthused by the Madonna itself, but like I said, very pretty.

[Whistler]

I went to Buggibba in Jan this year and did the following dives:-

1. The Maddona
2. Anchor Bay
3. Tugboat Rozi
4. Left Arch
5. St.Elmo's Reef
6. HMS Maori

These were all governed by the weather so not sure these are the "best", but I did enjoy them all for different reasons. Mind you, I was the only customer so the fish were not scared off by lots of divers. It was noticeable that the island is geared up for divers in my opinion.

[westside]

I have been out to Malta a few times and Comino is excellent for fish life, they follow you round becasue they are so used to been fed. Last time I was on Rozi we had her to our selves and she was covered in fish the only problem is in August you will probably be one of many since this is a very popular dive site. If you can get to Gozo the blue hole is very good for fish life but to see the large grouper you need to be there early.

[fezboy]

My favourites are the Inland Sea/Blue Hole or Cathedral Cave, both are on Gozo

Originally Posted by Lazlo

Marine life? Unfortunately there's not a great amount to be had. Ironically however, the best chance for life is usually around the wrecks. So the Rozi and Umm El Faroud are good sites. Maybe your best bet would be to hop on the ferry to Gozo and do a couple of dives there - including the Inland Sea which is spectacular. Another picture and another link

I stand to be corrected as regards life