Wrecks and Artificial Reefs
The Maltese Islands’ waters are surrounded by Wrecks and Artificial reefs scuttled to provide attractions for divers. We include interesting links as well as articles that might be of interest to wreck lovers. We also suggest you to visit Frederick Galea’s Underwater Aviation Discoveries page too, which is full of information related to wrecks and recoveries of aeroplanes from around the islands.
Virtual Underwater Museum
The Virtual Underwater Museum is the go-to site with regard to Historical Wrecks lying around the Maltese Islands. The page includes full historical information about Ships, Submarines, Aeroplanes, Cannons and other findings from 800BC to the Second World War and later. The page also has 3D models, pictures, information about how one can visit these wrecks and more information.
Visit the Virtual Underwater Museum here
Wreck and artificial reefs articles
- Avoid Scotscraig Wreck – wastewater discharge
In view of recent wastewater discharges into the sea near to ic-Cumnija wastewater treatment plant, it is advisable to avoid visiting the Scotscraig wreck for the time being until these issues are sorted. - What the Devil… it’s Devil Rays!
An amazing sighting shared by Techwise Malta via Facebook – a beautiful encounter with Devil Rays near the JU88 Wreck. Sometimes those long decompression stops can be a wonder in themselves… click on the image to see. Watch the video here: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1281015769459509 - Wreck Buoys placed in site at artificial wrecks.
Well done for PDSA: Professional Diving Schools Association Malta and the Malta Tourism Authority for co-ordinating the placing of special marker buoys indicating the presence of wrecks for Mariners. Only one is left to be placed (Cominoland) which will be sorted in the coming days. Special reminder to mariners and pleasure boat owners, charters or Read More - Um el Faroud graces the SCUBA Magazine front cover
In May’s issue of the SCUBA Magazine, issued by the British Sub-Aqua Club and distributed globally to BSAC members and on newsstands, the Um el Faroud’s Bow stands proud and magnificent. The below Facebook post shows a picture of the front cover and other snippets shared by the article’s author. Malta is described as a Read More - HMS Urge: The Loss & Discovery of a Royal Navy Submarine and her heroic crew
The Heritage Malta Underwater Cultural Heritage Unit have announced that under the auspices of the British High Commission it will organise an evening of history and new experiences using the latest technology to get to know about the HMS Urge, as well as the possibility to “virtually dive” other wrecks within the Malta Virtual Underwater Read More - Malta Airport Foundation launches a video about the HMS Maori
The Malta Airport Foundation has launched its second video about wrecks around the Maltese Islands, the HMS Maori. With a bit of history and marine biology aspects, it’s an interesting short introduction to the wreck which has introduced many divers to wreck diving. The Malta Airport Foundation had also sponsored the production of the first Read More - Kevin Aquilina – Wreck Diving Enthusiast / UW Videographer
Kevin is a passionate and knowledgeable wreck diving enthusiast. His fascination with maritime history and his desire to preserve the legacy of these sunken vessels has led him to conduct extensive research on the subject. With his skills as an accomplished rebreather diver, Kevin has been able to explore wrecks in detail, uncovering their secrets Read More - TM – Consolidated list of Archaeological Zones at Sea
On the 23 January 2023 Transport Malta issued Notice to Mariners 04 of 2023 – Archaeological zones at sea – Superintendence of Cultural Heritage (Consolidated list January 2023) The list includes the sites protected under the Cultural Heritage Act (CAP445). As per the notice, several conditions are required to carry out diving operations at these Read More - Paulus – The Shipwreck 60AD
About this book from the website dedicate to this book: http://www.stpaulshipwreck.com/ This book, narrating the discovery of an ancient lead anchor stock embossed with the names of the Egyptian gods ISIS and SARAPI(S) in the seabed off Salina Bay on a Sunday morning in April, 2005, is also the story of the search for the Read More - Xatt l- Ahmar – Kitting up benches for M/T Haephastus dive entry
On November 12, 2022, after a suggestion by a reader, communication was sent to relevant authorities to encourage the installation of kitting up benches near the entry close to M/T Haephastus at Xatt l-Ahmar., similar to those installed further west for the three wrecks. We will keep an eye on progress, but let us know Read More - The Malta Airport Foundation supports Heritage Malta in declaring the world’s first deep-water archaeological park
HeritageMalta reported on it website that The Malta Airport Foundation is pleased to announce that it is supporting Heritage Malta’s pioneering work to declare an underwater site the world’s first deep-water archaeological park. First discovered in 1993 just off Xlendi Bay in Gozo, the site lies at 105 metres below sea level and is composed Read More - Rare marine life found to thrive around sunken wrecks around Malta
Timesofmalta.com reports that scientists have discovered that marine life thought to be rare or on the verge of extinction is now thriving on and around ship and plane wrecks at the bottom of the sea around the island. Several species of fishes, lobsters, sponges, corals and sea urchins have been considered rare since British rule Read More - Malta’s most popular diveable wrecks documented in mini-series
Timesofmalta.com reports that the Malta Airport Foundation has launched Submerged World, a mini-series documenting six of the Maltese islands’ most popular diveable wrecks. The six-part series kicked off with an instalment on the tanker Um El Faroud, which was scuttled 1998, becoming one of the Maltese Islands’ first artificial reefs and diving attractions. The six-minute Read More - M/T Hephaestus – the new wreck at Xatt l-Aħmar, Gozo
A short history… After a four and a half year wait, the M/T Hephaestus, a 61m long tanker has been “wrecked” for a second time, this time permanently, at Xatt l-Aħmar in Għajnsielem, Gozo, on the 29th of August 2022. The M/T Hephaestus originally became a known name around the Maltese Islands after it was Read More - Shipwrecks could act as benchmarks to measure marine litter
From the Malta Independent Exploratory workshops are being held to investigate the innovative idea of using Underwater Cultural Heritage (UCH) sites to study and survey marine litter. These workshops are being funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA Grants. The litter that is seen floating on the surface of the ocean only accounts Read More - Heritage Malta Underwater Cultural Heritage Unit
The Heritage Malta Underwater Cultural Heritage Unit takes care of Wrecks and other Underwater Cultural Heritage around the Maltese Islands. This entity manages the deep wrecks around the Maltese Islands, many of which can be virtually visited in the Underwater Malta Virtual Museum. To visit these wrecks, a booking system is operated through Diving Centres Read More - RESOLVED – Zonqor Point – Kitting up benches
UPDATE October 2022: We have been informed that benches were installed, replacing the old rusty ones. Following a report by an individual submitted through our page on the 02/08/2022, we have forwarded to the MTA a communication highlighting the need to add kitting up benches at Zonqor Point. Below is the report we received and Read More - Kristu tal-Baħħara gets a scrub
A shoutout to Raniero Borg and his buddies for cleaning up the underwater Christ statue off Qawra Point. Good time to take some pics, and visit what’s left of the Imperial Eagle wreck nearby! - Phoenician Shipwreck: ‘Findings provide a piece of a puzzle that helps us understand our past’From “The Malta Independent” Research on a Phoenician-era shipwreck off Xlendi in Gozo can help us better understand our past, Professor Timmy Gambin told The Malta Independent. “Our research is important because nobody has excavated at the depth that we have excavated. To a certain extent, we’ve unlocked at least some of the doors for Read More
- “Diving Gozo & Comino”
Information from Malta Online Bookshop Gozo, Malta, has a multitude of underwater attractions. Divers can explore breathtaking caves, tunnels, wrecks, reefs and bays. Add to this profusion of marine life and you can understand why diving here is consistently voted amongst the best in Europe. By: Richard Salter Format: paperback The most comprehensive guide about Read More - “Scuba Diving Malta, Gozo, Comino” by Peter Lemon
Information from the Author’s Website This publication covers 97 dive sites around the Maltese Islands based on the author’s experience of over 1500 dives in the waters of the Maltese Islands over a period of almost twenty five years. It is a comprehensive full colour 224 page guide, to 45 illustrated dive sites each with Read More - A Punic wreck off the coast of Gozo – a lecture by Prof. Timmy Gambin
From Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/events/7637958129610354/?ref=newsfeed Details —————————————-We have a small number of seats left for non-members. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED FOR THIS EVENT. TO REGISTER, SEND AN EMAIL TO: info@wirtghawdex.org with email subject: “7th July event”. Registration will take place on a first come, first served basis. If you would like to attend similar future events, and Read More - Government to fund further studies on Punic wreck off XlendiFrom the Malta Independent The government has committed €140,000 through an agreement with the University of Malta for continued studies on an underwater Punic wreck off the coast of Xlendi. The agreement was signed by Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri and university Rector Alfred Vella. Camilleri said the discovery merits full attention as it can shed Read More
- Ghost nets recovered from Malta’s seabed upcycled into bracelets and keychains
From Heritage Malta Ghost nets recovered from Heritage Malta’s submerged sites have been upcycled into bracelets and keychains, thanks to a collaboration between the German company Bracenet and Heritage Malta’s Underwater Cultural Heritage Unit (UCHU). In 2020, the UCHU, in collaboration with the local ATLAM Subaqua Club, initiated a number of net removal dives. To Read More