Depth
0m
Home/ Dive Sites/ HMS Nasturtium
Grand Harbour area, Malta · Technical · 65-68m

HMS Nasturtium
Malta's Only WWI Wreck

Malta's only World War One wreck accessible by divers. HMS Nasturtium, a Royal Navy minesweeper, sank in 1916 and lies at 65-68m in open water southeast of Grand Harbour. The wreck is intact enough to identify the hull structure, propeller, and deck fittings. A Heritage Malta permit is required and this is a designated war grave.

35 deg 53.616'N · 14 deg 42.582'E | Offshore SE Malta

68m
Max Depth
65m
Min Depth
1916
Year Lost
15-25m
Visibility
XR/TEC
Cert
17-27°C
Temp
Arrange This Dive Dive Conditions
65m
Min Depth
68m
Max Depth
Technical
Level
15-25m
Avg Visibility
Boat
Entry Type
Jun-Sep
Best Season
Depth Profile

History & Background

  • 1916
    HMS Nasturtium, an Acacia-class sloop serving as a minesweeper, was lost off Malta during WWI minesweeping operations in the central Mediterranean. She is the only known World War One wreck in Maltese waters accessible to divers.
  • Inter-war
    The wreck lay undisturbed in deep water for over a century. Malta's clear, relatively calm deep water preserved the hull structure.
  • 2019
    Listed under Heritage Malta management as part of the Malta Heritage Dive programme. A permit is required for all divers accessing this site.
  • Today
    Lies at 65-68m. Hull structure identifiable. Propeller and stern visible. A unique historical site with no other WWI wreck in Malta at accessible depth.

HMS Nasturtium holds a unique position in Malta's dive history as the sole accessible World War One wreck. At 65-68m she sits deeper than most Malta tec dives, requiring full extended range planning. This is a war grave from the Great War. Contact diveshack to arrange the Heritage Malta permit and full technical briefing before any dive is planned.

0m 20m 40m 60m 65m 65-68m | WWI Minesweeper Scale: 4px/m
Marine Life

What You Might See

Species commonly encountered at this site, based on depth and habitat. Click any card to read the full species guide.

Atlantic Wreckfish underwater Malta 50–400m
Bony Fish

Atlantic Wreckfish

Polyprion americanus
Dogtooth Grouper underwater Malta 10–200m
Bony Fish

Dogtooth Grouper

Epinephelus caninus
Conger Eel underwater Malta 5–500m
Bony Fish

Conger Eel

Conger conger
Violescent Sea Whip underwater Malta 30–200m
Cnidarians

Violescent Sea Whip

Paramuricea clavata
Feather Black Coral underwater Malta 30–200m
Cnidarians

Feather Black Coral

Antipathella subpinnata
Basket Star underwater Malta 15–200m
Echinoderms

Basket Star

Astrospartus mediterraneus
Red Coral underwater Malta 10–300m
Cnidarians

Red Coral

Corallium rubrum
Mediterranean Feather Star underwater Malta 0–200m
Echinoderms

Mediterranean Feather Star

Antedon mediterranea
Dive Conditions

When to visit HMS Nasturtium

MonthWater TempVisibilityConditions
Jan-Mar15°C10-18mWinter conditions; permit planning lead time needed
Apr-Jun20°C18-25mGood; building visibility
Jul-Sep27°C20-28mBest season for open water tec diving
Oct-Dec22°C15-22mGood; permit remains required year-round
Summer visibility
Winter visibility

Currents

Open water offshore SE Malta. Variable currents are possible. Check forecast conditions and surface state before departure. Abort if sea state is unfavourable.

Entry / Exit

Boat only. No shore access. diveshack provides the surface cover boat with full technical support for the dive operation.

Equipment Notes

Full technical kit mandatory. Twin or sidemount configuration. Stage cylinder recommended for decompression gas. Drysuit advised in winter months.

Dive Briefing

Safety and planning

War Grave Notice: HMS Nasturtium is a designated war grave. Crew members who died in service in 1916 may be present within the wreck. This site demands the highest standard of respectful conduct. No artefact disturbance of any kind is permitted under Heritage Malta permit conditions and Maltese law.

Technical Certification Mandatory

XR Extended Range or Trimix certification is required at 65-68m. Recreational certifications do not qualify for this site regardless of experience level.

Heritage Malta Permit Required

No dive on HMS Nasturtium is permitted without a valid Heritage Malta permit. Contact diveshack to arrange. Diving without a permit is a criminal offence under Maltese law.

War Grave Protocol Mandatory

Human remains may be present within the hull. Zero artefact disturbance. No penetration without specific permit authorisation. This site is visited as a place of historical respect, not as a recreational attraction.

Gas Planning 65-68m

No decompression limit on air is negligible at this depth. Full decompression planning is required. A stage cylinder loaded with an appropriate decompression mix is strongly recommended.

Open Water Exposure Check forecast

No natural shelter at this offshore location. Abort the dive if swell exceeds 1m or wind exceeds 15 knots. Surface conditions are the primary go/no-go decision point for this site.

Emergency

Mater Dei Hospital hyperbaric chamber, Valletta. DAN emergency number should be recorded before departure. diveshack carries onboard oxygen and first aid equipment on all technical boat dives.

Arrange This Dive

HMS Nasturtium with diveshack

diveshack organises guided technical dives to HMS Nasturtium, including Heritage Malta permit assistance, full site briefing, surface cover boat, and onboard oxygen. This is a two-diver minimum operation with mandatory pre-dive briefing covering war grave protocol and permit conditions. Contact us well in advance as permit processing requires lead time.

Heritage Malta permit required. This is a designated war grave. diveshack manages the permit application process on your behalf. No dive can proceed without a valid permit in hand.
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Technical dive package for this site:

Heritage Malta permit fee is additional to the dive package price and varies by permit type. diveshack will advise on current permit requirements and costs at time of booking.