Malta
OXYGENE MALTA |
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Welcome to Oxygene Malta! We are a PADI 5* Instructor Development Centre located in the heart of Sliema overlooking the historical city of Valletta. Oxygene Malta offers the full range of PADI & DSAT courses from Bubblemaker to Instructor and every type of diving from recreational to technical and cave diving. Oxygene Malta is a dive centre focusing on quality and safety. We are one of the few dive centres in Malta prioritising boat diving - more convenient access to better sites with less divers. Our boat dives are available 7 days a week from April to November and on demand during other times of the year. Our dive boats visit all of Malta's & Gozo's sites including caves, reefs, wrecks and scenic dives. Shore based diving is available all year round for those who prefer this. Fly Dive is available exclusively at Oxygene Malta where you will be transferred by seaplane between Malta & Gozo experiencing amazing aerial views (below 300m), before boarding our dive boat to discover the beautiful underwater scenery Gozo has to offer. We invite you to come and explore this jewel in the Mediterranean and allow us to take care of your diving holiday. We hope to see you soon. |
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About Malta
About MaltaDeep historical wrecks and excellent visibility combined with a mild winter climate and friendly English speaking locals make Malta one of the most popular diving destinations in the Mediterranean for recreational and technical diving alike.
The diving is among the best in Europe with a visibility commonly reaching 25-30 metres and a water temperature climbing up to 25 degrees. There are plenty of dive sites to choose from ranging from bombers, fighter planes, ships, submarines and various caverns. Depths range from 16 metres and go down to 120 metres but the more adventurists can go further still.
The underwater caverns and formations form spectacular landscapes and on top of this you have a healthy marine life with nudibranchs, barracudas, jacks, breams and sometimes even John Dory’s and seahorses! As if the wartime wrecks are not enough, new wrecks are continuously added – The Rozi, the Um el Faroud and our most recent scuttling, ex-Pasewalk P31 Patrol boat, are only three examples of successfully scuttled wrecks creating attractive artificial reefs. We are happy to arrange packages for individuals and groups – email us for more detailed information!
Check in and medical approval Upon arrival you will be asked to fill in a couple of forms. All these forms are standard forms required by PADI and/or Maltese law. These forms are (click on the names to download):
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Learn to dive
Learn to dive with Oxygene MaltaLearning to dive is easy and almost everyone can do it. Here are some options for beginners:
Why Bubblemaker Experience? What do you need to start? What will you learn?
What will you get at the end of the Bubblemaker Experience?
Why Discover Scuba Diving? What do you need to start?
What will you do? What will you need?
Where can you go from here?
As soon as you Discover Scuba Diving, you're on your way to an internationally recognised certification. That's because you may learn skills used in the PADI Open Water Diver course during your Discover Scuba Diving adventure. If you and your instructor elect to practice these skills, they may be credited toward the PADI Scuba Diver or Open Water Diver certifications.
Why a PADI Scuba Diver? What do I need to start? What will I do? Where can I go from here?
Now is the time to dive into the PADI Open Water Diver course, the most popular programme in the world. This is your ticket to a lifetime of intense adventure with PADI, the dive company that sets the standards in the global diving community. Why PADI Open Water? What do I need to start? What will I do? Where can I go from here? For more information on these courses see our Book here section.
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Go Pro
Get your career into gear and Go Pro with Oxygene Malta! Here at Oxygene Malta we understand that choosing the right dive centre for your Instructor Training is the most important decision you will make prior to entering the diving industry. As a PADI 5* Instructor Development Centre, we can provide you the quality and expertise you should expect and demand during your Instructor Training.
The PADI Divemaster course is the first step to becoming a diving professional. The course is a comprehensive training programme designed to shape and develop the skills and attitudes required to become a Divemaster. PADI Divemaster training develops your leadership abilities by training you to supervise dive activities and assist instructors with student divers. Choosing the right dive centre for you is the most important decision you will make prior to entering the diving industry as a professional educator. Here at Oxygene Malta, we can provide you the quality and expertise you should expect and demand during your future career training. What do I need to start?
What will I do?
What is in the Internship Option? During your internship you will assist in a minimum of two PADI Open Water Diver courses, as well assisting on continuing education courses such as the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver Course and PADI Specialty Diver Courses. You will also gain valuable hands on experience working with our team of Instructors. During your internship, you will be assisting with the day to day logistics, giving dive briefings and guiding dive tours for certified divers. This work experience will not only allow you to reach the 60 logged dives required to be certified as a PADI Divemaster, it will also give you a head start in finding a job in the industry. How long will it take?
What materials are needed?
Where can I go from here?
The IDC is an intensive programme which will prepare you for the Instructor Examination (IE). During 9 days, you will be drilled in various methods of teaching - micro teaching, prescriptive teaching, confined water lessons, theoretical presentations as well as open water lessons. Our new IDC curriculum consists of two parts - the PADI Assistant Instructor (AI) Course and the Open Water Scuba Instructor progamme (OWSI). Successfully completing the AI course earns you the Assistant Instructor rating and allows you to work as Instructional Assistant and independently conduct certain PADI programmes. AI course completion also qualifies you to participate in the OWSI programme which we run in conjunction with our IDC programme. What will I need to start?
IDC Plus Pack |
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Wreck sites
Wreck sitesThe many wars fought in the water surrounding Malta has left many wrecks for us divers. In addition to this, new ones are continually being scuttled - the latest ones in October 2006. |
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HMS Maori Tugboats St. Michael & 10 Lighter X-127 MV Odile P29 Boltenhagen Tugboat Rozi Um el Faroud Bristol Beaufighter |
HMS Hellespont |
| HMS Maori
Level: Maximum Depth: 15 metres |
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| The HMS Maori was a Tribal-class destroyer, built by Fairfield in Govan, England, was launched on 2nd September 1937. During World War II, the HMS Maori was involved in the pursuit and destruction of the enemy German battleship Bismarck in May 1941 and served with the 14th Destroyer Flotilla during the Battle of Cape Bon in December 1941. The HMS Maori was attacked by enemy German aircraft and sank at her moorings in the Grand Harbour on 12 February 1942 with the loss of one of her crew. She was raised and scuttled on 15 July 1945.
Located a few hundred metres from the shore from Valletta, the HMS Maori is now a popular dive site. She lies in white sand at a depth of 16 metres. Much of the bridge and superstructure are still extant, including the front gun base. Much marine life can be found on the wreck. |
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| Tugboats St. Michael & 10
Level: Maximum Depth: |
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| These two tugboats were scuttled as artificial reefs in 1998 off Zonqor Point. The 10 wreck, named because of the still visible No. 10 painted on the wreck, is a 16 metre long intact tugboat. From the stern, you will find the St. Michael tug at less than 50 metres distance. Two nice wrecks suitable for beginners. | |
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Lighter X-127 Level: Maximum Depth: |
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| The Lighter X-127 is reached from the Manoel Island in Marsamxett Harbour. To reach the wreck, divers should swim in a south-westerly direction at any depth between 10-15 metres. The seabed around the wreck is muddy and scattered with objects such as hospital beds, wheel chairs and other objects thrown into the sea during and after the war. The torpedo damage at the stern of the vessel is quite extensive. Throughout the dive, octopus, small groupers and thousands of damselfish are encountered. | |
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MV Odile Level: Maximum Depth: |
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| The MV Odile (also known as the Margit) was an old steam-freighter that sank in course of a bombing attack on April 4, 1943 at Kalkara reef, off Grand Harbour. The wreck was discovered in the late seventies. The hull is in poor condition because it was devastated by the explosions (the bow and the propellers are missing) and lies on its port side. The wreck covers a large area and is difficult to find in poor visibility without local knowledge. It is recommended that only experienced divers actually penetrate the wreck as proper equipment including reels are needed. | |
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P29 Boltenhagen Level: Maximum Depth: |
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| This ex-East German Kondor class minesweeper was built in the 1960's and is 52 meters in length. In 1997 she moved to Malta to carry out various duties including search and rescue before being decommissioned in 2004. In 2005, she was sold to the Malta Tourism Authority making her environmentally safe before scuttling her on 14 August 2007. | |
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Tugboat Rozi Level: Maximum Depth: |
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| In Marfa Point (north of Malta), once can find an old metal jetty and approximately 135 metres out from here lies the tugboat Rozi. The maximum depth of this dive is 36 metres. The Rozi was a 40 metre tug deliberately sunk in 1991 as an underwater attraction for glass-bottomed boat tours. The Rozi sits upright on the sandy seabed, intact except for its engines and propeller. This is one of the most popular dive sites on the Maltese Islands, with much to see and explore. The ship is surrounded by thousands of fish, including seabreams, scorpion fish and cardinal fish. | |
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Um el Faroud Level: Maximum Depth: |
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| The Um El Faroud was sunk in 1998 following a terrible explosion on board that killed nine Maltese dockyard workers. Lying on the sandy seabed southwest of Wied iz-Zurrieq, the Um El Faroud weighs 10,000 tons and is 115 metres long. The depth to the top of the bridge is 18 metres and 25 metres to the main deck. Divers might come across some squid and barracudas at the stem. The port side is usually teeming with large schools of sea breams, parrotfish and silversides. Somtimes one can come across the occasional amberjack and tuna. The wreck can be entered fairly easily, but due to its size, this should be restricted only to divers with advanced wreck diving training. |
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Bristol Beaufighter Level: Maximum Depth: |
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| During World War II, in 1943, the Bristol Beaufighter was flying out of Malta but underwent mechanical failure and crashed. The Beaufighter crash landed in the sea and is still lying in the exact position, at a depth of 37 metres right outside St. Julians. Slightly smaller, shallower and in a brighter condition than the Bomber, the Bristol Beaufighter is a highly regarded dive among our guests. Only 15 minutes by boat from the dive centre off St Julians, this is a treat for the experienced. | |
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HMS Hellespont Level: Maximum Depth: |
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| The HMS Hellespont was a paddle driven steam tug boat which was launched in 1910. She has been in Malta since 1922 until she was bombed on the 17th of September 1940, during World War II. She was repaired and damaged again on the 6/7th of April, 1942. In 1944, she was deemed beyond repair and was towed to her present location outside the Grand Harbour. The Hellespont is a good wreck with plenty to see and she is also historically interesting. | |
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Bristol Blenheim Level: Maximum Depth: |
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| The Bristol Blenheim was a light World War II bomber in the English air force, now lying in the waters of Xorb il-Ghagin. The engines and wings are intact, but the foresection of the fuselage has been smashed off and now lies several metres in front of the main part of the wreckage. This is a non-stop dive to a depth of 42 metres which requires careful planning. The wreck is full of interesting marine life. |
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MV Imperial Eagle Level: Maximum Depth: |
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| The MV Imperial Eagle was one of the ferryboats connecting Malta and Gozo. The hull lays on a sandy bottom at a depth of 42 metres, 300m North-East of Qawra Point. The wide hold is open and the wreck allows an easy and interesting dive. Close by is a statue of Jesus Christ. This 13 ton statue was reallocated here in May 2000. It was originally sunk near St. Paul's Islands and blessed by Pope John Paul in 1990 to protect the fishermen of Malta. | |
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HM Drifter Eddy Level: Maximum Depth: |
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| HM Drifter Eddy was built by A. Hall and was launched as a dredger or drifter on 6th August 1918. This 27m long minesweeper carried out duties for both World Wars but met her doom during WWII while patrolling Malta's harbour waters. While returning from her minesweeping duties, she was struck by an Italian mine and sank. One can see the damage caused by the mine on her starboard side as she lies upright on the seabed. Diving on this wreck is considered dangerous due to its close proximity of the Grand Harbour entrance. | |
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HMS Stubborn Level: Maximum Depth: |
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| HMS Stubborn was an S class submarine of the Royal Naxy, and part of the Third Group built of that class. She was built by Cammell Laird and launched on November 11, 1942. So far, she has been the only ship of the Royal Navy to bear the name Stubborn. Stubborn spent the war in home waters, operating off the Scandinavian coast, and in the Pacific Far East. While on patrol in the Bay of Biscay, she fired torpedoes at a group of three German submarines escorted by two destroyers. The torpedoes however missed their targets and the attack was not observed by the Germans. The submarines were U-180, U-518, U-530. The two escorts were identified by Stubborn as 'Narvik-class' destroyers. HMS Stubborn survived the Second World War and was sunk on April 30, 1946 by the British Navy after suffering extensive damage. | |
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HMS St. Angelo Maximum Depth: |
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| This tug boat was used as harbour transport for Royal Navy officers carrying personnel from St. Angelo to other destinations. During the war it also served for rescue and then as a minesweeper were it hit a mine and sunk. Diving on this wreck is considered dangerous due to its close proximity of the Grand Harbour entrance. | |
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HMS Southwold Level: Maximum Depth: |
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| This 86m long Hunt-class destroyer built in 1941 had a very successful but short life span of about one year, before running into a floating mine. She took part in the historical 'Second Battle of Sirte' and despite being heavily outnumbered, forced the Italians to withdraw. She now lies in two sections, the largest being the bow while the stern is about 300 meters away. | |
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Le Polynesien Maximum Depth: |
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| Le Polynesien is a 19th century passenger liner sunk by a German U-Boat towards the end of World War One. At 152 metres in length and weighing 6659 tons, Le Polynesien is one of the largest wrecks in Malta. The ship is lying upright on the seabed, complete in one piece and not heavily broken up as many ships of this age are. This is a magnificent wreck dive with still many artefacts onboard. Diving Le Polynesien is only suitable for technical divers using Trimix. | |
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Schnellboot S-31 (E-boat) Level: Maximum Depth: |
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| The Schnellboot or S-boot ("fast craft") was a type of German torpedo boat that saw service during World War II. This wreck has its anti-aircraft guns still standing and torpedoes in the tubes. A very intact wreck dived by very few divers. The wreck is deep but for those with mixed gas experience it is a great option. | |
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Source of pictures on this page is unknown, please contact us if you need further information on this. |
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Booking agencies
Booking agenciesThe Oxygene dive centres and liveaboards work with an expanding network of tour operators and travel agents all over the world. They are always ready to help you to put together your dream holiday according to your wishes. Please find your closest tour operator in the list below. For diving, accommodation and flights from Scandinavia contact: Scuba Travel Scandinavia For diving, accomodation and flights from the UK contact: Scuba Travel UK For diving, accomodation and flights from the Belgium contact: Travel and Joy For diving, accomodation and flights from the US and Canada contact: Deep Blue Adventures For diving, accomodation and flights from France and Switzerland contact: Dive Spirit Travel Energy Trip Ultramarina For diving, accomodation and flights from Germany and Austria contact: Reisecenter Federsee For diving, accomodation and flights from the Netherlands contact: Diving Holidays Touria Diving For diving, accomodation and flights from South Africa contact: Scuba Scene |
View our video
View our video Would you like to see what Malta looks like above and below?
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Special Offers
Discover Scuba 4 Free!
Discover Scuba - Just Breathe FREE
Discover Scuba Diving - Explorer the Sea
PADI Scuba Diver course - Open the door to adventrure
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This is the world's most popular instroduction to using scuba. Every day around the world, people are taking the plunge for the first time and now it's your turn! Our PADI Instrurctor will accompany you to our pool along with all the exciting equipment needed to breathe underwater. All you need to bring is your swimmers and a smile! After a brief explanation and a couple of easy skills it's time to just swim around and experience weightlessness!
If Discover Scuba in the pool is not enough for you, then why not discover what it is like to dive the real thing! Continueing on from Discover Scuba, you will be taken into the sea by one of our PADI Instructors and led through a world of colours, shapes and beautiful creatures! On completing your Discover Scuba Diving, not only will you gain credit towards your Scuba Diver course, but also an underwater experience you will never forget! This programme only takes a couple of hours and is usually offered on a daily basis.
Become a qualified diver and transform yourself forever! When you learn to dive PADI at Oxygene Dive Centre, you enjoy the hightest standards for dive training, safety and customer service. Our qualified PADI Instructors will answer any of your questions as you learn all about the exciting equipment you will use to transport yourself to the underwater world. Once in the pool you will be under the direct supervision of our Instructgor who will lead you through the skills that will help you build the confidence to head out into the oceans to explore pristine reefs, coral gardens and wrecks. Did you know that this can be completed in a single weekend?