Aquatica Diving Centre

Aquatica Dive Centre has been a fixture of the Maltese diving scene for more than two decades. Situated in St. Paul's Bay, the centre serves as a professional hub for divers looking to explore the Mediterranean's rich underwater heritage, from historic wrecks to vibrant marine parks.

The centre is officially affiliated with SSI and is managed by the International Diving Network Limited. It operates with a focus on safety and professional standards, making it a reliable choice for those progressing from their first breaths underwater to professional career paths.

The team at Aquatica is composed of experienced professionals dedicated to providing high-quality instruction. They cater to a global community, with instructors capable of communicating in English, Spanish, German, Italian, and French.

Whether you are starting with a Try Scuba programme or working towards an Instructor Training Course (ITC), the staff provides support across all levels. Their expertise covers recreational diving, advanced wreck exploration, and technical disciplines, including sidemount and decompression procedures.

Aquatica offers a comprehensive catalogue of training through SSI, RAID, SDI/TDI, and PADI. Beginners can start with Try Scuba, Basic Diver, or Scuba Diver courses, eventually progressing to Open Water Diver and Advanced Open Water Diver certifications.

For those looking to specialise, the centre provides courses in Deep Diving, Wreck (both Basic and Advanced), Dry Suit Diving, and Perfect Buoyancy. Technical and professional divers can pursue more advanced paths, including Decompression, Sidemount, and various Divemaster levels, ranging from standard to Technical and Elite Divemaster.

Instruction also extends to niche skills such as Search & Recovery, Navigation, Night & Limited Visibility, and Marine Ecology. For those interested in the technical side of the industry, gas blending courses for Enriched Air and Trimix are also available.

The centre maintains a well-stocked retail section for essential diving equipment. For those who prefer not to carry their own kit, a full range of high-quality rental equipment is available, including BCDs, regulators, wetsuits, fins, masks, and snorkels.

Technical divers can access specialized kit such as dive computers, torches, underwater scooters (DPV), and SMBs with reels. The centre also provides various cylinder options, including 10-litre and 12-litre twinsets for those running sidemount or technical configurations. Nitrox is available on-site to support extended bottom times.

The marine life around St. Paul's Bay is diverse and abundant. On the wrecks and reefs, you can find various species such as seabream, salema porgy, cardinalfish, and various types of snapper and grouper. Large pelagics like barracuda are also known to pass through the area.

Macro life is plentiful for the observant diver. You can encounter octopus, cuttlefish, and moray eels hiding in the crevices of the wrecks. Smaller inhabitants include scorpionfish, flying gurnard, and various species of flatfish and rockfish.

In the sandy areas and around the reef structures, look for stingrays, sea stars, and even seahorses. The biodiversity is supported by a healthy ecosystem of tube worms and various Mediterranean invertebrates.

Diving in Malta is generally reliable, though divers should be aware of local conditions. At the HMS Maori, currents can often be reduced to almost zero, making it a stable site for beginners.

While many sites offer excellent conditions, visibility can vary between locations. The Cirkewwa Marine Park is noted for its crystalline waters, providing a clear environment for exploring the arch and the surrounding wrecks.