Depth
0m
Home/ Dive Sites/ JU88 North
Bahar ic-Caghaq, NE Malta · Technical · 55m

Junkers JU88 North
WWII Bomber, 1942

A Junkers Ju 88 twin-engine German bomber lying upside down on flat sand at 55m, three kilometres off Bahar ic-Caghaq on the northeast coast of Malta. The aircraft is largely intact in inverted position: engines, fuselage, and tail are all identifiable, though access to the cockpit is blocked by the inverted orientation. A Heritage Malta permit has been required since the site opened in May 2019.

35°58.416'N · 14°28.092'E | 3km NE of Bahar ic-Caghaq, Malta

55m
Max Depth
55m
Min Depth
1942
Year Lost
20-30m
Visibility
XR/TEC
Cert Required
17-27°C
Water Temp
Book This Dive Dive Conditions
55m
Min Depth
55m
Max Depth
Technical
Level
20-30m
Avg. Visibility
Boat
Entry Type
May-Oct
Best Season
Depth Profile

History & Background

  • WWII 1942
    The Junkers Ju 88 was one of the most widely used German combat aircraft of WWII, serving in bomber, torpedo bomber, night fighter, and reconnaissance roles. This aircraft was lost over Maltese waters during the siege of Malta.
  • Discovery
    Located during systematic survey operations on Malta's northern offshore seabed. The flat, calm water of the northern coast had preserved the wreck in excellent condition. The aircraft was found inverted, as it came to rest when it sank.
  • May 2019
    Opened for diving by Heritage Malta as part of the Malta Heritage Dive programme. A Heritage Malta permit is required before diving. The site is managed as part of Malta's protected underwater cultural heritage.
  • Today
    Upside down at exactly 55m on flat sand. Both engines visible, upright in their nacelles despite the aircraft inversion. Tail section intact with recognisable WWII German twin-fin configuration.

The JU88 North sits at a fixed 55m on flat sand. Unlike the rocky reef dives of Malta's northern coast, this aircraft wreck requires a disciplined descent to a single depth and a brief bottom time on a technical gas plan. For tec divers completing the Malta WWII aircraft series, the JU88 North pairs with the Blenheim Bomber and Bristol Beaufighter across a multi-day programme.

JU88 NORTH DEPTH PROFILE (55m) 0m 10m 20m 32m 40m 55m [INVERTED] 55m - flat sand
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.

Greater Amberjack underwater Malta 20–70m
Bony Fish

Greater Amberjack

Seriola dumerili
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 dive JU88 North

MonthWater TempVisibilityConditions
Jan-Mar15°C15-25mOpen water, weather dependent
Apr-Jun20°C20-30mGood
Jul-Sep27°C25-30mBest season
Oct-Dec22°C18-25mGood
Summer visibility
Winter visibility

Currents

Moderate NE coast currents possible. Check Windguru or Windy for NE Malta forecast. Abort if sustained winds exceed 15 knots.

Entry / Exit

Boat only. Fixed depth at 55m requires a direct descent with no intermediate stopping point. Plan descent and ascent times carefully.

Equipment Notes

Full technical kit. Twinset or sidemount. Stage cylinder recommended for comfortable bottom time. 7mm wetsuit suit year-round.

Dive Briefing

Safety and planning

Technical Cert Mandatory

XR Extended Range or equivalent minimum certification. At 55m on air the no-decompression limit is very short. Appropriate gas mix mandatory. No recreational certification accepted.

Heritage Malta Permit Required

A Heritage Malta permit is required before diving. Contact diveshack before booking. Permits are site-specific and must be arranged in advance. No permit means no dive.

Gas Planning 55m Fixed

Plan for 15-20 minutes bottom time on appropriate gas mix at 55m. Agree turn pressure before descent. Stage cylinder recommended to extend bottom time safely.

DSMB Mandatory

Blue water ascent with no buoy line. Deploy DSMB from agreed decompression stop depth. Two DSMBs per buddy pair minimum on open water tec dives.

Currents Check Forecast

NE Malta coast exposure. Check Windguru or Windy before departure. Abort if surface winds exceed 15 knots. Current at depth can differ from surface conditions.

Emergency Mater Dei

Nearest hyperbaric chamber: Mater Dei Hospital, Malta. diveshack provides emergency dive contacts as part of the technical dive briefing. O2 on boat mandatory.

Book This Dive

Dive JU88 North with diveshack

Heritage Malta Permit Required: diveshack handles Heritage Malta permit applications as part of the booking process. Contact us via WhatsApp before booking to start the permit process. Permits must be arranged in advance of your dive date.

diveshack runs guided technical boat dives to the JU88 North with full Heritage Malta permit management. Technical briefing included. The site can be paired with the Blenheim Bomber or Bristol Beaufighter for a full WWII aircraft programme.

Book via WhatsApp Send an Enquiry

Book via the technical dive package:

Heritage Malta permit fee applies in addition to dive package cost. diveshack handles the application on your behalf.