Natural Arch · North Malta · Open Water

Ben's Arch

A natural limestone arch at the western end of the Cirkewwa shore, dropping through boulder fields and sea grass meadows to a sandy bottom at 30 metres. Known locally as the Left Arch, this is the less-visited of the two Cirkewwa arches and consistently delivers on grouper, atmosphere, and underwater topography.

35°59'12"N · 14°19'40"E | Paradise Bay, NW Malta

30m

Max Depth

Min Depth

10m

Avg Depth

20–30m

Visibility

Open Water

Min Cert

Shore

Entry

Site Profile

About Ben's Arch

The Cirkewwa shore entry at Paradise Bay opens into two completely different dives depending on which direction you turn. Turn right and you head toward the Cirkewwa Arch (also called the Right Arch or Green Arch), a wide passage with resident moray eels. Turn left and you follow the rocky coastline toward Ben's Arch, or the Left Arch, cutting through the water toward Paradise Bay itself.

Ben's Arch is a natural rock arch carved into the limestone headland. Below and beyond it, the terrain opens into a wide boulder field scattered across a sandy and sea grass bottom. Grouper are a regular presence in the boulders, using the overhangs and gaps as resting points. The arch itself sits at a manageable depth, making the headline feature accessible to Open Water divers without pushing against no-decompression limits. Deeper sections of the site push toward 30m where the sandy bottom levels out beneath the drop-off. The GPS reference point is 35.9866°N, 14.3279°E. The site is part of the wider Cirkewwa Marine Park area.

Both arches can be covered on a single dive when the guide plans carefully and depths are managed. Most diveshack visits focus on one arch to allow proper bottom time at depth.

Points of Interest

Ben's Arch: what to look for

~10m average

The Arch

The natural limestone arch is the centrepiece of this dive. Carved by centuries of wave action and erosion, it frames a passage through the headland. Light filters through from above, creating the kind of silhouette that makes photographers stop finning mid-water.

10–20m

Boulder Field

Beyond the arch, large limestone boulders are scattered across the slope and sandy bottom. Gaps between the boulders shelter resident grouper, which tend to hold position and allow close approaches. Octopus are frequently spotted between rocks at this depth range.

15–25m

Sea Grass Meadows

Sandy channels between the boulders give way to patches of Posidonia sea grass. These meadows provide habitat for a range of smaller fish and invertebrates. Look for ornate wrasse, small cuttlefish, and the occasional pipefish hunting through the grass blades.

20–30m

Drop-Off

The site's outer edge drops away more steeply, pushing toward 30 metres at the bottom of the slope. This section suits Advanced divers looking to extend the dive. The clean water and high visibility at depth make the descent a rewarding end to a dive already full of features.

Dive Conditions

When to dive Ben's Arch

Period	Water Temp	Visibility	Conditions
Jan–Mar	14–15°C	20–30m	Good
Apr–Jun	16–22°C	25–30m	Good
Jul–Sep	24–28°C	25–30m	Peak
Oct–Dec	18–23°C	20–28m	Good

Summer

30m

Winter

22m

Spring

26m

Currents

Currents at this site are generally light. The bay faces northwest and is sheltered from the prevailing southwesterly wind. Occasional surge along the arch passage is possible in northerly weather but the site is largely protected by the headland.

Entry and Exit

Shore entry is rated easy. There is a concrete slipway and rocky ledge entry point at the Cirkewwa shore. The walk to the water with equipment is short and the surface conditions inside the bay are typically calm. Exit via the same point.

Equipment Notes

A 5mm wetsuit covers year-round diving comfortably. A 7mm suit or drysuit is preferred by some divers in winter when water temperature drops to 14°C. A torch is useful for looking into the arch passage and boulder gaps. An SMB is standard for all dives.

Dive Briefing

Safety and planning

Open Water+

Minimum Certification

Open Water certification is sufficient for the main arch and boulder field to 18m. The drop-off section to 30m requires Advanced Open Water or equivalent. Beginners are kept to the shallower terrain above 12m on their first visit.

Recommended

Navigation

The site is straightforward to navigate but the coastline curves around the headland. A compass bearing back to the entry point is recommended after passing through the arch. Your guide will maintain a mental map of the arch position throughout the dive.

Briefing Point

Left vs Right at Entry

At the entry point, turning right leads toward Cirkewwa Arch (the Right Arch). Turning left leads toward Ben's Arch (the Left Arch). This is covered in the pre-dive briefing. Stick to your guide's direction and do not change course mid-dive without signalling.

Depth Control

Max Depth 30m

The sandy bottom at the outer edge of the site sits at 30m. This is the absolute maximum depth for this dive. Monitor your computer throughout and begin your ascent with adequate no-decompression time remaining. The site does not justify pushing limits.

Standard Kit

SMB and Safety Stop

All dives include a 3-minute safety stop at 5m. Carry a deployable SMB on every dive at this site. Ascents are made away from the rocky shore in clear water, making SMB deployment straightforward and visible to surface cover.

Marine Park

Cirkewwa Marine Park

Ben's Arch falls within the Cirkewwa Marine Protected Area. No fishing, no collecting, and no anchoring on the reef. Buoyancy control is expected to be adequate before diving here. Touch nothing on the rock surfaces or seafloor.

Book This Dive

Dive Ben's Arch with diveshack

diveshack runs guided dives to Ben's Arch as part of our regular North Malta programme. Groups are small and all equipment is included. We cover the full pre-dive briefing, guide the dive, and handle all logistics from our Sliema base.

Departs Sliema, Malta

Entry Shore, Cirkewwa

Min Cert Open Water

Max Depth 30m

Season Year-round

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Include Ben's Arch in a dive package:

Single Dive: €60

Pair it with a nearby site:

North Malta Dive Sites

Ben's Arch

About Ben's Arch

What You Might See

Rainbow Wrasse

Comber

Brown Wrasse

Snakelocks Anemone

Common Prawn

Purple Sea Urchin

Red Starfish

Neptune Grass

Ben's Arch: what to look for

The Arch

Boulder Field

Sea Grass Meadows

Drop-Off

When to dive Ben's Arch

Currents

Entry and Exit

Equipment Notes

Ben's Arch underwater

Safety and planning

Minimum Certification

Navigation

Left vs Right at Entry

Max Depth 30m

SMB and Safety Stop

Cirkewwa Marine Park

Dive Ben's Arch with diveshack

Also dive nearby

Ben's Arch

About Ben's Arch

What You Might See

Rainbow Wrasse

Comber

Brown Wrasse

Snakelocks Anemone

Common Prawn

Purple Sea Urchin

Red Starfish

Neptune Grass

Ben's Arch: what to look for

The Arch

Boulder Field

Sea Grass Meadows

Drop-Off

When to dive Ben's Arch

Currents

Entry and Exit

Equipment Notes

Ben's Arch underwater

Safety and planning

Minimum Certification

Navigation

Left vs Right at Entry

Max Depth 30m

SMB and Safety Stop

Cirkewwa Marine Park

Dive Ben's Arch with diveshack

Also dive nearby

Cirkewwa Arch

MV Rozi

P29 Minesweeper