DIVING IN MALTA

by Paul Wright

We are a small SAA diving club based in Essex. Last year I was "persuaded" to arrange a holiday for club members. After much discussion we decided to visit Malta. Looking through several dive magazines we decided to try Maltaqua. The reason for this was that they were well established and offered the whole holiday package, flights accommodation as well as diving.

After looking at the extremely comprehensive Maltaqua website www.maltaqua.com I sent an email to the owner Agnes Upton enquiring about the possibility of a holiday with them. From that very first email I can only describe the service as excellent. Agnes could not do enough to help me arrange the holiday, which was a great help as I had to cater for divers with different levels of experience, some of whom wanted to take their wives and children on holiday with them. After quite a few further emails backwards and forwards the holiday was arranged with no problems whatsoever.

When the time for the holiday came we arrived at Malta airport and were met by drivers and minibuses that Agnes had arranged for us. We were taken to the Sands apartment block which is owned by Maltaqua and is only 100m from the dive centre. In all we had 3 apartments, the penthouse which sleeps 6 people and 2 four bedroom apartments. When we entered our rooms we could not believe it, the rooms were immaculately clean, very spacious and comfortable, far better than we had expected. There was even a selection of food in the villas to get us started. In the basement of the apartment block we found purpose built equipment washing facilities, each villa having a designated secure cage where equipment could be left to dry.

After we had settled ourselves in we made our way to the dive shop to sort out the diving. I can honestly say that during my travels I have never been in such an efficiently run and friendly dive centre. The staff were excellent. Once they had checked our medicals (something that is very important in Malta) and our diving qualifications, we were able to book whatever diving we wanted to do. The party was split into different groups depending on ability, and the each had instructors / guides appointed to them. I had decided to get some PADI qualifications to run alongside my SAA qualifications during my stay, and I had a PADI Course Director looking after me all week. All the staff were brilliant, extremely friendly, very professional (but fun), and excellent at their jobs.
As you probably know, Malta is mainly shore based diving, and Maltaqua have a fleet of very well maintained open back vehicles which take divers to the dive sites. There was plenty of room in these for all the equipment, divers and non-divers if they wanted to come along for the ride. It is also worth mentioning that these vehicles are kept spotlessly clean.

Maltaqaua operates a "small group pledge" and throughout the week there was never more that 4 divers to one instructor. As it was quite early in the season I was lucky enough to have an instructor to myself for every PADI course I did. This I found incredible, as the dive centre could have quite easily have said it was not worth them running the courses for me alone. This I feel illustrates the Maltaqua attitude that they will do whatever they can to make their customers happy.


The diving itself was brilliant, the waters were clear and warm (compared to what we are use to in England). As well as some interesting reefs, Malta has some excellent wrecks. I visited the Rozi which is a tug boat in approx 30m and El Faroud which is 110m tanker in about the same depth. Both can only be described as awesome. The dive centre also arranged trips to Gozo and Comino which I did not go on myself due to my heavy course schedule, but I understand from other club members that the diving was excellent with lots of marine life. Maltaqua also arrange 3 night dives a week all of which I went on, these were also very well run and fun diving.

The week went too quickly for everyone. But throughout our stay, Agnes and her superb team catered for our ever need. The could not do enough for us and everyone had a brilliant time.

I would unreservedly recommend Maltaqua to anyone. The whole holiday was a 100% enjoyable experience thanks to Agnes and the Maltaqua staff.