Two years ago, the Underwater Cultural Heritage Unit (UCHU), with support from the Malta Tourism Authority, granted us the necessary authorizations to explore historically rich wrecks. Taking advantage of this opportunity (see Dive! No. 25), we organized a second expedition last fall, with a reinforced team, and discovered other fascinating sites, located between 75 and 115 meters deep. The highlight: for three of these wrecks, we were the first French divers to explore them!
Malta: A Historic Hotspot for Tek Diving
From the era of the Knights of Malta to World War II, this history-rich island, located south of Sicily, is a popular tourist destination for leisure divers. In fact, on July 31, 2021, a new patrol boat wreck, the P33, was intentionally sunk to become an artificial reef, delighting divers of all levels. During the 39-45 conflict, the island was the scene of intense battles, becoming the most bombed location in the Mediterranean during attempts at Italian and German invasions. That’s why many war wrecks lie around the island.
For tek divers, no less than fifteen deep wrecks from the First and Second World Wars are now accessible. Thanks to the work of Heritage Malta (the Maltese national agency for museums, cultural heritage, and building conservation), these wrecks have been preserved and protected.
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