Our scuba diving experience in Malta

Here I am again with a new (water-based) activity to try in Malta. In this article, I’m sharing everything about diving in Malta through my personal experience and some tips! As always, we did this activity with Manawa, a partner we’ve been working with for years. If you’ve been following us for a while, you probably know we book all our activities on the Manawa website. It’s always gone smoothly, and we highly recommend it if you want to plan your activities in advance for your stay in Malta (or anywhere else in the world!).

Back to diving — it was a first for me. I had a few concerns before going, especially about the feeling of breathing underwater for several minutes at a max depth of 6 meters. At the same time, I was excited to learn how to dive, see different species, and explore marine life. Since the waters in Malta are crystal clear and turquoise, I figured it was the perfect opportunity. I did my first dive with the Corsair Diving Malta center, located in St. Paul’s Bay, in the northeast of the island. I hadn’t realized when booking, but it was only a few minutes by car from my hotel in Malta (lucky me!).

Let me tell you a bit more about Corsair Diving Malta — it’s a family-run dive center with only great reviews! If you’re tempted by scuba diving in Malta, go for it with this club! And if you’d like to know more about what to do and see in Malta, check out our dedicated article.

We arrived at the dive center and were warmly welcomed by Tim, our instructor! We were a bit early, but no problem—we could immediately fill out the paperwork with all our information so the center could make sure we had no contraindications. Don’t worry, it’s a quick process! Then we continued with Tim’s briefing, where he explained the basics of diving (hand signals to communicate underwater, what to do if there’s water in the mask, the vest, the buttons to ascend and descend, decompression stops), and the equipment (scuba tank, buoyancy vest) that we’d be using. By the way, the thumbs-up sign in diving doesn’t mean “everything’s okay,” but rather that you want to go up. Of course, out of habit, you might mix that up, but Tim told us he can usually tell by the look on your face if it’s a mistake, haha.

Oh, I almost forgot: the activity is in English, but no worries—Tim also uses illustrations to help you visualize everything! And if you don’t understand something, don’t hesitate to ask him. English really isn’t a problem. Actually, at the end of the briefing, we had a short quiz to make sure we’d understood everything.

Let’s move on to the equipment: wetsuits (yes, we wore two because the water was pretty cold—17 degrees) and diving boots. If you’ve never done it before, you’ll probably feel a bit squeezed in the suit(s), but that’s on purpose to keep water out. Once we were ready, we headed off with Tim, who took us to Qawra Point Beach. There, we finished getting geared up—the equipment is quite heavy (28 kilos on your back!), but once in the water, you don’t feel it. The beach is nice and peaceful; there were a few people enjoying the area, but no one swimming. Given the water temperature, we weren’t surprised, haha. Obviously, with all our gear, people looked at us, but we didn’t really think about it—the moment to dive was getting close. By the way, if you want to know everything about Malta’s beaches, we’ve written a complete guide!

Once in the water, fins on and mask in place, we did a few little tests while staying on the surface, just to try breathing through the regulator. Of course, it felt a bit weird at first—we tended to breathe quickly—but since it’s so calm underwater, you hear yourself breathe, which helps you slow down, take deeper breaths, and start enjoying the experience. We went deeper and deeper, exploring and looking all around, and before long, we forgot it was our first dive! We surfaced occasionally and had no trouble using the buttons to ascend or descend.

The only small issue I had at the beginning was a slight imbalance with my weight belt (it’s a belt with lead weights to help you sink). It wasn’t a big deal, just made me sway a bit from side to side—felt a bit unstable, haha. I signaled to Tim, who adjusted the weights, and it was much better!

Honestly, we saw quite a few colorful fish, Nemo, and even two small starfish. It was really cool to see all that! Unfortunately, we didn’t spot any rays, but Tim confirmed there are some in Malta. Who knows? You might get lucky and see one! But no sharks in Malta—definitely reassuring, haha.

The fish were hiding in the small bushes—sometimes they’d dart out at the last second, which was a bit surprising, haha. On the seafloor, there was sand, bushes, algae, green aquatic plants, rocks (that’s where the starfish were, among small aquatic flowers). By the way, those flowers were beige-pinkish, just like the starfish. Without Tim, we probably would’ve missed them. Once you’re breathing properly and know how to manage a little water in your mask or regulator, you don’t know where to look next—you want to see everything (though we still followed Tim, haha).

There are little paths between the rocks and visibility is great. You can see the light from the surface and the water is clear, though some areas are just a bit darker. But don’t worry—it’s nowhere near pitch black, haha.

Since Tim could tell we were comfortable in the water, he started showing us even more fish! For example, there were also small gray fish, much harder to spot than the colorful ones. One more thing: the deeper you go, the more pressure you feel in your ears. It feels like take-off and landing in a plane. That should give you a good idea! We took our time equalizing the pressure by pinching our noses and blowing gently. So we really learned the basics well. And what really stood out was this sense of being in a silent, mesmerizing bubble—you totally disconnect and lose track of time.

To give you a better idea of how deep we went, we descended to 6 meters as planned and knelt on the sandy bottom. Honestly, before going, we thought 6 meters sounded like a lot. But in the moment, it felt way less intense than expected. Initially, the dive was supposed to last 30 minutes—that’s what was listed for the activity. In the end, we did almost double that! We completely lost track of time, everything flowed, and we had so much fun. And above all, big thanks to Tim for giving us extra time! You could really tell he’s passionate, and we had a great vibe with him. He said we looked very comfortable in the water and enjoyed the session with us. That’s always nice to hear!

As all good things must come to an end, we wrapped up the session happy with everything we’d seen and experienced! Then we removed all our gear—and let me tell you, that felt amazing, haha. Tim drove us back to the dive center. He’d even offered to drop us off at our hotel, but since we had our car, we didn’t need it. Still, it was super thoughtful of him—it wasn’t even part of the activity!

You can probably guess—we really loved this activity! Honestly, if you want to try diving or get certified, Corsair Diving Malta is a great choice. I’d already read great reviews about them, and now I can confirm them myself. Everything went super smoothly with our instructor, Tim.

There were only two of us, so the instructor could really pay attention and listen to us. He told us he never takes more than five people per dive, so he can take care of everyone properly. So if you’re nervous, don’t worry—you’ll be well taken care of and totally safe! In total, the activity lasted three hours. If you’re interested, it’s also possible to do it over a full day, with a 30-minute dive in the morning and another in the afternoon. That can be a great option if you’re up for it! In any case, I can tell you that after this session, we just wanted to dive again (well, we were also super hungry, haha)! Who knows—maybe we’ll become seasoned divers!

To tell you a bit more about our provider, Corsair Diving Malta—like I mentioned earlier, it’s a small family-run club that’s truly passionate about diving. Plus, its location is perfect: on St. Paul’s Bay, in the northeast of the island. The great thing is it’s close to all the best dive spots. The vibe here is friendly, welcoming, and personal. Whether you’re a beginner or experienced, I’m sure you’ll feel at ease with the team!

Also, the center is a certified PADI 5 IDC*, which means top-notch quality and professionalism. They offer PADI courses from beginner level to instructor training. The gear is high quality, and the facilities are great too… But honestly, what really makes the difference is the welcoming attitude and care from the passionate instructors, who guide small groups (max. 5 people) in complete safety. Personally, I’ll always remember my first dive—it was such a great shared moment!

After our scuba diving experience in Malta, as always, here’s a practical section to share all my tips with you!

If you’re planning to dive in Malta, you’re in the right place! Here are the best dive sites across the whole archipelago:

In Malta, the main island:

• Cirkewwa (at the very north of the island, facing Comino and Gozo): this is simply one of the most well-known spots for scuba diving. The water is full of marine life! If you enjoy wreck diving, the P29 wreck, a former military boat, is nearby.
• Qawra Point Beach: this is where I went diving! The depth here ranges from 5 to 30 meters, so there’s something for every level. Marine life is rich here, with groupers, moray eels, and more! Personally, I think I didn’t dive deep enough to see all of that.
• Anchor Bay (near the famous Popeye Village): you’ve probably seen pictures of this bay with Popeye Village. Let’s agree—the water is stunning—and not just on the surface! There’s plenty of life underwater too.

In Gozo, the sister island:

• Blue Hole: this is a very popular and unmissable dive site! You even pass under a huge natural arch. Underwater, you’ll see beautiful light effects and a super calm atmosphere. In my opinion, this one will definitely be memorable!
• Inland Sea: right next to the Blue Hole, this place is also worth checking out for diving! In the water, you enter a small lagoon connected to the Mediterranean by an 80-meter tunnel. The tunnel depth starts at 6 meters and goes down to 26! Inside, you’ll pass by rocks teeming with marine life. And along the way, you’ll see some truly unique light effects. If you’re experienced, this dive full of sensations is a must!
• Cathedral Cave: as the name suggests, you enter a cave. Don’t worry, the cave ceiling is high. You can surface and you’ll feel like you’re in a bubble, calm and peaceful to enjoy it to the fullest!

In Comino, the island between Malta and Gozo:

• Santa Marija Caves: if you want a fairly easy and relaxing dive with lots of small areas to explore, this is the spot. It’s not very deep and the water is super clear. This was actually my last stop during my boat tour to the Blue Lagoon. I’ll admit, after swimming in the Blue Lagoon with water at 17–18°C, I was freezing, so I didn’t swim at Santa Marija. But if it had been warmer, I would have! Also, there are lots of fish schools and turquoise water.
• Crystal Lagoon: this was the first stop on my boat tour. I really liked it! It’s less famous than the Blue Lagoon, so there are fewer people. The water is clear and crystalline, surrounded by cliffs! Needless to say, the seabed is beautiful to explore.
• Blue Lagoon: as you might guess, I left the Blue Lagoon for last for a reason! It’s the most famous spot, but mostly for swimming or snorkeling! The water is turquoise and you can see clearly underwater. I did a bit of snorkeling by just putting on a mask and snorkel to peek under my feet! For scuba diving, since it’s a very busy spot, it’s a bit more complicated. There are also a lot of boats. If you want to dive here, go off-season and early in the morning to give it a shot!

Let’s be honest, there are lots of dive sites in Malta. And if you’re more into wreck diving, here are a few places to keep in mind: HMS Maori in Valletta (a British WWII destroyer), Um El Faroud near the Blue Grotto, and MV Karwela.

Now that we’ve covered the best dive sites, let’s move on to the best diving clubs in Malta. First off, even though I already mentioned it, I highly recommend Corsair Diving Malta. I tried it myself and fully approve—it’s awesome! They organize dives around Malta, Gozo, and Comino.

As you might guess, there are tons of diving clubs in Malta. Here are a few to consider so you can dive on each island:

• Dive Vision Malta: this dive center is located inside the Riviera Spa Hotel in Marfa Bay, right next to Cirkewwa. Its location is ideal since it’s close to the best dive spots around Malta, Gozo, and Comino. The team gets great reviews and they speak several languages, including French!
• French Touch Diving: as the name suggests, this is a fully French-speaking club based in St. Paul’s Bay. Very convenient if you’re not comfortable with English! You can dive on all three islands. If you want to dive in French and stay stress-free, this is a great choice!
• OK Diving Malta: this is a Spanish-run club, also based in St. Paul’s Bay since 2012! The team offers PADI and SSI training for all levels, in small groups, with a friendly vibe. Bonus: they’ve got great facilities like a heated pool, restaurant, showers, and even a gym. In other words, this place has it all!
• Blue Waters Dive Cove Diving Centre: this is a PADI center with a great reputation, based in Gozo. It’s been around for over 20 years! The club focuses on personalized dives in a safe and relaxing environment. They also offer courses and dives for both beginners and experienced divers.

You can plan a diving trip to Malta at any time of the year, but choosing the best time really depends on what you want. Malta has a Mediterranean climate all year round, but in winter, the water is very cold—around 15°C. If you’re sensitive to the cold, you might want to skip it, haha. It’s still totally doable—you just need to gear up properly. I went in early April and the water was 17 to 18°C. With two wetsuits, it was manageable, but just a heads-up haha.

If you want warmer water, aim for May through October. Visibility is better and all spots will be accessible.
If you want peace and quiet, definitely avoid the summer school holidays. I’d recommend going in May–June or September–October instead. Plus, the weather is just right—neither too hot nor too cold. Just a quick note on winter: it’s a good time for technical training.

In short, you have plenty of options when it comes to timing—just depends on your preference!

For more info on the best time to visit Malta, I recommend reading our article on the topic—you’ll find all the detailed tips there!

Honestly, scuba diving in Malta is quite affordable, especially for the Mediterranean (so go for it, haha). Generally speaking, expect to pay between €35 and €50 for a dive with an instructor. Of course, it depends on the location, duration, gear, and dive center.

If you want to do multiple sessions, packages are really worth it: 4, 6, or 10 dives. That really lowers the cost per dive in Malta. Introductory dives generally cost between €50 and €80. In my case, since I booked for two, it came to €100 total.

As for certifications like the Open Water, prices start around €300. Also, if you’re diving with family or friends, many clubs offer discounts! Bottom line: diving in Malta offers great value for money.

To give you an idea, a dive session in Malta lasts between 2.5 and 4 hours, depending on the distance from the club to the dive site. The dive itself usually lasts between 40 and 60 minutes. It depends on what was planned, air consumption, depth, and the group level.

The total time includes the briefing, equipment setup, travel (by car or boat), and a debrief afterwards. If you’re doing two dives in one day, it’ll usually be one in the morning and one in the afternoon. In any case, the centers are well organized, and everything goes smoothly!

That’s it—I’ve reached the end of this article about scuba diving in Malta! If you’ve never tried it, I hope I’ve inspired you to give it a go. And if you’re already experienced, maybe my story reminded you of your first dive. As for me, I’ll definitely do it again!

Now you’ve got all the details about scuba diving in Malta.

If you’re interested in other activities around here, I recommend quad biking in Gozo—I loved it! Or even snorkeling! There’s so much to do here, and with this Mediterranean climate, take full advantage!

See you soon for more adventures in Malta.

Written by Laura CALLES

Thanks to Mélanie and Sylvain, I had the chance to explore the beautiful Maltese archipelago and share all the beauty of its islands with you. A little piece of paradise not to be missed!

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