Malta is a true tourist paradise. Mild climate , gentle sun, clear sea, ancient culture - all this attracts annually about 1 million tourists from different parts of the world. Despite its small size, this country will surprise you not only with the typical beach rest , cultural and leisure program with visiting museums and popular historical places, Malta is a real find for active tourists: yachting, windsurfing, diving is what is rightfully can be proud of the island.
Diving (scuba diving, diving) is the most popular activity in Malta. Divers from different corners of the planet claim that for one dive into the transparent Maltese waters it is worth to fly to Malta. The archipelago attracts unique terrain relief, clear clear water, rich underwater world, due to which both a sophisticated diver and a beginner scuba diver will find for themselves unforgettable places of diving.
Weather
A pleasant surprise may be the fact that diving in Malta is a year-round occupation. If the main goal of your visit to Malta is diving, then you can plan your vacation, considering this fact, thus avoiding seasonal influx of tourists. In the summer months, the water temperature in the sea is about 23 ° C, and in winter it hardly drops below 14 ° C. The Maltese islands have almost no tides and are very rare underwater currents, which makes diving not only fascinating, but also very comfortable.
The sea off the coast of Malta
Clear clear sea and good visibility are the guarantee of an excellent dive. Thanks to good ecology in numerous grottoes and faults of Maltese waters, you will meet representatives of rare species of fauna and flora, which you can hardly find anywhere else in other places of the Mediterranean. Usually a scuba diver can meet here such fish as: Mediterranean grouper, mullet, moray eel, stingray, flounder and many others. Octopus, squid, lobsters, starfish, cuttlefish and crabs are also very common on the way with a scuba diver; on the contrary, dolphins practically do not occur to a diver.
The average visibility depends on the place of immersion, the weather and is about 30-50 m at a depth of 20-30 m. This is enough for fans of underwater shooting, and even without a flash you will be pleased with the juicy natural colors in the photo. Every year the island hosts an international competition of underwater photography - "Blue Dolphin of Malta", which gathers lovers of the underwater world from all over the world.
Underwater World of Malta
Scuba divers will appreciate the rocky terrain of the coast, deep grottoes, tunnels, arches and caves deep beneath the water. The beauty of coral reefs. Fans of sunken ships can also find what to see - diving schools can offer you some interesting places to dive.
Completely different eyes on the underwater world and its inhabitants, a diver will help look at the night dive. Underwater world opens on the other side under the rays of lanterns, night animals are activated, which you will never see in the daytime.
Diving schools
In Malta, a large selection of dive centers, offering a wide range of courses: from entry level to upgrading the skills of divers to the title of instructor. Control over the maintenance of international standards of education in diving schools is carried out by the independent professional organization Association of Professional Diving Schools. For training, you can choose one of the favorite schools in Malta or Gozo . When choosing a school, pay attention to the time of work - some schools recruit students only in the summer. Only qualified instructors with relevant certificates are eligible to teach in dive centers. Courses are conducted on the systems PADI, CMAS and BSAC, after the courses are issued certificates and registration books dives. Course duration - from one day.
If you are not going to seriously engage in scuba diving, then for a dive with an instructor you will be enough to listen to general instructions.
Requirements for divers
In Malta, there are a number of rules for divers, without respect of which diving into the sea will become impossible, the main ones:
- The physical health of the diver must be confirmed by a medical certificate. This applies to people who are immersed in the company of an instructor, and independent divers. Help can be obtained from the school.
- It is forbidden underwater hunting without a license.
- Information on any archaeological or historical finds is reported, it is forbidden to confiscate a find.
Popular dive sites
- Malta: Martha / Cirkewwa, statue of Madonna, Delimara Point and Enker Bay, Weed from Zurric.
- Gozo : Cave and reef Shlendi, Fungus Rock, Marsalfon.
- Comino : Ir 'and' a Point, Santa Maria Caves, Blue Lagoon.
The cost of a dive will depend on the school, equipment and dive site chosen.
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