The Red Bulletin April 2020

THE RED BULLETIN PROMOTION
The minesweeper
HMD Trusty Star is
one of many WWII
wreck sites in the
waters around Malta
Dive into history with
Heritage Malta
These archaeological parks
protect the past
Enabling the next generation to witness
the fascinating sights beneath the waves
is a priority in Malta. With a range of
historic and ancient sunken landmarks
to explore, from WWI battleships to a
2,700-year-old Phoenician shipwreck –
the oldest in the central Mediterranean
– the Underwater Cultural Heritage
Unit (UCHU) and Heritage Malta have
established underwater archaeological
parks to responsibly conserve the
region’s precious sites. But there’s no
need to strike them from your bucket
list: a visit can be arranged through
UCHU’s dive centres for technical divers.
Thanks to its position in the
Mediterranean, Malta has long been
an important strategic base. Now, the
sheer number of historic wreck sites
around its coastline make it one of the
best places in the world for deep-water
wreck diving. Divers with the necessary
technical ability are spoilt for choice
when it comes to exploring sites of
historic importance, but whether you
have a couple of days or a few weeks,
an unforgettable underwater
adventure is all but guaranteed.
Five protected wrecks
Unmissable sights at unique sites
Fairey Swordfish
Around 5km off the coast of Sliema,
northeast Malta, at a depth of 65m, lie
the remains of the Fairey Swordfish,
a British biplane from the 1930s. After
engine failure back in 1934, the pilot
was rescued by off-duty RAF personnel,
but the plane sank. The wreck was
discovered in 2017 and is now a
welcome home to plant and marine life.
HMD Trusty Star
This British minesweeper met her end
in 1942, during WWII, after being hit
by a mine herself. Now, trimix divers
with the required permit are able to
explore the mostly intact 26m-long
wreck, 3km off Fort St Elmo in Valletta.
JU88
Shot down during the Second Siege of
Malta in 1943, this Junkers 88 bomber
rests north of St Paul’s Bay, at a depth
of 55m. Though the tail has broken off,
the plane is in pretty good condition,
and varied marine life can be seen here.
SS Polynesien
At 152.5m long, this 19th-century
passenger ship – sunk by a German
U-boat in WWI – is one of Malta’s most
substantial wrecks. Divers possessing
the necessary permit will be rewarded
with an up-close look at the ship, which
retains a significant number of artefacts.
Schnellboot S-31
Located near Valletta’s Grand Harbour,
at a depth of around 65m, this WWII
motor torpedo boat sank in 1942 after
hitting a mine, but the frame remains
fully intact. Divers can see the original
engines, propellers, and even the
torpedoes the vessel carried on board.
For information on more sites and
permit requests, visit: heritagemalta.
org/underwater-cultural-heritage-unit
The SS Polynesien
– near Marsaskala,
eastern Malta – is a
godsend for divers,
still housing many
original artefacts
BUCKET-LIST
DIVES
Stunning undersea
views for scuba fans
Blue Hole, Gozo
This is one of Malta’s most
famous and popular dive sites
– for good reason. Descend
through a gigantic underwater
rock arch, explore a natural
limestone sinkhole, and
encounter a reef that’s filled
with all manner of fantastic
marine life, from tuna and
parrotfish to lobster, octopus
and moray eels.
Statue of Christ,
Qawra
In search of a miracle? Bear
witness to Alfred Camilleri
Cauchi’s 3m-tall statue of
Jesus Christ – named Kristu
tal-Bahhara, or Christ of the
Sailors – on the Maltese seabed
off Qawra Point.
Azure Reef, Gozo
This site was created from the
remains of a limestone archway
known as the Azure Window,
which collapsed in 2017. With
movement in the rock, the reef
is still evolving and marine life
multiplying. The honey-coloured
rock formations look striking
against an azure backdrop.
Filfla
Once used by the Royal Navy
for target practice, the drop-off
reefs on this uninhabited islet
offer an encounter with one
of the archipelago’s largest
predators: the barracuda.
Inland Sea and
Tunnel, Gozo
Leave behind the limestone
cliffs of the Inland Sea natural
lagoon for an adventure inside
this 80m tunnel filled with
cardinal fish, John Dory,
Spotted Doris and more.
THE RED BULLETIN 91