Um El Faroud Wreck

A tragic history

MV Um El Faroud was a Libyan tanker 110 metres long. In February 1995, during a refit in Grand Harbour's dry dock, a gas explosion killed 9 Maltese dockyard workers. The ship was severely damaged and no longer seaworthy.

A second career underwater

In 1998, the Malta Tourism Authority decided to scuttle the wreck off Wied iz-Zurrieq as an artificial reef and diving attraction. The ship sits at 18-36 metres depth, clearly visible in the clear Mediterranean water. The top of the bridge is at just 18 metres, making it accessible even for Open Water certified divers.

An underwater ecosystem

Over two decades, the wreck has become a thriving artificial reef. Sponges, soft corals, and algae cover it, while moray eels, groupers, barracudas, and hundreds of smaller fish inhabit its interior. Um El Faroud is regularly rated as one of Europe's top 10 wreck dives.

Practical tip: Diving available through dive schools (not a shore dive; requires a boat). Minimum Open Water certification (18m) for the bridge, Advanced (30m+) for the seabed. Best visibility May-October. Combine with a Blue Grotto visit (same location — Wied iz-Zurrieq).