The Best Diving Spots in Malta: A 5-Day Road Trip to Explore Them

Malta

Do you love scuba diving? Malta has become one of the top destinations in Europe for divers. With crystal-clear waters, excellent visibility, and a huge variety of underwater landscapes, it’s a go-to spot for both seasoned pros and those just getting started.

From spectacular caves and natural arches to impressive shipwrecks, diving in Malta lets you discover some of the most incredible underwater scenes in the Mediterranean.

The great weather almost all year round means you can enjoy a dive in almost any season. You can often see for more than 30 metres underwater, which is a real draw for both beginners and more experienced divers.

Another big advantage of this destination is that the main dive sites are spread across the islands of Malta, Gozo, and Comino.

In this guide, we’ve put together a 5-day road trip to help you find the best diving spots in Malta, planned out so you can easily get to each one in your hire car.

Day 1: Getting Started with Diving in Malta

The first day is ideal for getting used to the Maltese waters and starting off with some relatively easy dives.

One of the best places to begin is Cirkewwa, right at the northern tip of the main island. It’s one of the most popular diving spots in the country and offers several different underwater routes. Here, you’ll find rocky reefs, seagrass meadows, and two shipwrecks that are now home to all sorts of fish.

Very close by is Paradise Bay, a small bay with turquoise water where you can also enjoy some fairly calm dives. It’s the perfect spot to start your trip and make the most of that incredible visibility.

Day 2: Wrecks and Caves

On your second day, you can head towards the east of the island, where you'll find some really interesting shipwrecks.

One of the best known is the HMS Maori, a Second World War destroyer sunk near Valletta harbour. Although part of the ship was destroyed during the war, the remains on the seabed have become an artificial reef, where you’ll find a real mix of marine life.

The dive is relatively shallow, making it accessible for most divers. It’s common to see shoals of fish, octopuses, and various types of shellfish here.

Afterwards, you can carry on towards Exiles Reef, near Sliema. This spot is famous for its caves and rock formations that create small underwater tunnels.

Day 3: Diving On the Island of Gozo

The third day is the perfect time to visit Gozo, one of the most famous diving spots in Malta. To get there, you just need to take the ferry from Cirkewwa.

One of the most spectacular places in the whole archipelago is the Blue Hole, a rock formation that connects a natural pool with the open sea through an underwater tunnel.

Very close by is the Inland Sea, an inland lagoon linked to the sea by a tunnel through the rock. The exit of the tunnel offers some stunning underwater views and is usually teeming with fish.

Another highlight is the Double Arch, an impressive rock formation that creates two large arches underwater. It’s a real favourite for underwater photographers.

Day 4: Another Day in Gozo

Gozo has so many diving spots that it’s well worth spending at least one more day here.

One of the most interesting is Billinghurst Cave, an underwater cave where the light filtering down from the surface creates some spectacular visual effects. The dive is particularly popular with those who enjoy exploring caverns and crevices.

Another well-known spot is Reqqa Point, on the north coast of the island. This area offers some impressive underwater walls and very deep water, so it’s usually recommended for more experienced divers. The visibility here is often excellent, and you can spot large shoals of fish and even some pelagic species.

Day 5: The Famous Blue Lagoon in Comino

The last day of the trip can be spent on the small island of Comino. The Blue Lagoon is one of the most photographed spots in Malta and it’s an excellent diving location, too. Another really interesting spot nearby is the Santa Marija Caves, a series of underwater caves where the light creates some spectacular shadows and colours. It’s one of the most popular places for underwater photography.Lantern Point is also well worth a visit, with its rock formations and natural tunnels that make the dive really fun.

How To Organise Your Diving Route

As Malta is a small island with relatively short distances, one of the best ways to get between the different dive spots is to hire a car. Why? Because it gives you the freedom to organise your own trip. Even though we’ve suggested a 5-day route through Malta’s top diving locations, having a hire car means you can rearrange the plan to suit your own interests and schedule.

It’s best to group your dives by area so you aren't doing any unnecessary driving. For example, you could spend the first few days exploring the spots on the main island, especially in the north and east, where you’ll find famous sites like Cirkewwa or the wrecks near Valletta. These areas are well-connected by road, making it easy to fit in several dives in a single day.

Another important thing to keep in mind when planning your route is the ferry crossing to Gozo and Comino. The ferry from Malta to Gozo runs regularly from Cirkewwa harbour and takes vehicles, so you can carry on your trip in the car without any hassle. Usually, CarJet suppliers have no problem with you taking the car from Malta to Gozo, but it’s always worth double-checking the terms and conditions of your booking just to be sure.