What wrecks can you dive in Malta?

Malta has several excellent wreck dives. The Um El Faroud is the largest — a 110 m Libyan oil tanker lying at 36 m near Wied Iz-Zurrieq, requiring Advanced Open Water as a minimum. The P29 patrol boat (15–35 m) and Imperial Eagle car ferry (20–30 m) are more accessible for Open Water divers.

Um El Faroud wreck dive: Malta's largest scuttled ship

The Um El Faroud: a deliberate sinking for a world-class dive

The Um El Faroud was a 110 m Libyan-registered oil tanker that met an unfortunate fate twice over. In 1995, a gas explosion during maintenance at Grand Harbour dock killed nine Maltese workers and left the vessel structurally unstable. After years of legal proceedings and repair attempts, Maltese authorities decided the most sensible use for the hulk was as a dive attraction. The ship was cleaned of pollutants, stripped of hazardous materials, and deliberately scuttled in August 1998 off Wied Iz-Zurrieq on Malta’s south coast.

The result is one of the finest wreck dives in the Mediterranean. The Um El Faroud lies on her port side at depths ranging from 18 m at the bow to 36 m at the stern, offering a wide range of dive profiles on a single hull. The sheer scale of the ship — 110 m long — means you can conduct multiple dives at different sections and never repeat the same experience.

Why Advanced Open Water is the minimum — and this is enforced

At 36 m to the deepest accessible point, the Um El Faroud exceeds the 18 m limit of an Open Water diver diving solo and the 20 m supervised limit in most rental dive programmes. Advanced Open Water certification extends your limit to 30 m (supervised dive to 40 m with an instructor), making the full hull accessible.

This is not a rule-bending guideline. The physical effects of depth — nitrogen narcosis beginning above 30 m, faster air consumption, the need for reliable buoyancy control at depth to avoid inadvertent descent to the sea floor (which lies at 45–50 m below the wreck) — make the Um El Faroud genuinely unsuitable for inexperienced divers. A conscientious dive operator will check your log book and turn away Open Water divers attempting this site without an instructor present.

If you are not yet Advanced Open Water certified, Malta offers the ideal context to complete the course in advance of a wreck dive. The PADI courses guide covers typical costs and duration.

Before booking any Um El Faroud dive, confirm your certification level matches what the operator requires.

Dive profile: what to expect at each section

Bow section (18–22 m)

The bow is the shallowest part of the wreck and sits closest to the surface entry point. The prow is still recognisably ship-shaped, with the anchor chain housings intact and school of bream clustering around the winches. This is where most divers begin, and Open Water divers with an instructor can explore this section legally.

Midship (22–30 m)

The midship section has suffered the most deterioration — the explosion-damaged hull has created interesting penetration points that experienced divers explore. The cargo tanks, still clearly visible, have accumulated large colonies of sponges and sea fans over nearly three decades. Moray eels, large grouper and occasional barracuda school here. The main accommodation block structure is intact and can be viewed externally without penetration.

Engine room approach (30–36 m)

The aft section and engine room entrance descend to 36 m. This is the deepest practical dive on the wreck. The engine room itself is accessible to divers with cave or wreck penetration endorsements and appropriate gas planning. Inside, the machinery is recognisable — large piston heads, pipe runs, valve wheels — all draped in orange and yellow sponges. Ambient light reaches the engine room entrance but the interior requires a torch (always carry one on wreck dives).

The stern and propeller

The stern, at 36 m, is the photographic highlight. The propeller blades are intact and the rudder is still positioned mid-turn. Large grouper often shelter beneath the overhang of the hull. Descent time from the surface to the stern is 6–8 minutes for a recreational diver making a comfortable descent rate.

Marine life

Twenty-eight years of colonisation have turned the Um El Faroud into a complex reef ecosystem:

Sponges: yellow, orange and white sponges cover every horizontal surface from midship to stern. Barrel sponges up to 60 cm diameter on the upper hull.
Sea fans: gorgonian sea fans on the lower hull from 25 m down, some spanning 80 cm.
Fish: grouper (multiple large individuals), moray eels (at least six reliably seen), scorpionfish camouflaged on the hull plating, damselfish in clouds over the upper hull, dentex, bream and amberjack.
Cephalopods: octopus in almost every recess, cuttlefish in the midship section from April to June.
Nudibranchs: excellent macro opportunities, particularly on the hull plating below 20 m.

Location and how to get there

The Um El Faroud lies approximately 300 m off Wied Iz-Zurrieq, a small inlet on Malta’s south coast known as the access point for Blue Grotto boat trips. Wied Iz-Zurrieq is a 40-minute drive from Valletta or Sliema.

Getting there by road: take the route through Qrendi or via Zurrieq village. Parking is available at the Wied Iz-Zurrieq car park (free) above the inlet. The dive entry is via RIB from the inlet, run by the local dive operators.

Public transport: Bus 201 from Valletta to Zurrieq, then a 25-minute walk or taxi to Wied Iz-Zurrieq. Not practical with heavy dive equipment — this site is best reached by car or organised transfer.

By dive boat from Sliema or St Paul’s Bay: most dive operators who cover Um El Faroud depart from these marinas and transit 30–45 minutes to the site. Confirm transit time before booking — a 45-minute boat ride each way is significant if you are planning two dives.

Booking: what to look for

The Um El Faroud is not on every Malta dive operator’s daily roster. It is a specialist site requiring:

Verification of your Advanced Open Water or above. A reputable operator will ask for your certification card before booking, not on the day.
Log book check: dive operators should verify you have recent experience (ideally within the last 12 months and at least one deep dive above 25 m) before taking you to 36 m.
Appropriate gas planning: at 36 m, bottom times are significantly shorter than at 20 m. A typical single-tank dive on the Um El Faroud gives 25–30 minutes of bottom time at depth before a controlled ascent and safety stop. Confirm the operator uses 12 L or 15 L cylinders (not 10 L, which is inadequate at this depth).

Boat dive trip for certified divers in Malta 2 scuba fun dives for certified divers from Sliema

Both options above cover guided certified dives in Malta and can be directed toward the Um El Faroud depending on conditions and your certification level. Confirm the Um El Faroud specifically when booking if that is your target.

Comparison with Malta’s other major wreck dives

Wreck	Depth (max)	Certification	Location	Highlights
Um El Faroud	36 m	AOW minimum	Wied Iz-Zurrieq	Largest wreck, propeller, full penetration options
P29 patrol boat	35 m	OW (upper section) / AOW (full)	Mellieha Bay	Upright, compact, excellent fish life
MV Imperial Eagle	30 m	OW (supervised)	Qawra Point	Intact car ferry, amberjack schools
MV Karwela	40 m	AOW/Rescue	Cirkewwa	Larger ferry, good penetration, soft coral interior
MV Cominoland	30 m	AOW	Cirkewwa	Compact barge, accessible, near Karwela

The Um El Faroud and the Karwela/Cominoland pair at Cirkewwa are the two premier wreck dive experiences on the main island. Experienced divers with a full week often try to do both clusters. See the full Malta wreck diving guide for site-by-site comparisons.

Safety considerations

Decompression stops: at 36 m on a single tank, your dive computer will likely flag mandatory decompression requirements if you stay more than 20–25 minutes. Always carry redundant dive tables or a backup computer. Discuss this with your guide before descent.

Narcosis: nitrogen narcosis effects begin around 30 m for most divers. At 36 m, mild symptoms (mild euphoria, slowed decision-making) are normal and manageable with experience. If you have never dived below 25 m, discuss this with your instructor before committing to the full depth.

Penetration: never penetrate the interior of the Um El Faroud without cave or wreck endorsements, a primary torch and a backup torch, a guideline reel, and an experienced guide who has made the same penetration before. This is not a guideline anyone responsible will bend.

Emergency: the nearest hyperbaric chamber is at Mater Dei Hospital in Msida, 40–50 minutes by road from Wied Iz-Zurrieq. Your dive operator should carry surface oxygen as standard.

Combining the Um El Faroud with the Blue Grotto

Wied Iz-Zurrieq is also the departure point for Blue Grotto boat tours. If you are making the journey to the south coast for the wreck, consider starting with a surface interval boat tour through the Blue Grotto caves before or after your dive session. The boat tour takes 20–30 minutes and costs €8–10 per person. Early morning is the best light for the Blue Grotto caves.

From Wied Iz-Zurrieq, Hagar Qim and Mnajdra temples are 10 minutes by car — making a full half-day itinerary combining prehistory, caves and wreck diving entirely feasible.

Frequently asked questions about the Um El Faroud

Can I dive the Um El Faroud with an Open Water certification?

Only with a qualified instructor in a supervised setting. The upper bow section at 18–22 m is within the Open Water supervised range, but to experience the full wreck including the engine room and stern, you need Advanced Open Water certification.

How deep is the Um El Faroud exactly?

The wreck lies on her port side with the shallowest point (bow) at approximately 18 m and the deepest accessible point (stern/engine room) at 36 m. The sea floor beneath the deepest section is around 44–47 m.

Is the Um El Faroud suitable for underwater photographers?

Excellent for both wide-angle and macro photography. Wide-angle works on the bow, propeller and upper hull. Macro is exceptional in the midship section where sponge cover is thickest. Bring a torch even for ambient-light photography below 25 m.

How long does a dive on the Um El Faroud last?

Typically 25–35 minutes of bottom time at depth, plus a 3–5 minute safety stop at 5 m. Total dive duration including ascent is 40–50 minutes. Most operators plan two tanks for a full Um El Faroud visit — bow section on the first dive, stern and engine room approach on the second.

What visibility should I expect?

15–25 m in summer, 20–30 m in cooler months. The south coast is slightly more affected by swell-stirred particulate than the north, so visibility can drop after storms. Ask your operator for the current visibility report before booking.

Planning a two-dive Um El Faroud day

Most serious divers plan two tanks for the Um El Faroud to cover the full hull. A practical schedule:

Dive 1 (first tank — bow and bridge)

Enter from the RIB moored above the bow
Descend to 18 m at the bow
Work along the upper hull to the bridge structure at 22 m
Time at depth: 35–40 minutes on a 12L tank with standard air
Safety stop: 3 minutes at 5 m, then surface
Surface interval: 45 minutes minimum (lunch or snacks on the boat)

Dive 2 (second tank — midship and stern)

Re-enter and descend directly to the midship section at 25 m
Work aft toward the engine room at 28–30 m
Visit the stern and propeller at 36 m (Advanced OW minimum)
Ascend slowly, safety stop at 5 m
Time at depth: 25–30 minutes maximum before decompression obligation

This two-dive structure covers the entire wreck without rushing either section. Surface interval between dives is essential — do not reduce it below 45 minutes regardless of enthusiasm.

The Um El Faroud and the surrounding south coast

The Um El Faroud does not exist in isolation. Wied Iz-Zurrieq and the south coast offer several complementary activities:

Blue Grotto: the cave system immediately adjacent to Wied Iz-Zurrieq is one of Malta’s most visited attractions. The 20-minute sightseeing boat runs from the inlet and passes through 6 sea caves with extraordinary blue light reflected from the water surface. Non-divers in your group can take the boat trip while divers brief for the Um El Faroud. See the sea caves Malta guide.

Hagar Qim temples: 10 minutes by car from Wied Iz-Zurrieq. The UNESCO megaliths on the clifftop above the Blue Grotto are one of Malta’s most impressive cultural sites. Combine with a dive day for a south coast half-day covering prehistory and marine history simultaneously. See the Hagar Qim guide.

Marsaxlokk fish market (Sunday only): the fishing village of Marsaxlokk is 20 minutes east. On Sunday mornings, the harbour hosts Malta’s most famous food market. An Um El Faroud morning dive (depart 08:00, finish by 11:30) can be combined with a Marsaxlokk lunch — a very satisfying south Malta day.

Technical profile options on the Um El Faroud

For certified technical divers, the Um El Faroud offers additional profile options beyond the recreational range:

Extended bottom time: using Tec 40 certification and EANx 50% decompression gas, bottom time at 36 m can be extended to 40–45 minutes with planned decompression. A typical tec Um El Faroud profile: 40 minutes at 36 m, 10-minute staged decompression stops at 9 m, 6 m and 3 m. Total dive time: 60–70 minutes.

Engine room penetration: the full engine room interior penetration (not accessible to recreational divers without cave/wreck endorsement) opens up with a TDI Wreck Diver or PADI Wreck Diver specialty. The interior machinery is well-preserved and the penetration is manageable with guideline deployment — but requires planning, two light sources minimum and gas reserves calculated for the penetration distance.

Combined tec programme: some Sliema and south Malta operators run 2-day tec programmes combining Um El Faroud (Tec 40 profile) with a deep Delimara Point wall dive. This is a worthwhile combination if technical diving is your primary Malta goal.

For more on technical diving certification in Malta: cave and technical diving guide.

Last reviewed: 2026-04-20