Depth
0m
Home/ Dive Sites/ HMS Hellespont
Fort Rinella, SE Malta · Advanced · 35-41m

HMS Hellespont
WWII Harbour Tug

A WWII-era Royal Navy paddle tug sunk in 1942, rediscovered off Fort Rinella on Malta's southeastern coast in 1999. HMS Hellespont rests upright on a sandy seabed at 35-41m. The bow is missing but the engine room, wheelhouse, and stern remain largely intact, providing a compact wreck penetration suitable for advanced divers at the upper recreational limit.

35°52.356'N · 14°32.526'E | Fort Rinella, SE Malta (approx)

41m
Max Depth
35m
Min Depth
1942
Sunk
15-25m
Visibility
AOW
Cert Required
17-27°C
Water Temp
Book This Dive Dive Conditions
35m
Min Depth
41m
Max Depth
Advanced
Level
15-25m
Avg. Visibility
Boat
Entry Type
Apr-Nov
Best Season
Depth Profile

History & Background

  • WWII
    HMS Hellespont served as a Royal Navy harbour and coastal tug throughout the Mediterranean campaign. Her shallow draft and maneuverability made her essential for shifting damaged vessels in and out of Malta's busy wartime harbours.
  • Post-war
    Hellespont remained in Maltese waters as a working harbour tug for several decades after the war, a common fate for support vessels that outlasted their military purpose.
  • 1999
    HMS Hellespont was discovered by divers off Fort Rinella on Malta's southeastern coast. The exact circumstances of her sinking in 1942 are not fully documented. The bow is missing; the engine room and aft sections are the primary dive features.
  • Today
    The wreck sits upright on sand at 35-41m, slightly listing to port. The engine room is open and accessible. No Heritage Malta permit is required.

HMS Hellespont is one of Malta's accessible wreck dives at the upper end of the recreational depth range. At 35-41m the dive sits at the Advanced Open Water limit and is well-suited to divers building wreck experience before progressing to the deeper scuttled ships. The site pairs naturally with the nearby HMS Stubborn submarine for a two-dive day for those with technical qualification.

HMS HELLESPONT DEPTH PROFILE (41m) 0m 10m 18m 20m 30m 41m [bow removed] Stern 40m Wheelhouse 36m
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.

Conger Eel underwater Malta 5–500m
Bony Fish

Conger Eel

Conger conger
Mediterranean Moray underwater Malta 0–100m
Bony Fish

Mediterranean Moray

Muraena helena
Dogtooth Grouper underwater Malta 10–200m
Bony Fish

Dogtooth Grouper

Epinephelus caninus
Greater Amberjack underwater Malta 20–70m
Bony Fish

Greater Amberjack

Seriola dumerili
Mediterranean Fairy Basslet underwater Malta 5–200m
Bony Fish

Mediterranean Fairy Basslet

Anthias anthias
Yellow Gorgonian underwater Malta 10–100m
Cnidarians

Yellow Gorgonian

Eunicella cavolini
European Spiny Lobster underwater Malta 5–80m
Crustaceans

European Spiny Lobster

Palinurus elephas
Basket Star underwater Malta 15–200m
Echinoderms

Basket Star

Astrospartus mediterraneus
Dive Conditions

When to dive HMS Hellespont

MonthWater TempVisibilityConditions
Jan-Mar15°C12-20mBoat only, check swell
Apr-Jun18°C18-25mGood
Jul-Sep27°C20-25mBest season
Oct-Dec22°C15-20mGood
Summer visibility
Winter visibility

Currents

Occasional mild current from the SE. Check forecast before departure. Generally negligible in summer months.

Entry / Exit

Boat dive only. Mooring buoy on site. Blue water ascent on DSMB. Allow for 5m safety stop time in planning.

Equipment Notes

7mm wetsuit Nov-Apr. 5mm May-Oct. Torch required for engine room penetration. DSMB mandatory for all divers.

Dive Briefing

Safety and planning

Depth Limit 41m AOW

Maximum depth is the sandy seabed at 41m. Plan within AOW recreational limits. No decompression diving. Nitrox recommended.

Penetration Torch Required

Engine room and wheelhouse penetration requires a primary and backup torch. Do not penetrate beyond natural light zones without full cave training.

DSMB Mandatory

Blue water ascent from a boat mooring. DSMB deployment at 5m safety stop is mandatory for all divers. No fixed ascent line on this wreck.

No Decompression Plan Carefully

The dive sits at recreational NDL limits at 41m. Nitrox recommended. Plan with 15-20% gas reserve. Surface at planned end-of-dive pressure.

Wreck Stability Assess First

The bow section is absent. Check edges for loose metalwork before penetration. The wreck is upright but slightly listing to port.

Cert Required AOW Min

Advanced Open Water minimum certification required at this depth. Recreational divers without Advanced certification are not permitted. Nitrox certification recommended.

Book This Dive

Dive HMS Hellespont with diveshack

diveshack operates guided boat dives to HMS Hellespont. The site is frequently paired with HMS Stubborn submarine for an advanced wreck day. All equipment and boat transport from Sliema included.

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