Dive Site Information
Um El Faroud is considered Malta’s best wreck dive, at least for recreational divers, and offers plenty of penetration options for experienced divers. The most appropriate word to describe this wreck is “Majestic”.
Type
Younger Shipwreck
Dive Type
Wreck
Popularity
High
Lenght
110m
Beam
16m
Qualification
Advanced
Depth
20m (avg), 36m (max)
Shore access
Easy to Medium
Hazards
Currents can be very strong. Good air consumption is required to enjoy the dive
History
The MV Um El Faroud began her life in 1969, built by Smith’s Dock Co. Ltd. in Middlesbrough, England. Originally named MV Seafalcon, she spent her first four years of service operating out of Norway before being renamed in 1973, when she was transferred to Libya. As an oil tanker, she transported refined fuel between Italy and Libya for over two decades across the Mediterranean.
Her fate took a tragic turn on the night of 3 February 1995. While undergoing maintenance at the dry docks in Malta’s Grand Harbour, disaster struck. After 10pm, a devastating gas explosion engulfed the ship, shaking the shipyard and sending shockwaves throughout the harbour. The explosion claimed the lives of nine Maltese shipyard workers: seven died instantly, while two others succumbed to their injuries at St Luke’s Hospital. Others were injured but survived, leaving us with the scars of one of Malta’s worst peacetime tragedies.
The explosion left Um El Faroud beyond repair. Her midsection had suffered immense structural deformation, and after three years of mooring in Valletta, the authorities decided to repurpose her. No longer fit for service, she would be used as an artificial reef and diving attraction, a transformation that would turn the tragedy into something significant.
Sinking
In 1998, she was carefully repaired and towed out of the Grand Harbour to Wied iż-Żurrieq. There, in the clear blue waters off the coast of Malta, she was sunk, sinking to her final resting place beneath the waves. For years, she remained undisturbed, becoming a sanctuary for marine life and an iconic site for divers from around the world.
Violent Nature
Nature, however, had one final touch to add to her story. In the winter of 2005-2006, a violent storm hit the wreck, its relentless force tearing her apart. The ship, already scarred by her tragic past, split into two pieces at the very site of the original explosion, a poignant reminder of the event that had sealed her fate.
The Plaque of Honours
For divers who are not permitted or do not wish to Despite the wreck, the memory of those who lost their lives was never forgotten. To honour them, a commemorative brass plaque was placed on the front of the ship’s deck, bearing their names in a lasting tribute.
The Majestic Wreck
Today, when divers descend to the depths to explore the sunken remains of the Um El Faroud, they encounter not only the beauty of an artificial reef, but also a solemn reminder of the human cost behind the ship’s tragic past. Um El Faroud is considered Malta’s best wreck dive, at least for recreational divers, and offers plenty of penetration options for experienced divers. The most appropriate word to describe this wreck is “Majestic”.