The Red Bulletin April 2020

wrecks, reefs and cave systems, line
the calm, crystal-clear waters of its
coastlines, making it perfect for scuba
veterans and first-timers alike. More
than 30 dive schools call these islands
home and offer exceptional value for
money, so an action-packed itinerary
won’t cost you the earth.
With warm waters, unrivalled
visibility and few strong currents,
Malta offers the perfect marine
environment to crack that first
qualification course. The largest two
islands – Malta and Gozo, connected
by a 25-minute ferry ride – host
a breadth of English-speaking dive
centres, where professional PADI and
BSAC staff are ready to introduce the
archipelago’s scuba sites to divers.
Students as young as 10 can earn
a PADI Open Water Diver certificate
after a four-day course.
For those with more experience,
jump into a car (electric rentals and
200 charging points are available
for the eco-conscious traveller) and
explore north Malta’s Qawra Reef,
where lobsters, colourful inveterate
nudibranchs and spider crabs fill the
40m drop-off reef and gaping caves;
head to West Malta’s Sliema Coral
Gardens for a shore dive that’s
packed with canyons, valleys, reefs
and tunnels; and then visit Gozo’s
Cathedral Cave, where light shimmers
celestially through its arch-like
entrance. Reqqa Reef is where
experienced divers drop down a 60m
wall, past overhangs, caves, and the
island’s larger marine residents, such
as morays and groupers.
After a day of adventure beneath
the sea, it’s time for some quality R&R.
The promenade of the idyllic resort
Bugibba is lined with bars and
restaurants, while self-catering early
risers should consider accommodation
in diving paradise Gozo, where you
can view the pristine waters from
the peace and quiet of your own
traditional Gozitan farmhouse.
Spot barracuda in the reefs
of uninhabited islet Filfla
Historic sites
include WWI
battleships and
a 2,700-year
old Phoenician
shipwreck
90 THE RED BULLETIN