TechWise

Interest Reef Popularity Low Depth 10+m (avg), 20+m (max) Qualification Beginner Shore access Medium Location 35.9247°N 14.4972°E (Exact) Merkanti Reef is a shallow dive site off St. Julian’s on the northeastern coast of Malta. The dive can be done without going deeper than 10-12 metres, although it is possible to find depths over 20 metres. Merkanti Reef consists of two parts that are parallel to the shore and each other. The top of both is just reaching the surface and there is marker pole on the farther. Around the two parts of the reef and in the canyon between them are many small overhangs, crevices, nooks and crannies, where divers find a variety of marine life. Merkanti Reef is located about 150 metres from the nearest shore and approximately 300 metres from the entry/exit point. Diving this offshore reef can be done either by boat or from the shore, which requires quite long surface swim or underwater navigation. Entry/exit point for a shore dive is in a small bay between Westin Dragonara and Hilton Malta, near Merkanti Beach Club. When diving Merkanti Reef, beware of the boat traffic and carry a DSMB.

In Portomaso Marina, just in the heart of San Julians. The reef starts at 4 meters and it goes up tp 18 on the sandy bottom. The shallowest part is on the west side of the reef.

The most recent ship to become an artificial reef / wreck around Malta’s waters is the Tug Boat 2. It is located off the shore in Sliema, round Exiles area. The tugboat was officially working within the Grand Harbour of Valletta. In June of 2013 she was scuttled, forming an attraction and artificial reef for everyone to enjoy. Lying upright, it is positioned at 22m deep and 25m north from where the diver’s entry point is located. The wrecks specifications have it at 9.5m 30m in length not including the mast. In October of 2016 there was a strom which moved the Tug 2 from it’s original position which was parallel to the reef on the sand, about 20m in distance. It is now smahsed up into the reef, bow first. On a positive note, the wreck is very much penetrable, since it was sunk after all the damaging elements of the boat were removed. One can swim through the wheelhouse and the engine room. It is quite the interesting wreck! It is one of the few wrecks around Malta that is at a shallow depth which is great for all levels of diving with easy access to it. Other shallow wrecks like the Tug 2 are the HMS Maori in Valletta and the X127 which is located near Manoel Island. Great for navigation and dive lead training, and makes for a great night wreck dive. Tug Boat History Built by the Malta Drydocks for the Chinese Government in 1975, the Tug Boat 2 weighed in at 141 tons, 30m in length with a 7.5m beam and 15.24m in height which includes the mast. It was originally named Tuo Lun Er Hao and was registered in Teintsin, China. However, her working life had still been spent in Malta. The Tug 2 and her sister had worked together building Dock No. 6. It was called the China Dock Project, which was part-financed by the Chinese Government. The names of both the Tug 2 and her sister were changed from their Chinese names and renamed to Tug 1 and 2. Tug 2 Wreck Guide Interest – Reef & Wreck Popularity – High Depth – 15m (avg), 25m (max) Qualification – Advanced Shore access – Easy Location – 35.9211°N 14.4991°E (Approx)

Tug2 was a tugboat working in Grand Harbour of Valletta. Was scuttled in June 2013 to form an artificial reef and an attraction for divers. She was originally sunk on the sand parallel to the reef some 20m distance, but a storm moved her in October 2016, and the wreck is now crashed into the reef, bow first.

Bristol Beaufighter is a World War II airplane wreck dive in Malta. The plane was a twin-engine two-seat heavy fighter, about 12.6m in length with 17.6m wingspan. On 17th March 1943 soon after takeoff, this Beaufighter experienced mechanical problems, and the crew had to ditch the plane in the sea.

Interest Cave & Reef Popularity High Depth 5+m (avg), 15+m (max) Qualification Beginner Shore access Easy Location 35.9151°N 14.5089°E (Exact) Fortizza Reef is a shore dive site located off the seaside promenade in Sliema, northeast coast of Malta. The shallow reef is full of caverns, tunnels, arches, overhangs, valleys, gullies and interesting rock formations for divers to explore. Fortizza Reef also has a surprising amount of marine life, and is an excellent place for underwater photography. This reef site is good for practising navigational skills, both with a compass and by underwater pilotage. Fortizza Reef is suitable dive site for all levels of divers, with maximum depth of the dive around 15 metres. Fortizza Reef and adjacent Coral Gardens are also known as Sliema House Reef.