Depth
0m
Technical Zone · 36m Max · Wied iż-Żurrieq

Um El Faroud

Malta's largest diveable wreck. 109 metres of tanker sitting upright on her keel, colonised by marine life, accessible from 10 to 36 metres. The single most impressive dive site in the Maltese Islands.

35°49'N · 14°27'E  |  Wied iż-Żurrieq, Malta

36m
Max Depth
18m
Min Depth
109m
Ship Length
20–30m
Visibility
Adv OW+
Min Cert
19–27°
Temp
36m
Max Depth
18m
Min Depth
109m
Ship Length
20–30m
Visibility
Adv OW
Min Cert
Shore
Access
Site Profile

A tanker turned reef.

  • 1969
    Built in Newcastle, UK. A Libyan-owned oil tanker, she operated across the Mediterranean for over two decades under the Maltese flag, supplying fuel to ports throughout the region.
  • 1995
    While undergoing maintenance in Grand Harbour, Valletta, a gas explosion killed nine Maltese dockworkers. The vessel sustained severe damage to her hull and was deemed uneconomical to repair.
  • 1998
    After three years of decontamination, the Um El Faroud was intentionally sunk on 2 September 1998 as an artificial reef off Wied iż-Żurrieq on Malta's southern coast. She settled upright on her keel at a maximum depth of 36 metres.
  • 2005–06
    Winter storms between 2005 and 2006 caused the Um El Faroud to split into two sections. The bow and stern remain in position, creating a wreck in two distinct halves both accessible within the same dive.
  • Today
    The wreck stretches 109 metres across the seabed, her hull heavily colonised by sponges, sea fans, and Mediterranean marine life. The funnel, cargo tanks, engine room, bridge, and stern are all penetrable on guided dives.

Visibility regularly exceeds 20 metres, making her one of the most photogenic wrecks in the Mediterranean. Most divers return multiple times to cover the full site properly, the funnel, stern propeller, engine room, and cargo holds each warrant their own dive. diveshack has been guiding the Um El Faroud since 1999, the year after she was sunk.

// Depth Profile · Cross-section view
0m 18m 25m 30m 36m Deck · 18m Funnel · 22m Engine room · 28m Keel · 36m Prop · 34m Entry Level Zone Advanced Deep Zone Tec Zone Wied iż-Żurrieq · bearing 170°
Points of Interest

Four dives in one wreck.

Each section of the Um El Faroud offers a distinct experience. Most divers return multiple times to cover the full site properly.

Um El Faroud funnel
22m
Deep Zone · Midship

The Funnel

The most photographed feature on the wreck. The funnel now points horizontally, heavily encrusted with orange and yellow sponges. Morays shelter in the base and schools of damselfish drift through the structure. Excellent natural light in the morning.

// Best light: 09:00–11:00 · Bring wide-angle
Um El Faroud stern propeller
34m
Tec Zone · Stern

Stern Propeller

The four-bladed propeller sits at 34 metres, 18 tonnes of bronze now colonised by invertebrates. The rudder rises beside it. This is the deepest section of the dive and should be planned as the first stop to maximise bottom time at depth.

// Plan as first point · 10 min max at this depth
Engine room corridor of the Um El Faroud wreck, Malta
28m
Deep Zone · Midship

Engine Room

The engine room is accessible through two large openings on the port side. Bring a torch. The space is vast and disorienting, a full penetration dive in itself. Grouper regularly shelter inside. Machinery remains largely intact: pistons, valves, and pipe runs all visible.

// Penetration dive · Torch required · Guide only
Um El Faroud cargo holds with divers, Malta
18–22m
Advanced Zone · Forward

Cargo Holds & Deck

The forward cargo holds and main deck run the length of the bow section. The hatches are open, allowing views down into the holds without full penetration. Deck railing, capstans, and mooring equipment remain in place, draped in sponge growth.

// Accessible from Adv OW · No torch needed
Location

Where to find it.

// Dive Site Map · Wied iz-Zurrieq · Um El Faroud
MALTESE ISLANDS SOUTH MALTA 10m 20m 30m Flat Faced Rock E1 E2 P Ledge 6m 8m 12m 6m 10m 7m 12m 14m 15m 14m 20m 20m 14m 24m 24m 24m 24m 28m 28m 26m 28m Plaque Caves Bearing 170° Um El Faroud 18 - 36m · Wreck · 109m tanker Upright on keel · Split in two (2005) 31m 27m 32m 35m 36m BEWARE Boats using the inlet WIED IZ-ZURRIEQ Zurrieq N S E W Wreck site Shore entry Depth contour Feature ~100m 35°49'N · 14°27'E

Getting There

Shore entry from Wied iz-Zurrieq on Malta's southern coast. Steps cut into the rock. Car park on site. Surface swim approximately 60 metres to the descent line. Anchor buoys mark the wreck at 6m.

Coordinates

35°49'12"N, 14°27'18"E  ·  Bearing 170° from entry point

Um El Faroud dive site card
Diving Conditions

When to dive it.

The Um El Faroud is diveable year-round. Summer and autumn offer the best visibility and warmest water.

Season Visibility Temp Rating
Jan – Mar 15–20m 15–17°C Good
Apr – Jun 20–25m 18–22°C Good
Jul – Sep 25–30m 25–27°C Peak
Oct – Dec 20–28m 21–25°C Peak
Average Visibility
Jul – Sep
27m
Oct – Dec
24m
Apr – Jun
22m
Jan – Mar
17m

Visibility

Some of the best visibility of any Maltese dive site. Open ocean water and no harbour silt means 20–30m is routine in summer. Even in winter, 15m+ is expected. The wreck is large enough that you can see both ends in summer conditions.

Entry & Access

Shore entry from Wied iż-Żurrieq. Steps cut into the rock provide clean entry. Negative entry recommended in swell. Anchor buoys mark the wreck at 6m. Surface swim of approximately 60 metres from entry point to descent line. Car park available on site.

Current & Hazard Notes

Mild to moderate current running northwest to southeast. Can strengthen in winter. Fishing line occasionally found on the propeller and aft section, dive knife recommended. Interior penetration (engine room) requires full cave configuration and a qualified guide.

Safety & Requirements

Know before you go.

All diveshack Um El Faroud dives are guided. Maximum five divers per guide. Full briefing given at the entry point before every dive.

36m

Certification Required

Advanced Open Water (or equivalent) is the minimum certification for this site. Deep Diver specialty is strongly recommended for divers new to this depth range. Tec certification required for engine room penetration.

Adv OW minimum
NDL

No-Decompression Limits

At 36 metres on air, NDL is approximately 8–10 minutes. Plan the deepest point first. A 3-minute safety stop at 5 metres is mandatory on all diveshack guided dives. Nitrox EAN32 available on request, extends NDL to approximately 15 minutes.

Safety stop: 5m / 3 min
5

Group Size & Briefing

Maximum five divers per guide on all Um El Faroud dives. Pre-dive briefing covers the dive plan, turn-around depth, gas management, emergency signals, and ascent procedure. All divers must demonstrate buoyancy competency before descent.

Max 5 divers / guide
Kit

Recommended Equipment

Dive computer mandatory. Torch for cargo hold and engine room sections. SMB for ascent. Dive knife for fishing line hazard aft. Wide-angle camera lens recommended. Equipment hire available from diveshack Sliema.

Computers & SMBs for hire
Gas

Gas Planning

Minimum start pressure 200 bar. Rule of thirds applies: one third down, one third back, one third reserve. Nitrox available at the shop before departure, book ahead. All cylinders inspected and filled on site.

Nitrox EAN32 available
DAN

Emergency & Insurance

Nearest hyperbaric chamber at Mater Dei Hospital, Msida. DAN dive accident insurance strongly recommended and available through diveshack. Emergency oxygen on site at all times. First-aid trained guide on every dive. Emergency: 112. DAN Europe: +39 06 4211 5685.

DAN insurance available
Book This Dive

Dive the Um El Faroud with diveshack

Guided dives run on Tuesday and Saturday mornings. Departure from Wied iż-Żurrieq at 09:00. Transport from Sliema can be arranged on request. Private charters available any day of the week.

Departs 09:00, Tue & Sat, Wied iż-Żurrieq
Duration Approx. 2.5 hours total
Group Size Max 5 divers per guide
Cert. Required Advanced Open Water minimum
Equipment Hire available, book ahead
Nitrox EAN32 available, book with dive
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