Off Malta · War Grave · CCR Only · 115-130m

HMS Olympus
Royal Navy submarine · war grave · 115m

Name: Guided Tec Dive
Brand: diveshack

HMS Olympus was a Royal Navy O-class minelaying submarine lost on 8 May 1942 after striking an Axis mine while evacuating British civilians and servicemen from Malta. Of 98 on board plus survivors from HMS P36, 103 people lost their lives. Only 9 survived. HMS Olympus is an official British war grave and the largest single loss of life among submarine crews in the Malta campaign. All visits are conducted with respect for the memorial significance of the site.

35°55.560'N · 14°33.960'E | SW of Malta

130m

Max Depth

115m

Min Depth

1942

Year Lost

20-30m

Visibility

CCR Only

Cert Req.

17-27°C

Water Temp

Dive Information Enquire

History

HMS Olympus: history and location

War Grave Notice. HMS Olympus is an official British war grave. She is the final resting place of 103 people, including Royal Navy crew, civilian evacuees, and survivors from HMS P36. Entry to any part of the vessel is absolutely prohibited. All artefacts are protected in situ under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 and Maltese heritage law. Visits are memorial in nature.

1928

HMS Olympus was laid down at Beardmore and completed in 1930. She was an O-class submarine originally designed for operations in the Far East. Displacing 1,475 tons submerged, O-class boats were larger than the T-class submarines of the 10th Flotilla and had been adapted for minelaying operations, significantly extending their utility in the Mediterranean.
1941-1942

Assigned to Malta during the Siege, HMS Olympus conducted minelaying and supply operations. With Malta under continuous bombardment and the island's survival in question, British submarines including HMS Olympus brought in critical supplies when surface convoys were unable to reach the island. The submarine's cargo holds were converted to carry petrol, ammunition and other vital stores.
8 May 1942

Departing Malta with her regular crew of 55, plus a number of survivors rescued from HMS P36 (sunk in harbour on 26 March 1942) and British civilians being evacuated from the besieged island, HMS Olympus struck an Axis mine in the swept channel south of Malta. She sank with 103 people aboard. The nine survivors were rescued after hours in the water. Among the dead were civilian men, women and service personnel who had survived the worst of the Siege only to be lost on the journey to safety.
Today

HMS Olympus lies at 115-130m off the SW coast of Malta. The wreck was located and identified in subsequent years. The site is under Heritage Malta protection and the exact GPS coordinates are managed by Heritage Malta and released only to authorised operators for permitted expeditions.

Site Information

HMS Olympus: the submarine and the dive

HMS Olympus O-class minelaying submarine Malta war grave 115m

115-130m

O-class Minelayer

HMS Olympus was an O-class submarine adapted for minelaying. At 283 feet she was larger than the T-class submarines of the 10th Flotilla. Her mine-carrying capacity made her a key asset in offensive operations against Axis shipping routes, while her additional cargo capacity was used to supply besieged Malta.

HMS Olympus Malta 1942 mine strike submarine

115-130m

Mine Strike Evidence

The cause of loss was an Axis mine in the swept channel south of Malta. External examination of the wreck is consistent with a mine strike to the forward section. The hull condition provides information about the nature of the loss that supplements the accounts of the nine survivors.

HMS Olympus civilian evacuees Malta war grave significance

Historical Significance

Civilian Casualties

Among the 103 who perished aboard HMS Olympus were British civilians being evacuated from Malta. This gives the site a particular memorial significance beyond the standard designation of a naval war grave. The loss represented one of the most tragic incidents of the entire Siege of Malta.

HMS Olympus CCR deep dive Malta heritage site

Heritage Protection

Protected Status

HMS Olympus is protected under the UK Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 and Maltese heritage legislation. All access is through Heritage Malta. The wreck is actively monitored. Any disturbance of artefacts or the vessel structure is a criminal offence under both jurisdictions.

Dive Conditions

Site conditions at 115-130m

Month	Water Temp	Visibility	Conditions
Jan-Mar	15-17°C	15-25m	Winter CCR operations require drysuit and settled weather window.
Apr-Jun	17-22°C	20-28m	Improving conditions. Good planning period for deep CCR expeditions.
Jul-Sep	24-27°C	22-30m	Peak season. Best surface conditions and visibility.
Oct-Dec	19-23°C	18-25m	Good through October. Weather variable from November.

Summer visibility

Winter visibility

Currents

SW Malta open water. Variable current conditions. Full weather and sea state assessment required minimum 48 hours before any operation at this depth. Currents during ascent significantly increase decompression management demands.

Entry / Exit

Boat dive only. GPS provided by Heritage Malta to authorised operators. No permanent mooring. Dedicated surface support vessel with tender required. War grave briefing completed before any diver enters the water.

Equipment Notes

CCR mandatory for meaningful visit time. Full deco gas strategy confirmed before descent. Drysuit. Redundant buoyancy. Primary and backup torches. Two DSMBs and GPS pinger per diver. DAN membership active before departure.

Dive Briefing

Safety, access and war grave protocols

CCR Mandatory

115-130m is exclusively within the CCR operational envelope for a meaningful visit. Open-circuit operations at this depth leave insufficient bottom time to reach and observe the wreck. All divers must hold current CCR certification with evidenced deep CCR experience.

War Grave Conduct

HMS Olympus is a war grave and a place of memorial. Entry to any internal space is prohibited. No disturbance of any artefacts. Appropriate behaviour is expected throughout. The presence of civilian victims as well as naval crew gives this site particular sensitivity.

Heritage Malta Permit

Access requires a Heritage Malta permit coordinated through a licensed Maltese dive operator. diveshack manages access for authorised expeditions. No independent diving of this site is permitted. Permit lead times vary and are confirmed individually.

Decompression Planning

Full deco schedule calculated before entering the water. Gas reserves for worst-case extended deco confirmed available at the surface. CCR scrubber endurance checked against planned dive time plus contingency. No improvised profiles at 115-130m.

DSMB and Recovery

Two DSMBs per diver. GPS pinger recommended. Surface vessel monitors throughout full deco ascent. Recovery plan for incapacitated diver confirmed before descent. Reel and spool per diver with line cutter accessible.

Emergency Contacts

Mater Dei Hospital hyperbaric chamber, Malta. DAN Europe emergency line confirmed before departure. Site GPS coordinates and full emergency contacts held by surface support throughout the operation.

Heritage Dive Enquiry

Visiting HMS Olympus with diveshack

HMS Olympus is one of the most historically significant war graves in the Mediterranean. Any visit is conducted in remembrance of the 103 people, crew and civilian, who lost their lives on 8 May 1942. diveshack coordinates Heritage Malta access for qualified CCR divers who wish to pay their respects at this important memorial site.

Contact diveshack with your CCR documentation, deep CCR dive log, and any personal connection to the history of HMS Olympus. Access is arranged on a case-by-case basis with Heritage Malta. This is not a standard charter dive.

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Related Malta war grave sites:

HMS Olympus and HMS Urge are Malta's two deepest Royal Navy submarine war graves. diveshack can coordinate Heritage Malta access to both as part of a dedicated Malta memorial submarine programme for CCR divers.