Um El Faroud Wreck – Malta’s Most Iconic Shipwreck Dive

Discover One of the Best Wreck Dives in the Mediterranean

The Um El Faroud Wreck is one of the most spectacular wreck dives in Malta. Resting at 36 metres, this former oil tanker has become an artificial reef, filled with marine life and vibrant sponges. Today, it attracts advanced and technical divers eager to explore its expansive decks, cargo holds, and thrilling penetration routes.

If you love wreck diving, this site offers everything—breathtaking underwater scenery, exciting swim-throughs, and fascinating history. Located just off Zurrieq Reef, it also allows divers to combine a deep wreck dive with a scenic reef drift.

Thriving Marine Life at the Um El Faroud Wreck

Only a few months after its scuttling, the Um El Faroud Wreck started attracting marine life. Now, the site teems with shoals of fish, cephalopods, and bottom-dwellers. Brightly coloured sponges and corals continue to spread across the wreck, making it an ideal dive for underwater photographers.

While exploring, you might see:

  • Shoals of barracuda circling the wreck’s upper decks.
  • Squid and cuttlefish hovering around the hull.
  • Thousand of bogues darting through the superstructure.
  • Damsel fish cascading down the wreck like a living waterfall.
  • Moray eels, groupers, and scorpionfish hiding in dark corners.

Since marine life constantly changes, every dive at the Um El Faroud Wreck feels unique.

Wreck Penetration & Dive Route

For divers who enjoy wreck penetration, this site offers multiple safe yet thrilling entry points. The hatches, engine room, and bridge compartments provide incredible exploration opportunities. However, penetration should only be attempted by those with proper wreck diving training.

Key Penetration Areas:

  • Bridge hatches, cabins, and galleys – Explore the former crew quarters.
  • Hull hatches below deck – Swim through the vast cargo areas.
  • Engine Room Access – A vertical shaft leads directly from the funnel into the engine room.
  • Bow Compartment – Swim through this section and emerge near the bridge front.

Because of its depth, this site is also popular for decompression training. Many technical divers spend over an hour exploring its structure while managing their gas supply.

History of the Um El Faroud Wreck

Originally built in 1969 in Middlesbrough, England, the Um El Faroud was an oil tanker owned by General National Maritime Transport Company, Tripoli (GNMTC). Measuring 109.53 metres in length with a beam of 15.5 metres, it was used for carrying refined fuel between Italy and Libya.

The Explosion and Scuttling

On February 3, 1995, while undergoing maintenance in Malta’s dry docks, an explosion in Tank No. 3 resulted in the tragic deaths of nine Maltese shipyard workers. The ship was deemed structurally unsalvageable and remained in dry dock for three years before being prepared for scuttling.

In 1998, after an environmental impact assessment, the diving community selected Wied iz-Zurrieq as the final resting place of the Um El Faroud Wreck. Thousands of spectators gathered to watch as the ship slowly submerged, creating one of Malta’s most iconic artificial reefs and technical dive sites.

Who Can Dive at the Um El Faroud Wreck?

📌 SSI Advanced Adventurer – Ideal for wreck diving enthusiasts with deep diving experience.
📌 Technical Divers – The wreck offers an excellent site for decompression training and deeper wreck penetration.

For those looking to explore more dive sites in the area, check out:

  • Zurrieq Reef and Caves – A shallow reef with marine life and swim-throughs, perfect for multi-level dives.
  • Ghar Lapsi Dive Site – Explore breathtaking underwater rock formations and caves near Wied iz-Zurrieq.