The Sunny Side
Beaches
M
alta has beaches
for everyone, from
wind-surfers
to
sunbathers. Choose
from golden sand,
red sand, rocks,
blue lagoons and
even inland seas. Some beaches
and rocky shores are off the beaten
track, but worth seeking out for their
seclusion. In truth, when com-pared
to other destinations, Malta offers no
extensively large beaches – its size
and topography simply do not allow
for this. Instead, the island is dotted
with idyllic inlets, coves and bays
with beautifully rugged and natural
surroundings. Do not miss a boat
trip to Comino's Blue Lagoon for the
ultimate in azure water. On larger
beaches, you will find cafes or snack
bars open during the summer season.
With Malta's climate, beach life lasts
well into October. The main coastal
resorts and larger sandy beaches
are in the northern part of Malta. For
smaller, quieter beaches, try those
at the tip of Malta, overlooking Gozo
- Paradise Bay and Armier. In Gozo,
the most beautiful beach is Ramla
l-Ħamra, a large beach of unusual red
sand nestling by countryside. Gozo
and Comino offer plenty of out-ofthe-way rocky inlets with clear waters
and perfect snorkelling.
Beaches around Malta and Gozo
Northern Malta
Anchor Bay (rock)
Riviera Bay (sand)
Mellieha Bay (sand)
Paradise Bay (sand)
Armier Bay & Little Armier (sand)
Gnejna Bay (sand)
Mgiebah Bay (sand)
Sliema & St. Julian’s Coast (rock)
Fomm ir-Rih (pebble)
Golden Bay (sand)
Mistra Bay (pebble)
St. George’s Bay (sand)
Southern Malta
Ghar Lapsi (rock)
Peter’s Pool (rock)
Pretty Bay (sand)
St. Thomas Bay (sand/rock)
Blue Lagoon - Comino
Gozo
Dahlet Qorrot (rock)
Marsalforn (sand/rock)
San Blas (sand)
Dwejra (rock)
Mgarr ix-Xini (pebble)
Wied il-Ghasri (pebble)
Hondoq ir-Rummien (pebble/
sand)
Ramla Bay (sand)
Xlendi Bay (sand/rock)
The other World of
Diving
T
he Maltese Islands' clear
blue Mediterranean sea
is ideal for scuba diving.
All three Islands offer
some
unique
diving
experiences
with
an
abundance of reefs, caves and wrecks
that make diving here some of the
most interesting in the Mediterranean.
The calmness and clarity of the sea
makes for excellent visibility whilst
the risk of encountering dangerous
fish is extremely low, creating the
ultimate conditions for first time
divers and beginners. For the more
experienced divers, there are plenty
of challenging dives to choose from.
both big and macro.
Alongside a number of purposely sunk
wrecks dating back 10 years, there are
also a number of historic shipwrecks
and aircraft at both recreational and
technical depths. Malta and Gozo's
geology has created some beautiful
natural features above and below the
water, with famous dive sites such the
Blue Hole and Azure Window as well
beautiful underwater caverns such as
the Santa
The depths of the dives vary, from the
very shallow 12-metre Għar Lapsi dive
to-Lantern Point, with its under-water
tunnel leading down to well over 50
metres.
Marija Caves. For the underwater
photography fanatics, all these dive
sites are home to a range of wildlife
There are several types of diving courses
and activities offered by locally licensed
diving schools. Divers need to complete
a medical statement form indicating
fitness to dive. All schools provide the
service of a doctor to provide certification
at a small fee. Medicals from other
countries are acceptable, provided the
diving centre is presented with a copy.
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