HMS Maori |
 This wreck is located in Marsamxett Harbour in Valletta. It is a WW2 wreck lying in 16 meters of water and very easy to access. A perfect dive to teach you about some of Malta’s history.
Only one part of the ship can be explored by divers but it is a very interesting wreck with a number of swim throughs and very easy to explore since it has large holes from where the divers can enter and exit the ship. The bow this ship is buried deeply in the sand. |
It is well sheltered and easy to dive. The marine life on the wreck is abundant. Typical fish that can be seen here are John Dory, fireworms, flatfish, Scorpion fish, eels and octopus. When in season a fair amount of sting rays and sea horses have been spotted on the wreck.
The HMS Maori was a Tribal class destroyer ship built for the royal navy and took part in the Norwegian campaign, Atlantic convoys and the Mediterranean. It is 35 metres long and was launched on 2nd September 1937. It was a very famous ship since with the help of this destroyer that the code to sink the German battleship Bismarck in May 1941 was discovered. 
The visibility in this area is of about 10 metres due to the sand and silt present on the seabed. This wreck was broken in two pieces when it was being towed from Grand Harbour to Marsamxett Harbour to be removed from a major shipping lane. It sank in 14th February 1942 when it was hit in the engine room. The only person on board died. The guns were removed from the deck but the gun bases can be easily seen. 