Malta recommendations

[sinidive]

I'm staying on Malta for multiple weeks in November-December and looking for recommendations. Probably looking for two different places:

I would love to explore some wrecks if shallow enough to do it sensibly (don't want to do deep air...). Certified for AOW+Deep+Advanced Wreck, but wreck stuff is somewhat rusty. Would love to have someone who can give tips, but not looking for a formal course. Very flexible on timetables/sites/groups/specifics, but not a ton of money. Have my own gear (typically use a DIR-like configuration). Both main island or Gozo is fine, and hoping to dive a lot.

One week a friend of mine is joining me and we are staying together near Valetta. She is a fresh OW diver and want her to have few days of chill and relaxing dives. So perhaps something with smallish groups and/or easy slow dives.

Recommendations for either case?

 

[BoltSnap]

@Miyaru This is for you.

 

[Miyaru]

Boltsnap...you're really fast!

 

[Sparksi]

Malta is awesome for wreck diving, you'll have a blast! However, most (not all) sites are in fact rather deep (30m+) and surface conditions can vary quite a bit.

I was with Divewise years ago and would recommend them!

Now if you'll excuse me, i'll go look for flights myself...

 

[BoltSnap]

Boltsnap...you're really fast!

We aim to please

 

[pwl]

I'm staying on Malta for multiple weeks in November-December and looking for recommendations. Probably looking for two different places:

I would love to explore some wrecks if shallow enough to do it sensibly (don't want to do deep air...). Certified for AOW+Deep+Advanced Wreck, but wreck stuff is somewhat rusty. Would love to have someone who can give tips, but not looking for a formal course. Very flexible on timetables/sites/groups/specifics, but not a ton of money. Have my own gear (typically use a DIR-like configuration). Both main island or Gozo is fine, and hoping to dive a lot.

One week a friend of mine is joining me and we are staying together near Valetta. She is a fresh OW diver and want her to have few days of chill and relaxing dives. So perhaps something with smallish groups and/or easy slow dives.

Recommendations for either case?

Hi there - I went diving in Malta in November over a couple of days 2 years ago. One thing to bear in mind is that due to depths & steep drop-offs from shore, a great many dives are advanced-level (>18m), so your friend should have instructor-level support and/or consider doing their advanced OW beforehand.

 

[johnkendall]

Malta is awesome for wreck diving, they've got options for everyone from OW upwards, and a lot of it accessible from shore. I strongly recommend Divewise in St. Julian's.
Just be aware that Nov/Dec the weather can be quite variable, so expect for the occasional day where you can't dive.

 

[Miyaru]

Just be aware that Nov/Dec the weather can be quite variable, so expect for the occasional day where you can't dive.

It those cases, we dive on the other side of the island. There is always a safe place to dive!

 

[johnkendall]

It those cases, we dive on the other side of the island. There is always a safe place to dive!

Not always But a lot of the time.
(I've been diving in Malta at all times of the year for about 20 years )

 

[Telvar]

Hi, I've been diving on Malta this summer and last year. They have loads of cool wrecks that don't require wreckdiving specialty and are often at reasonable depths. Fun thing about Malta is that where you stay is not relevant to where you'll dive: everywhere on the island (and Gozo and Comino) are easily reached within 30-45 minutes. I stayed in St Pauls Bay and we went everywhere. Given the depths, you may want to use nitrox although it's not stricktly necessary. Both years I used Maltaqua. Last year was fantastic, this year ok(-ish).

The best wreck to visit is the Um El Faroud (hands down): It's huge, very accessible from shore and the bottom is about 37 meters, but most of the dive is around 25m. P29, Rozi and P31(Comino) are nice as well, so are The Blue hole (Gozo) and the inland sea (Gozo). Most of these dives are 20-30m. These are all very popular and often-visited sites.

Have fun!