Maltese diving enthusiasts are bound to love this! Eight new deep sea wrecks around the Maltese Islands will be made accessible as from the coming May to technical scuba divers. The Underwater Cultural Heritage Unit will be coordinating activities on the wreck.

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The Bristol Beaufighter Wreck, 37m, Malta Sank in 1943 the wreck lies upside down, with the undercarriage sticking up and one intact propeller. Short but great dive!! #wreck #wreckphotography #underwater #underwaterphotography #underwaterphotographerparis #maltawreck #planewreck #diver #techdive #blackandwhite

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The incredible wreckage

Three aircraft are among the eight wrecks, a Junkers 88 bomber down 60m off Bahar ic-Caghaq and a Fairey Swordfish torpedo-bomber biplane at around 55m, both dating back to WWII. The third plane is unidentified and can be found at around 90m.

The shipwrecks included the HMS Russell, a pre-Dreadnought battleship that struck a mine and sank on 27^th April 1916 with the loss of 125 men. The wreck lies at 114m and was first visited by divers back in 2003. Also dating back to WWI is the wreck of the minesweeper and sub-hunter HMS Nasturtium, sunk a day after HMS Russell with the loss of seven crew members, lying at 67m deep.

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The HMT Trusty Star is also among the list of shipwrecks. She was a WWII trawler requisitioned as a minesweeper but was herself mined on 10^th June 1942 and now lies at 85m. The Polish Navy destroyer which was once HMS Oakley and the sister ship of the well-known wrecked destroyer HMS Southwold is also among the list. She was mined on 16^th June 1942 and lies at a depth of 90m. The eighth and final wreck is the SS Luciston lying at 105m deep.

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This news comes right after the announcement that three previously undiscovered WWII wrecks were reported to have been discovered during a scientific survey just a few weeks ago. The wrecks include a ship and two aircraft which can be found in the same location where the gas pipeline between Malta and Sicily is expected to be placed. Energy Minister Joe Mizzi ensured that the pipeline’s route will be altered to bypass the wreckages.

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Here’s how you can venture into the deep blue to witness these beauties

All dives have to be booked through one of Malta’s 60 (or so) dive-centres, which always make sure that divers are safe and equipped. Divers will be charged a fee but otherwise, jump in and explore the wondrous Maltese waters!

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Just an other wreck day 😎 - @vitadasirena set her personal record for no-fins diving with absolute grace and ease..😍💪🏽 We had a lot of fun watching the bubblers mess up the visibility and clumsily move their way around the wreck. Getting to the wreck was where we however were certainly less fortunate - an hour by kayak, rising winds and waves and the constant threat of being overrun by boats rented by tourists. All worth it in the end 😍. . . . . . #allcool #easypeasy #nostress #justdoit #holdyourbreath #personalrecord #onebreath #immerseyourself #nofins #freediver #shipwreck #wreckdive #wreckdiving #adventureculture #adventuring #paditv #roamtheocean #underwater #deepseababy #justfollowme #girlsthatfreedive #hypoxiaoutfitters #spearolifestyle #spearfishing_international #spearfishingandfreedivingworld #lovemalta #maltalovers #lovinmalta #vivereamalta

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Up to four more wrecks are expected to be announced at a later date. Stay tuned!