Resting beneath the deep blue waters off the coast of Żurrieq lies the wreck of the Um El Faroud. This is one of Malta’s most iconic and impressive wreck dives. Known for its enormous size, fascinating history, and thriving marine life, this wreck has become a must see site for scuba divers from around the world.

The Um El Faroud was a 110 metre Libyan oil tanker built in 1969 in the United Kingdom. For many years, this vessel transported fuel across the Mediterranean. On February 1995 while the ship was undergoing maintenance work in dry dock an immensely huge and devastating gas explosion occurred onboard claiming the lives of nine Maltese dockworkers and leaving the tanker structurally damaged beyond repair.

After remaining unused in Valletta harbour for several years, in 1998 authorities decided to scuttle the vessel off the southern coast of Malta near Wied iż-Żurrieq. Lots of footage of this memorable scuttling is available on the web.

The Um el Faroud was intentionally sunk to create an artificial reef and diving attraction. Today, the wreck sits perfectly upright on a sandy seabed at depths ranging from approximately 17 to 34 metres, making it suitable mainly for Advanced Open Water and experienced divers. We try to, as much as safely and comfortably possible, to dive this amazing wreck by boat. This gives us added safety and also way more time on the wreck. Diving this wreck from shore will give you an approx time of 15 min on the wreck, however, when we dive this wreck from our boat we can take over 45 min of bottom time giving us so much more time to discover the many compartments and levels this attraction has to offer. Always remembering that to penetrate any wreck the proper certification and training is required.

One of the most unique features of the Um El Faroud is its massive scale. At over 100 metres long, divers often need several dives to fully explore the site especially if you are diving this wreck from the shore. In the winter storms of 2005, 2006, the wreck split into two sections, creating dramatic swim-throughs and opening new areas for exploration. The engine room, cargo tanks, bridge, propeller, and interior corridors offer an unforgettable underwater adventure for qualified wreck divers.

Beyond the wreck itself, the Um El Faroud has become a thriving artificial reef covered with marine life. Schools of barracuda, tuna, sea bream, octopus, and colourful Mediterranean fish regularly surround the structure, making every dive different. Combined with Malta’s exceptional visibility and dramatic coastline, the Um El Faroud offers one of the most memorable wreck diving experiences in Europe. For many divers, it is not simply a wreck, it has become an underwater monument blending history, tragedy, and marine beauty into a truly unforgettable diving experience..