The Maldives Clubs 2003 annual trip was to Malta. We decided on Malta after discussing the various alternatives - Scapa Flow (probably raining), Scilly Islands (can't guarantee the weather or diving), Red Sea (the girls would NOT be best pleased if the lads waved goodbye on a live-aboard), or Malta (good weather, good diving, reasonably cheap). So it was that Malta was chosen. I was elected/volunteered to organise it. In actual fact, it was quite easy. Below is a summary of the best dives.

Blue Hole/Azure Window - Gozo.

This is a great dive! There is a bit of a walk from the car park across rocky terrain, but the hole appears soon enough. It gets its name because it is a hole in the ground, surrounded by rock and looking down it is blue! Into the hole and down about 9m brings you under the arch and the open sea. Finning out and left you follow the reef wall, dropping to about 12m where all the life is. 10 or so minutes later the coral cave appears, the bottom of which is about 28m. Into the cave at the far side and torches on you head slowly round.

It is here that the sea horses are most likely to be found - we weren't disappointed! Two yellow ones close to each other - I always thought they were brown. Anyway, much photographing later, we moved on around the cave looking at the multitude of coloured sponges and other growth on the walls. The nearside is somewhat higher than the farside so we exited at about 18m and started back. Getting steadily higher we returned again at about 12m to conserve air. Finally reaching the hole again, we spent a few minutes exploring the cave under the hole which, whilst big, was of little interest and we were soon out, slowly rising via safety stops at 9m, 6m and 3m.

Um El Faroud - Zurreiq.

The Um El Faroud is probably the best shore dive in the Med. Park at the Blue Grotto, kit up, walk down the steep slope and jump in. Surface swim across the inlet to the creek, avoiding the steady stream of boats taking punters to the actual Blue Grotto. then as you round the rocks, drop down and head more or less straight out to sea. You will see the Faroud after about 4 or 5 minutes finning. It is best to stay at about 10m here to conserve air as much as possible. The wreck is easily visible from this depth anyway.

The Rozi - Cirkewwa.

As a shore dive, it is one of those dives where you head down slowly, the anticipation building, and there it is, appearing out of the gloom. I know I enjoyed it and I know it is a good dive, but it is instantly forgettable. That's not to say I wouldn't do it again, and that's not to say it isn't good because it is, but there is something about it - I guess it has nothing that makes it truly stand out like the wheel on the Eagle, or the multi-level of the Faroud.

Santa Maria Caves - Comino.

There are two main reasons for diving the Santa Maria caves, one is the caves themselves which are large and easily accessible and secondly to feed the fish, who are well aware that divers = food and gather round in large numbers when divers enter the water. Another shallowish dive so 60 minutes bottom time is achieveable. The remainder of the area is pleasant, if not spectacular reef diving.

In the event, everything went smoothly and everyone had a good time, with plenty of good diving and socialising being done. There were no complaints and no arguments, so I guess it can be considered a success.