Last month Transport Malta has issued the updated Coastal notice to mariners regarding historical wrecks declared as archaeological zones at sea by the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage. If you’re a non-diver, or never dived these wrecks, most of these can be seen at https://underwatermalta.org/
To dive these wrecks, which are mainly under 50m depth, one has to be:
1. Appropriately certified
2a. Either a resident of Malta and a member of a local club + have subscribed for the Heritage Malta Shipwreck Club, or;
2b Dive with a local diving school which is authorised for this purpose by Heritage Malta;
4. Use a vessel permitted for this purpose with the Underwater Cultural Heritage Unit.
As for other conservation zones around other local wrecks, boats and fishing are not allowed in these zones, except for the almighty and super-essential (!!!) to the economy rixa (trolling lines) fishermen, who apparently may still circle around with their lines whilst you’re doing your deco stops!!! Maybe their boats could be photogenic as well for the persons waiting on the diving support boats, for underwater photography or for the Police Forensics Team if they hook a diver and kill him (assuming the Police track him)!
Our sea is not big enough for them not to fish in these zones!
You may find it as Notice 002 of 2024 at https://www.transport.gov.mt/maritime/coastal-notices-to-mariners-93
We have however, as usual, because we’re here to help you get information, we downloaded it and present it to you below 🙂
