Malta · Mediterranean
Best time to dive Malta & Gozo
Best April–October; summer water reaches ~26 °C with the best visibility. Winter drops to ~14–15 °C (drysuit or semi-dry), some sites become inaccessible and fewer operators run December–March. Famous wreck diving.
Peak season: May–October
Overall diving, month by month
Balanced scoring · forecasts include the 2026/27 El Niño outlook
Confidence: Nov high · Dec high · Jan high · Feb high · Mar high · Apr high · May high · Jun high · Jul high · Aug high · Sep high · Oct medium · Nov medium · Dec medium
What's good when
Each attribute scored 0–10 for every month
| Nov2026 | Dec | Jan2027 | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pelagic & big animals | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Macro life | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Coral & reef health | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Visibility | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 |
| Water temperature | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 2 |
| Weather & sea state | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 |
| Operations & access | 8 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 6 |
| Wreck diving | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
Water temperature & visibility
| Month | Water | Visibility |
|---|---|---|
| November 2026 | 20.5 °C (69 °F) | 20–30 m |
| December 2026 | 17.5 °C (64 °F) | 20–30 m |
| January 2027 | 15.5 °C (60 °F) | 20–30 m |
| February 2027 | 15.0 °C (59 °F) | 20–30 m |
| March 2027 | 15.0 °C (59 °F) | 20–30 m |
| April 2027 | 16.0 °C (61 °F) | 25–35 m |
| May 2027 | 18.5 °C (65 °F) | 25–40 m |
| June 2027 | 22.0 °C (72 °F) | 30–40 m |
| July 2027 | 25.0 °C (77 °F) | 30–40 m |
| August 2027 | 26.0 °C (79 °F) | 30–40 m |
| September 2027 | 25.5 °C (78 °F) | 30–40 m |
| October 2027 | 23.5 °C (74 °F) | 25–35 m |
| November 2027 | 20.5 °C (69 °F) | 20–30 m |
| December 2027 | 17.5 °C (64 °F) | 20–30 m |
Marine life calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| groupers | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
| octopus | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
| barracuda | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
| nudibranchs | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
| moray eels | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
Peak = best odds · ● = regularly seen · blank = unlikely. Calendar months, every year.
About the diving
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Current strength
- 2 / 5
- Luxury level
- 4 / 5
- Typical depth
- 5–35 m
- Max depth of interest
- 40 m
- Dive styles
- Shore, Day boat
- Suggested certification
- Open Water (deep wrecks: Advanced/Tec)
- Nearest airport
- MLA
- Snorkelling
- Good
- Known for
- groupers, octopus, barracuda, nudibranchs
Famous sites: Blue Hole & Inland Sea · Um El Faroud · P29 · HMS Maori
Season notes & sources
- Best April–October; summer water reaches ~26 °C with the best visibility. Winter drops to ~14–15 °C (drysuit or semi-dry), some sites become inaccessible and fewer operators run December–March. Famous wreck diving.
- Mediterranean morays inhabit rocky ledges and crevices around Malta, Comino and Gozo, including Hondoq Bay. The resident calendar does not establish a seasonal abundance peak or guarantee an eel on each dive.