SSI Diamond ITC Est. 1992 MTA DIVE/0022 Malta, Gozo, Comino

Diving courses
in Malta

From your first breath underwater to XR Hypoxic Trimix at 100 metres. diveshack has run diving courses in Malta since 1992 as an SSI Diamond Instructor Training Centre, the highest rating SSI awards. Whether you're starting out or going deeper, the pathway is clear.

34 Years in Malta
Diamond SSI ITC Rating
20+ Courses Offered
3 Islands: Malta, Gozo, Comino
Year-round Training Availability
20m+ Avg. Visibility

Find your level. Plan your progression.

Every diver starts somewhere. Every diver can go further. diveshack runs all three SSI pathways: recreational, technical, and professional. You never have to change training centre as your diving evolves.

REC Recreational
Try Scuba No cert required · Single session
↓ leads to
Basic Diver Age 8+ · Entry certification · 4 dives
↓ leads to
Open Water Diver Age 10+ · 4 dives · 3-4 days
↓ leads to
Advanced Open Water OW certified · 5 dives · 2 days
↓ leads to
Deep Diver AOW certified · 40m max
+ add ons
Enriched Air Nitrox OW certified · Extends bottom time
Stress and Rescue Diver AOW recommended · Emergency skills
Wreck Diver OW certified · Wreck penetration skills
Perfect Buoyancy OW certified · Trim and buoyancy control
Night Diver OW certified · Night and limited visibility
Navigation Diver OW certified · Compass and natural nav
Underwater Photography OW certified · Camera skills underwater
Recreational Sidemount OW certified · Sidemount configuration
Cavern and Cenote Diving AOW recommended · Overhead environments
Malta Triple Specialty Malta-specific · Three specialties combined
TEC Technical XR
XR Extended Range Foundations Doubles · Basic deco · 45m · Entry to XR
+ add ons
XR Nitrox Diving Foundations level · Extended range nitrox
Technical Extended Range Foundations level · Decompression techniques
XR Sidemount Diving Foundations level · Sidemount XR configuration
↓ leads to
XR Extended Range Trimix Introduces helium · Normoxic mix · 60m
↓ leads to
XR Hypoxic Trimix 80 Hypoxic bottom mix · 80m
↓ leads to
XR Hypoxic Trimix 100 Full tec · 100m · Advanced deco
↓ or combine both
XR Hypoxic Trimix Combo 80m + 100m in one programme
+ specialties
XR Extended Range Wreck Overhead penetration · Add-on at any XR level
Technical Wreck Diving Full penetration · Advanced wreck techniques
PRO Professional
Dive Guide / Divemaster First pro rating · Lead dive groups
↓ leads to
Assistant Instructor Teach confined water skills
↓ leads to
Open Water Instructor Full teaching certification · IE required
+ training centre
Weekend ITC: March 2026 SSI Diamond ITC · Spaces limited
Taught by SSI Diamond ITC diveshack · Est. 1992 · MTA DIVE/0022
Recreational Courses

Start here. Go further.

Never dived before? Good. That's exactly where we want you. All recreational courses are SSI internationally certified with no expiry date.

Beginner · No cert

Try Scuba

One session. Confined water. No certification required. Try scuba diving in Malta to see if you like it before committing to a full course.

From €65 single session
Book it
Beginner · Age 10+

Open Water Diver

The world-standard entry certification. 4 open water dives in Malta, complete eLearning, internationally valid. From zero to certified diver in 3-4 days.

€520 course + eLearning
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Intermediate · OW cert

Advanced Open Water

5 adventure dives across deep diving, navigation, and three specialty dives of your choice. Unlocks Malta's deeper wrecks and sites to 30m.

€453 course + eLearning
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Add-on · OW cert

Enriched Air Nitrox

Dive longer. Nitrox extends no-decompression limits on repetitive dives, especially useful on Malta's multi-dive liveaboard and day-trip schedules.

From €205 course + eLearning
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Intermediate · AOW cert

Stress and Rescue Diver

The most rewarding course most divers say they've done. Scenario-based rescue skills, diver management, and self-rescue. A must before any leadership rating.

From €322 course + eLearning
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Specialty · AOW cert

Wreck Diver

Malta has some of the best wreck diving in the Mediterranean. This specialty covers wreck navigation, penetration safety, and line techniques on real wrecks.

From €285 course + eLearning
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Bundle · AOW cert

Malta Triple Specialty

Deep Diver + Wreck Diver + Enriched Air Nitrox in one 4-day package. Built around Malta's wrecks. Best value for divers who want to go further, faster.

Bundle contact for pricing
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Also available: Perfect Buoyancy, Night Diver, Navigation Diver, Underwater Photography, Recreational Sidemount, Cavern / Cenote Diving, Basic Diver

Technical Diving

Where recreational ends, we begin.

Malta has 100m+ wrecks that very few dive centres in the world can access. diveshack's SSI XR technical pathway takes qualified divers all the way from open-circuit Extended Range to Hypoxic Trimix at depth. We dive these sites ourselves. We know what training is needed to do it safely.

Technical XR Courses

The full SSI XR pathway.

Tec Entry · Deep cert

XR Extended Range Foundations

The entry point to technical diving. Doubles configuration, basic decompression, 45m. Required before all XR courses. Run in Malta's open water.

Contact us for pricing
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Technical · Introduces helium · 60m

XR Extended Range Trimix

The step into helium gas. Normoxic trimix blends, planned decompression to 60m. Prerequisite for XR Hypoxic Trimix 80. Run on Malta's mid-water wrecks.

Contact us for pricing
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Technical · Hypoxic mix · 80m

XR Hypoxic Trimix 80

Helium-oxygen bottom mix, planned dives to 80m. Opens Malta's deepest accessible wrecks. One of the most sought-after tec certifications in the Mediterranean.

Contact us for pricing
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Advanced Tec · 100m · Trimix 80 prereq

XR Hypoxic Trimix 100

100m operational depth. Advanced decompression profiles, multi-stage gas management. The deepest open-circuit tec course in the SSI XR programme.

Contact us for pricing
View course

Full pathway: XR Nitrox · XR Trimix · Technical Extended Range · XR Sidemount · Trimix Combo · Technical Wreck

Credentials that earn confidence.

1992 Founded in Malta
Diamond SSI ITC Status
3 Islands we dive
100m+ Sites we operate
  • SSI Diamond Instructor Training Centre

    The highest rating SSI awards. Authorised to train and certify new SSI instructors. Your certification leaves diveshack at the same standard as any Diamond ITC worldwide.

  • 34 years running courses in Malta

    Since 1992. We know every site, current, seasonal condition, and visibility pattern around Malta, Gozo, and Comino. That knowledge goes into every course briefing.

  • All levels, one team

    Try Scuba on Monday, XR Hypoxic Trimix on Friday. The same instructors, the same operation, across the full range of SSI courses. No need to change centre as you progress.

Answers before you ask.

Do I need experience to start a diving course in Malta?

No experience required. Try Scuba is a single-session introduction with no prerequisites. SSI Open Water Diver is the entry certification: you need only to be comfortable in water and aged 10 or over. Our instructors teach complete beginners every week.

How long does an Open Water certification take?

3 to 4 days at diveshack. This covers eLearning (completed at your own pace), confined water skill sessions, and 4 open water dives in Malta. Your SSI certification is internationally valid with no expiry date.

Can I do technical diving courses in Malta?

Yes. diveshack runs the complete SSI XR pathway from XR Extended Range Foundations through XR Hypoxic Trimix 100. Malta's clear water and 100m+ wreck sites make it one of the best technical training destinations in the Mediterranean. After qualifying, the deep and CCR sites are among the best in the world.

What is an SSI Diamond Instructor Training Centre?

Diamond is SSI's highest facility rating, awarded for sustained excellence in instructor quality, training standards, and equipment. Diamond ITCs can train and certify new SSI instructors. diveshack has held this status since 2019, registered as MTA DIVE/0022.

When is the best time of year to do a diving course in Malta?

Courses run year-round. Peak season is May to October with water temperatures of 24 to 27 degrees and visibility regularly exceeding 20 metres. Winter offers smaller groups and lower prices; water temperature drops to 15 to 17 degrees and a wetsuit or drysuit is recommended.

Are SSI certifications recognised internationally?

Yes. SSI certifications are accepted at dive centres and sites worldwide with no expiry date. SSI is one of the two largest scuba certification agencies globally and a member of the World Recreational Scuba Training Council (WRSTC), which sets international training standards.

Ready to start?

Message us on WhatsApp with the course you're interested in and your available dates. We'll confirm availability, answer any questions, and get you booked in. No forms, no waiting. We respond within 2 hours during operating hours.

20 Qui Si Sana Seafront, Sliema · +356 9999 3483 · info@divemalta.com · Mon-Sat 08:00-17:00

All courses include

  • SSI internationally recognised certification
  • Qualified instructor throughout
  • All required equipment (unless noted)
  • SSI eLearning digital materials
  • Dive on Malta, Gozo, or Comino sites
  • Post-course dive support and guided dive packages available

diveshack Malta has been operating since 1992. SSI Diamond Instructor Training Centre. MTA licensed dive centre DIVE/0022. IDN Group partner.