Surrounded by a mostly sandy seabed, the Bristol Beaufighter plane wreck rests quietly on the bottom near Exiles Reef at a depth of around 40 metres. This World War II aircraft has become a popular dive for history lovers, underwater photographers, and divers looking for something truly unique. She lies upside down, dug into the sand and almost completely. Even the rubber wheels are still there. My grandmother actually remembers this plane coming down as she was on the roof of her house watching all this unfold. It is said that during a dogfight the plane experienced engine failure and the pilot ejected. My grandmother even remembers seeing the pilot parachuting his way down to the sea and the boats that ventured out to sea to pick up and rescue the poor pilot.

The Bristol Beaufighter was a British long-range heavy fighter aircraft used extensively during World War II. Known for its powerful twin engines and heavy armament, the aircraft played an important role in anti-shipping missions, night fighting, and coastal patrol operations throughout the Mediterranean. Malta, heavily bombed during the war, was a key strategic location for Allied forces, and many aircraft operated from the island’s airfields during this period.

The wreck near Sliema is believed to have crashed into the sea during wartime operations in the early 1940s. Over the decades, the aircraft has become part of Malta’s underwater heritage and remains one of the few accessible plane wreck dives around the island. The wreck sits at a depth of approximately 40 metres, making it suitable mainly for experienced deep- and extended-range divers comfortable with deeper dives out at sea and descending into the blue. This is also best done by boat even though some have actually dived it from shore using underwater scooters.

Marine life has also made the wreck its home. Schools of fish, octopus, scorpionfish, and colourful nudibranchs are often spotted around the remains, adding life and colour to the historic site. Excellent visibility around Sliema often allows divers to fully appreciate the aircraft’s outline and dramatic setting.

This is an authentic World War II wreck, and therefore for all those divers that love wartime history or have never seen and dived a plane wreck, this dive is a must.