MALTA merits its high reputation for the quality of its watersports – especially diving and sailing, which form the basis of most activity holidays to the Maltese islands.
Offering an appealing combination of natural and man-made dive sites around its 120-mile coastline, Malta is probably the best scuba-diving destination within a 3hr flight of the UK.
The sheer cliffs along the southern shore of both Malta and Gozo provide amazing rock formations to explore, while the World War II wreckage still littering Grand Harbour provides interesting dive sites.
There is excellent sea life, too – more than 40 species of fish that include grouper, cuttle fish, moray, flying gurnard, angler, barracuda, eagle ray and octopus.
Dive Systems is one of several Professional Association of Diving Instructors and British Sub Aqua Club-recognised dive schools in the islands; others include Dive Systems, Dive Shack, Divewise Services and Maltaqua in Malta, and Calypso, St Andrews Divers Cove and Moby Dives in Gozo.
The revival in of the 600-mile Sea Race for ocean-going yachts in 1996 after a 12-year break has renewed interest in sailing as both a serious pastime and a leisure pursuit in Malta. The principal yacht marina is at Msida, near Sliema. Another marina is being built by the new Hilton hotel at St Julian’s, with a third planned for the Three Cities side of Grand Harbour.
Craft for hire in Malta ranges from a dinghy or keelboat to a fully-crewed deluxe yacht.
Sailing courses based at the Cavalieri Hotel in St Julian’s are available through Belleair Holidays. Windsurfing is another year-round activity and Mellieha Bay is popular with beginners. Malta has recognised the importance of golf and new courses are planned. The favoured locations are at Rabat in the centre of the island and Ta’ Cenc on Gozo