Malta
One Breath Freediving is based on the beautiful Mediterranean island of Malta. Here is some information about what the Maltese islands have to offer:
"Megaliths, medieval dungeons and Calypso's Cave – The Maltese Islands are positively mythic. The narrow meandering streets of their towns and villages lead to the main square, which is invariably dominated by the huge baroque church. As the countryside is dotted with medieval towers, wayside chapels and the oldest known human structures in the world, the Islands have rightly been described as an open-air museum.
The Maltese archipelago lies virtually at the centre of the Mediterranean, 93 km south of Sicily and 288 km north of Africa. The archipelago consists of three islands: Malta, Gozo and Comino with a total population of over 400,000 inhabitants occupying an area of 316 square kilometers.
"Megaliths, medieval dungeons and Calypso's Cave – The Maltese Islands are positively mythic. The narrow meandering streets of their towns and villages lead to the main square, which is invariably dominated by the huge baroque church. As the countryside is dotted with medieval towers, wayside chapels and the oldest known human structures in the world, the Islands have rightly been described as an open-air museum.
The Maltese archipelago lies virtually at the centre of the Mediterranean, 93 km south of Sicily and 288 km north of Africa. The archipelago consists of three islands: Malta, Gozo and Comino with a total population of over 400,000 inhabitants occupying an area of 316 square kilometers.
Malta is the largest island and the cultural, commercial and administrative centre. Gozo is the second largest island and is more rural, characterised by fishing, tourism, crafts and agriculture. Comino, the smallest of the trio, has one hotel and is largely uninhabited.
With superbly sunny weather, attractive beaches, a thriving nightlife and 7,000 years of intriguing history, there is a great deal to see and do."
"The Maltese Islands' clear blue Mediterranean sea is ideal for diving. All three Islands offer some unique diving experiences with an abundance of reefs, caves and wrecks that make diving here some of the most interesting in the Mediterranean.
The calmness and clarity of the sea makes for excellent visibility whilst the risk of encountering dangerous fish is extremely low, creating the ultimate diving conditions."
- Malta Tourism Authority
With superbly sunny weather, attractive beaches, a thriving nightlife and 7,000 years of intriguing history, there is a great deal to see and do."
"The Maltese Islands' clear blue Mediterranean sea is ideal for diving. All three Islands offer some unique diving experiences with an abundance of reefs, caves and wrecks that make diving here some of the most interesting in the Mediterranean.
The calmness and clarity of the sea makes for excellent visibility whilst the risk of encountering dangerous fish is extremely low, creating the ultimate diving conditions."
- Malta Tourism Authority
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Dive Sites
MALTA
(1) Cirkewwa: The first choice of dive site in Malta. Clear blue water, deep wrecks, reefs with swim-through's and stunning drop-off's from 6m down to 35m+, all just metres from shore. One large arch and lots of smaller ones. Lots to see and do at this beautiful location.
(2) Anchor Bay: The site of 'Popeye Village' from the movie (1980), a surreal view of natural landscape and cartoon style film set. Shallow depths of 10-16m that are great for exploring, and also the home of a secret cave that can be accessed!
(3) Ghar Lapsi: Varied underwater topography of sand, rocks and sea grass, and interesting and diverse marine life. A great place to see stingrays. Average depth of 12m.
(4) Blue Grotto: A great alternative to Cirkewwa to access depth. Clear blue water with depths of over 30m and stunning reef walls. Also home of Um El Faroud, a 115m long oil tanker wreck. Can experience strong surface currents, so definitely for the more experienced freediver.
(5) Zonqor Point: Home of two scuttled tug boats, a good option when there is strong NW wind. Depths of up to 20m, close to shore. An interesting area to explore.
(6) HMS Maori, Valletta: Former British navy destroyer, hit by a German bomb during WWII and the wreck that is left is now in a bay close to shore. Not much remains of the ship, but interesting to explore. Visibility is not always good here.
(7) Exiles, Sliema: Great location for beginners with 10+m depth close to shore in the sheltered bay. Also home to Tug 2 wreck, a worthwhile 10 minute surface swim out from shore, the wreck is visible from the surface at 12m-20m deep!
(8) Imperial Eagle/Christ Statue, Qawra: One for the experienced freedivers, accessed by boat, this is a real treat. Freedive over the famous statue of Christ and the ex-Gozo ferry at depths of up to 42m.
(9) Qawra Point: Easy access from the north of the island, a great location with a natural pool for Static and Dynamic diving, and access of up to 18m depth extremely close to shore. Also a cave and tunnel to be explored.
(10) St. Paul's Bay / Fekruna: Close to St. Paul's Island, Roman era bathing pools which are perfect to do static training. And on the other side of the main bay, a picturesque bay, very sheltered, with 10m depth. Great for beginners.
(11) L'Ahrax Point: NE tip of Malta, features an open topped cave and lots of large boulders and very interesting, and more remote area to explore. Depths of a few metres to 25m+.
(1) Cirkewwa: The first choice of dive site in Malta. Clear blue water, deep wrecks, reefs with swim-through's and stunning drop-off's from 6m down to 35m+, all just metres from shore. One large arch and lots of smaller ones. Lots to see and do at this beautiful location.
(2) Anchor Bay: The site of 'Popeye Village' from the movie (1980), a surreal view of natural landscape and cartoon style film set. Shallow depths of 10-16m that are great for exploring, and also the home of a secret cave that can be accessed!
(3) Ghar Lapsi: Varied underwater topography of sand, rocks and sea grass, and interesting and diverse marine life. A great place to see stingrays. Average depth of 12m.
(4) Blue Grotto: A great alternative to Cirkewwa to access depth. Clear blue water with depths of over 30m and stunning reef walls. Also home of Um El Faroud, a 115m long oil tanker wreck. Can experience strong surface currents, so definitely for the more experienced freediver.
(5) Zonqor Point: Home of two scuttled tug boats, a good option when there is strong NW wind. Depths of up to 20m, close to shore. An interesting area to explore.
(6) HMS Maori, Valletta: Former British navy destroyer, hit by a German bomb during WWII and the wreck that is left is now in a bay close to shore. Not much remains of the ship, but interesting to explore. Visibility is not always good here.
(7) Exiles, Sliema: Great location for beginners with 10+m depth close to shore in the sheltered bay. Also home to Tug 2 wreck, a worthwhile 10 minute surface swim out from shore, the wreck is visible from the surface at 12m-20m deep!
(8) Imperial Eagle/Christ Statue, Qawra: One for the experienced freedivers, accessed by boat, this is a real treat. Freedive over the famous statue of Christ and the ex-Gozo ferry at depths of up to 42m.
(9) Qawra Point: Easy access from the north of the island, a great location with a natural pool for Static and Dynamic diving, and access of up to 18m depth extremely close to shore. Also a cave and tunnel to be explored.
(10) St. Paul's Bay / Fekruna: Close to St. Paul's Island, Roman era bathing pools which are perfect to do static training. And on the other side of the main bay, a picturesque bay, very sheltered, with 10m depth. Great for beginners.
(11) L'Ahrax Point: NE tip of Malta, features an open topped cave and lots of large boulders and very interesting, and more remote area to explore. Depths of a few metres to 25m+.
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COMINO
(12) Lantern Point: Want a deeper session on your Comino trip? Lantern point offers over 30m of depth with an abundance of marine life and an extremely interesting reef. Steep drop-offs and sometimes strong current.
(13) P-31 Wreck: Sitting on the sand at 20m and only 10m from the surface, the P-31 wreck is great fun for freedivers. All doors are off and it has been cleaned up to make an artificial reef / dive site. Clear blue water makes this wreck visible before you even enter the sea! Boat dive only.
(14) Sultan Rock: Where in 1889, battleship HMS Sultan ran aground. The wreck has since been salvaged, so not much remains, but very interesting location to explore. Maximum depth, 18m.
(15) Santa Marija Caves: Beautiful blue water and sandy bottom with an abundance of friendly fish that like to be fed. Not deep, but with unique underwater caves and rock formations, a great fun diving location accessed by boat.
(12) Lantern Point: Want a deeper session on your Comino trip? Lantern point offers over 30m of depth with an abundance of marine life and an extremely interesting reef. Steep drop-offs and sometimes strong current.
(13) P-31 Wreck: Sitting on the sand at 20m and only 10m from the surface, the P-31 wreck is great fun for freedivers. All doors are off and it has been cleaned up to make an artificial reef / dive site. Clear blue water makes this wreck visible before you even enter the sea! Boat dive only.
(14) Sultan Rock: Where in 1889, battleship HMS Sultan ran aground. The wreck has since been salvaged, so not much remains, but very interesting location to explore. Maximum depth, 18m.
(15) Santa Marija Caves: Beautiful blue water and sandy bottom with an abundance of friendly fish that like to be fed. Not deep, but with unique underwater caves and rock formations, a great fun diving location accessed by boat.
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GOZO
(16) Three Wrecks: Home of three scuttled wrecks in close proximity (Cominoland, Karwela and Xlendi), this location offers depths of 40m+ and shelter from NW winds. Reef drops away quickly and very close to shore.
(17) Blue Hole: A simply stunning location for freediving with the 'Azure Window' and 'Blue Hole' both accessible. Diving down to 10m we can go through the Blue Hole and into the surrounding blue sea. Depths of 50m+ make this perfect for advanced freedivers and depth training as well as beginners.
(17) Inland Sea: The inland sea is a tunnel that takes you out through the cliffs and into the open sea with steep cliffs towering above you, it is extremely impressive. Depths of 50m+ below and interesting caves to enter. Needs good weather, but on the right day we can swim all the way around to the Azure Window and Blue Hole.
(18) Marsalforn / Reqqa Point: Depth very close to shore and interesting boulders and rock formations, such as the'Double Arch'. A good alternative to the Blue Hole.
(19) Xlendi: A very picturesque bay that is sheltered and offers 25m depth very close to shore as well as an interesting tunnel and reef area to explore.
Plus many more secret locations!
(16) Three Wrecks: Home of three scuttled wrecks in close proximity (Cominoland, Karwela and Xlendi), this location offers depths of 40m+ and shelter from NW winds. Reef drops away quickly and very close to shore.
(17) Blue Hole: A simply stunning location for freediving with the 'Azure Window' and 'Blue Hole' both accessible. Diving down to 10m we can go through the Blue Hole and into the surrounding blue sea. Depths of 50m+ make this perfect for advanced freedivers and depth training as well as beginners.
(17) Inland Sea: The inland sea is a tunnel that takes you out through the cliffs and into the open sea with steep cliffs towering above you, it is extremely impressive. Depths of 50m+ below and interesting caves to enter. Needs good weather, but on the right day we can swim all the way around to the Azure Window and Blue Hole.
(18) Marsalforn / Reqqa Point: Depth very close to shore and interesting boulders and rock formations, such as the'Double Arch'. A good alternative to the Blue Hole.
(19) Xlendi: A very picturesque bay that is sheltered and offers 25m depth very close to shore as well as an interesting tunnel and reef area to explore.
Plus many more secret locations!
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