Limpid clear waters, excellent visibility, deep caverns, off-shore reefs and a plethora of intriguing historical wrecks make the Maltese Islands a dream destination for divers and underwater photographers.
This summer, diving enthusiasts will have access to three new underwater aircraft wrecks, two of which were casualties of the ferocious, Second World War, ‘Siege of Malta’ and another, the subject of the first documented helicopter rescue in the Mediterranean.
The subaquatic museum sites, 15 in all, are being managed by UCHU, the Underwater Cultural Heritage Unit, within Heritage Malta, the National agency for Cultural Heritage.
During an intense air raid over Reggio Calabria in early May 1943, the American B24 Liberator encountered engine trouble. Jettisoning its bomb load, the 10-member crew decided to fly back to Malta but following a series of failed landing attempts they were forced to ditch the plane in the sea. The wreck lies approximately 1.5km south-west of Marsaxlokk at a depth of 56 metres on a sandy seabed.
A single-seat attack aircraft, the Douglas A-1 SkyRaider, was one of four aircraft tasked with mail duties between the Ħal Far airfield on Malta and the aircraft carrier USS Midway. After suffering a total engine failure in 1947, only minutes after taking off from Ħal Far, its pilot, Lt Robert HL Reeb, was rescued by a Sikorsky HO3S Dragonfly Helicopter. The wreck lies off the coast of Birżebbuġia in the south of Malta at a maximum depth of 96 metres.
A German aircraft operated by the Luftwaffe, the Junkers Ju88 was extensively deployed from close by Sicily in sustained bombings on Malta. Sitting upright on a sandy seabed at a depth of 106 metres, the Ju88 most likely met its demise during aerial combat with allied aircraft, suggested by damage to the tail section of the aircraft
Underwater photographers have an added incentive to reach these depths. Heritage Malta has recently launched a two-pronged photographic competition that focuses on historic wrecks and another on the interaction between marine wildlife and these wrecks.
Tickets: These sites may only be accessed through Heritage Malta Approved Dive Schools and a ticket fee applies.
For more information visit: www.heritagemalta.org
As Featured in Guide Me Magazine (Summer 2020)
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