Maltaqua
Family-run PADI 5-Star dive centre in St Paul's Bay, Malta, running recreational-to-technical training since 1970 with on-site accommodation and gas blending.
Last updated September 2026
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About Maltaqua
Maltaqua runs a shore-based, guided-diving model from a single fixed base in St Paul's Bay, a structure going back to 1970, when instructors Mike and Agnes Upton opened the centre on Triq il-Mosta. Guided groups of up to six meet each morning and dive whichever site the instructor picks for that day's wind and conditions, and the centre has since trained thousands of divers and hundreds of instructors over more than five decades.
Recreational dives are planned as no-decompression dives to a maximum depth of 35 metres. Deeper wrecks over 40 metres down, among them the Imperial Eagle and the HMS Stubborn submarine, are reached by boat charter roughly twice a week in high season and need a minimum of 12 divers booked to run. An unguided stream lets certified repeat visitors dive on their own schedule with rented cylinders, outside the guided groups.
A dedicated technical department runs its own on-site gas-blending station for air, nitrox and trimix, training divers to a 45-metre operating depth on courses such as TDI Decompression Procedures and DSAT Tec 45. Maltaqua also holds UK Ministry of Defence approval as a training facility, a ComMAC accreditation few Malta operators share, and runs school-group marine-conservation add-ons with Malta's National Aquarium and Sharklab.
On-site apartments about 100 metres from the centre, plus a seafront villa, support dive-and-stay packages, and every guided dive and course is led by a fully qualified instructor, never a Divemaster intern or trainee. Maltaqua has also been named Best Diving Centre at the Malta Tourism Awards.
What divers say
A recurring thread across reviews is repeat visitors who describe Maltaqua as a fixture of their regular Malta trips, not a one-off booking, alongside praise for named instructors that comes up across different years and different reviewers. Several reviewers also note accommodating handling of mixed-ability groups, including guests with mobility considerations. Ratings on both review channels sit close to the top of their scales, weighted heavily toward the highest band, with entries continuing into 2025.
The clearest recurring criticism is operational, not safety-related: one reviewer described a last-minute site change from Cirkewwa to Ghar Lapsi on a hot, crowded day, and reported a partial refund afterward.
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Facilities
Pricing
We do our best to show current pricing, but rates may change without notice. Last verified July 2026. Always confirm the latest prices on Maltaqua's official website before booking.
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Courses
Guided Dives
Other Services
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long has Maltaqua been operating in St Paul's Bay?▾
Since 1970, founded by Mike and Agnes Upton, both instructors who had already logged dives since 1968. It's one of the longest-running dive operations in Malta, having trained thousands of divers and instructors over more than five decades.
Does Maltaqua only run shore dives, or does it also do boat trips to deeper wrecks?▾
Its day-to-day model is shore-based guided diving in groups of up to six, but it charters boats roughly twice weekly in high season for deeper wrecks such as the Imperial Eagle and HMS Stubborn submarine, which sit beyond the standard shore rotation.
Can I stay on-site while diving with Maltaqua?▾
Yes. The centre has apartments about 100 metres away plus a seafront villa, set up for integrated dive-and-stay packages instead of separate accommodation bookings.
Does Maltaqua offer technical and rebreather training?▾
Yes, through a dedicated in-house technical department with its own on-site gas-blending station producing air, nitrox and trimix up to 300 bar. It also holds UK Ministry of Defence approval as a training facility, a niche accreditation among Malta operators.
Is Maltaqua suitable for independent, repeat divers rather than guided groups?▾
Yes. Alongside guided packages, it runs an unguided stream for certified repeat visitors who bring their own transport and dive on their own schedule using rented cylinders.
What do divers say about Maltaqua's guided diving?▾
Reviews consistently praise named instructors and describe repeat visits over multiple years. The main recurring criticism is occasional last-minute site changes on crowded or hot days, an operational note rather than a safety concern.
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