Watercolours Dive Centre
Small, named-instructor dive centre in Sliema, Malta, running the Fortizza house reef and boat trips to Cirkewwa and southern wrecks since 2007.
Last updated September 2026
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About Watercolours Dive Centre
Jason Fabri started as a PADI instructor in Australia in 1997, came home to Malta, and by 1999 was running Watercolours Diving Expeditions, a liveaboard operating around the Maltese islands. In 2007 he and marine biologist Patrick Vella opened the shore-based Watercolours Dive Centre at the Sliema Aquatic Sports Club, now a Malta Tourism Authority-licensed dive centre (DIVE0069) and a registered SSI Extended Range centre (735629). Maltese law requires any diver rated below Advanced Open Water to be accompanied by an insured instructor in the water at all times. The current team works with divers directly: Jason himself, Jorge De La Morena, Jose Garrido, Michaela Melillo and Bruno.
The house reef sits a few minutes from the front door: the Fortizza tunnels and caverns, used for training dives and repeat shore trips. Boat diving covers Malta's wreck cluster at Cirkewwa and the southern coast, run from the custom 8.5 m trimaran Lily, built in 2020 and certified for 12 divers. The centre holds SSI Extended Range status and runs IANTD technical training up to Tec Instructor level, and is Malta's local TECLINE distributor and service centre. Each year it also partners with the AquaBioTech Group on a marine-biology short course, now in its twelfth consecutive year, mixing lectures with a dive and snorkel day at the Sliema base.
What divers say
Almost every review of Watercolours names a specific instructor, Jason, Jose or Michaela, and the owner or team replies to each one under the centre's own name. The score stays consistently high across two independent review platforms, with several hundred reviews behind it. Recurring themes are patience with nervous or first-time divers, one-on-one instruction arranged on short notice, and flexibility with late or extended bookings: one reviewer stretched a three-day trip to four with no extra friction. Reviewers describe an unhurried, low-pressure pace, with dive groups kept deliberately small, and single out specific dives among their favourite memories: Um El Faroud, P29, the P31/Santa Maria Caves and X127.
Dive Sites (10)
Facilities
Pricing
We do our best to show current pricing, but rates may change without notice. Last verified September 2026. Always confirm the latest prices on Watercolours Dive Centre's official website before booking.
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Courses
Guided Dives
Other Services
Boat and wreck-zone dive packages, tec pricing and equipment rental are itemised in detail on the centre's own price list; confirm current rates directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who founded Watercolours Dive Centre?▾
Jason Fabri, who started teaching PADI Open Water courses in Australia in 1997 and ran a Malta liveaboard, Watercolours Diving Expeditions, from 1999. In 2007 he opened the shore-based Watercolours Dive Centre with marine biologist Patrick Vella.
Is Watercolours Dive Centre good for solo or last-minute bookings?▾
Reviews describe one-on-one instruction arranged for late or solo bookings, delivered by a small, stable team of named instructors.
Does Watercolours Dive Centre run technical diving courses?▾
Yes. It holds SSI Extended Range status and runs IANTD technical training up to Tec Instructor level, and is Malta's local TECLINE equipment distributor and service centre.
What is the house reef at Watercolours Dive Centre like?▾
The Fortizza tunnels and caverns, a few minutes from the centre in Sliema, used for training dives, night dives, and repeat shore trips.
Does Watercolours Dive Centre offer marine biology or eco-focused diving?▾
Yes. It partners annually with the AquaBioTech Group on a marine-biology short course, now in its twelfth consecutive year, combining lectures with a dive and snorkel day at the Sliema base.
What is Watercolours Dive Centre's reputation like?▾
Consistently high, verified ratings across two independent review platforms. Reviews consistently name individual instructors and highlight patience with nervous or first-time divers.
What certification do I need for the wreck dives?▾
It depends on the wreck zone. The Inner Zone A pack (HMS Maori, Tug 2, Neptune, X127) requires a minimum Advanced Open Water rating; the Middle Zone B pack (MV Imperial Eagle, HMS Hellespont, Neptune, Beaufighter) requires a minimum Deep Diver rating. Boat trips run from the centre's own trimaran, Lily.
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