Malta
1 region · 18 sites · down to 58 m
Malta, Gozo and Comino are mainly a destination for sea caves, caverns and tunnels with daylight, mostly dived from the shore. Real cave with dark overhead is scarce: Billinghurst, Tal-Barba, Bottleneck and the land cave Għar Ħarq Ħamiem. Because there is nearly always a sheltered coast, you can dive almost every day.
Map
Not to be missed
- Blue Hole (Dwejra) →
The famous Blue Hole at Dwejra on Gozo, to 25 m, with Coral Cave and the Inland Sea tunnel nearby; only when the west coast is calm.
- Għar tal-Barba (Tal-Barba Cave) →
A cavern to 30 m and one of the few places with truly dark overhead: a good first step for cavern divers.
- Billinghurst Cave (Reqqa Point) →
A dark cave at Reqqa Point to 35 m, at intro-to-cave level; only when Gozo's north coast is calm.
- Bottleneck Cave (Reqqa Point) →
A technical cave dive to ~58 m at Reqqa Point, in sidemount and for full cave certified divers.
- Santa Marija Caves (Comino) →
Shallow caves to 15 m off Comino with plenty of daylight; reached only by boat with a dive centre.
Regions
Good to know
- No permit is needed for recreational diving. Unguided diving is allowed from AOWD, CMAS** or BSAC Sports Diver, and centres only fill for such independent divers.
- Wind decides the site. With the north-westerly majjistral the north and west coasts get swell and you go south (Xlendi, Mġarr ix-Xini, Għar Lapsi, Żurrieq); with xlokk (south-east) it is the other way round.
- Local cave training goes up to intro-to-cave; for full cave Maltese centres go abroad.
- Tour boats run through the Inland Sea tunnel and at the Blue Grotto. Dwejra is a protected nature site, and Għar Ħarq Ħamiem is on protected private land.
- Storm Harry (January 2026) damaged steps, ladders and railings at several dive sites. Ask your centre which entries are in order.
Tips for safe and enjoyable diving
- Check wind and swell every morning, then choose your coast. Gozo Technical Diving gives independent divers a sea and weather briefing every morning.
- CCR units and scooters can be rented on Gozo and in Sliema. Order sofnolime and trimix in advance; at Atlantis you order blends a day ahead.
- The best season is April–November. Water is ~16 °C in January–March and 21–26 °C in June–August, with strong thermoclines in summer.
- In a diving accident call 112; everyone, tourists included, gets urgent chamber treatment. Both Mater Dei Hospital (Malta) and Gozo General Hospital have a chamber. DAN Europe: +39 06 4211 5685.
Certification requirements, configurations and trimix depths are estimates for planning. Always check them locally and dive within your training.
News
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