With wrecks being constantly located, Malta is and will be regarded as a diver’s heaven and amongst the world’s best diving destinations.
• The British ‘S’ class Submarine HMS Stubborn lays upright and intact in 57 metres of water on a sand seafloor about a mile out of St. Paul’s Bay.
• The remains of a German ‘E’ Boat which came to grief whilst laying sea-mines just outside the harbour at Marsascala, resting in 40 metres of water.
• A 19th century paddle-steamer - HMS Hellespont used by the allies during the 1940’s can be found upright and intact on the seabed in about 50 metres of water out of Grand Harbour.
• Close by, the Admiral of the Fleet Barge HMS St. Angelo which also lies upright and intact on a sand/gravel seabed at a similar depth. In the same area and similar depth the Minesweeper HMS Eddy and a cable layer are perfectly preserved wrecks.
• For many years a few privileged divers had ventured to dive the wreck of a Blenheim Bomber aircraft out of Marsascala in 40 metres of water and then wandered to the resting places of the many allied and axis aircraft that were known to have entered the sea close to shore.
• In the last months of 2004 the wreck of a British Bristol Beaufighter aircraft was relocated (after its initial discovery in the 1970’s) some 500 metres out of Sliema in just under 40 metres of water. The aircraft was ditched after the pilot experienced problems after taking off from Luqa Airfield en-route for a raid on shipping in Sicilian waters. Both crewmembers escaped unharmed.
• Ongoing is the search for a WW2 Spitfire and Fairey Battle both of which have been pinpointed but require further in-depth investigation.
• For the advanced diver, the giant passenger-liner Polynesian lays on a sloping seabed some 3 miles out from Marsascala. This massive wreck was sent to the seafloor after encountering enemy action during 1917 and is rarely dived.
