On Malta, a first try dive takes half a day or less and costs €50–€110 per person: from €50 for a short introductory dive with PLONGÉE-MALTE.fr in St Paul's Bay to €110 at Scuba Life Malta in Mellieħa and Paradise Diving at Cirkewwa. A two-dive option costs €150 at Malta Blue (with an SSI Basic Diver certificate) or €155 at Scuba Life Malta. Certified divers pay from €105 for a two-dive pack at Scuba Life Malta, and on Gozo a guided shore dive starts at €45. This guide covers the centres, their prices, what is included, what is extra, and the age and medical rules to know before you book.
- Try dives: prices, what is included, minimum age
- Centres on Malta (main island)
- Guided dives and equipment hire for certified divers
- Age limits and medical requirements
- When to dive
- Frequently asked questions
Try dives: prices, what is included, minimum age
A try dive — also called "Discover Scuba Diving" (PADI) or "Try Scuba" (SSI) — is a supervised introduction: a short theory briefing, skill practice in shallow water and, at most centres below, one or two open-water dives to a maximum depth of 12 metres; Dive Systems Malta's SSI Try Scuba is done entirely in shallow, confined water. No prior experience and no certification are needed. Prices at centres on Malta:
| Centre | Location | Format | Price | Unit | Min age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dive Systems Malta | Sliema | SSI Try Scuba — 1 dive | €85 | per person | 8 |
| Dive Systems Malta | Sliema | SSI Basic Diver — 1 open-water dive (couples offer) | €220 | per 2 people | 10 |
| Malta Blue | Sliema | Discover Scuba / Try Scuba — 1 dive | €90 | per person | 10 |
| Malta Blue | Sliema | 2 dives + SSI Basic Diver certificate | €150 | per person | 10 |
| Malta Blue | Sliema | 1 try scuba + wreck dive | €180 | per person | 10 |
| Scuba Life Malta | Mellieħa | PADI Discover Scuba Diving — 1 dive | €110 | per person | 10 |
| Scuba Life Malta | Mellieħa | PADI Discover Scuba Diving Plus — 2 dives | €155 | per person | 10 |
| Scuba Life Malta | Mellieħa | Bubble Maker (kids) | €80 | per person | 8 |
| Paradise Diving | Cirkewwa | PADI Discover Scuba Diving | €110 | per person | 10 |
| PLONGÉE-MALTE.fr | St Paul's Bay | Baptême de plongée — 1 dive (~20–30 min) | €50 | per person | — |
| PLONGÉE-MALTE.fr | St Paul's Bay | Plongée découverte — 1 dive (40–60 min) | €75 | per person | — |
At Dive Systems Malta the regular price for the SSI Basic Diver for two people is €270; the couples offer brings it to €220 — a saving of €50. At Malta Blue, the two-dive option includes an SSI Basic Diver certificate and underwater images. At Paradise Diving, scuba equipment is loaned free of charge, and no learning materials are needed for Discover Scuba Diving. At PLONGÉE-MALTE.fr, the €75 "plongée découverte" includes equipment, transport to the site and instruction.
Tip
What a try dive buys you: One or two supervised dives to a maximum of 12 metres. At Malta Blue, the two-dive option completes the SSI Basic Diver; Malta Blue counts a Discover Scuba dive as credit if you then take its PADI or SSI Open Water course, and Dive Systems Malta's Try Scuba earns credits towards the SSI Scuba Diver or SSI Open Water course.
Three try dives you can book online:
- SSI Try Scuba in Sliema — Dive Systems Malta — €85 per person, age 8+
- PADI Discover Scuba Diving — Scuba Life Malta — €110 per person, age 10+
- PADI Discover Scuba Diving — Paradise Diving — €110 per person, age 10+
Centres on Malta (main island)
Dive Systems Malta — Sliema
An SSI Diamond Dive Centre on the water's edge at Exiles Bay, on the promenade in the centre of Sliema. Courses are conducted on the house reef at Exiles and at dive sites around Malta, Gozo, and Comino. The dive boat Simo is a 38-foot vessel that can take up to 14 divers and is licensed for the historic wrecks in Malta. Summer hours (May–October): 08:30–18:30, seven days a week. Off-season hours (November–April): 08:30–17:00, Monday–Saturday. Free parking is available outside the centre. All prices include 12% VAT.
Scuba Life Malta — Mellieħa
Scuba Life Malta describes itself as a PADI 5 Star dive centre in Mellieħa, five minutes from Cirkewwa, working in small groups with personal attention. It runs PADI courses from Bubble Maker through Divemaster, guided shore and boat dives, and dive packs across Malta, Gozo and Comino.
Paradise Diving — Cirkewwa
Located at Paradise Bay Resort Hotel, on a private sandy Blue Flag beach in the very north of Malta. Open year-round. Dive boats depart from the centre's own jetty. Southern Gozo dive sites are about 15 minutes by boat; Comino is even closer. The Gozo ferry terminal is a two-minute drive from the centre. Three outdoor pools, one indoor pool, and a classroom are on-site for training. PADI E-Learning is available with a 10% discount on the Open Water course fee when Paradise Diving is nominated as the chosen dive centre.
Malta Blue — Sliema
Based at the Beach Club of the Preluna Hotel on Tower Road, Sliema. Offers SSI and PADI courses and has an on-site pool for training. The try-dive programme takes 2–3 hours: a short theory lesson, skill practice in the pool or shallow calm waters, and one or two open-water dives to a maximum depth of 12 metres. If you later take the PADI or SSI Open Water course with Malta Blue, the Discover Scuba dive counts as credit towards it.
PLONGÉE-MALTE.fr — St Paul's Bay
A French-speaking dive club based in Bugibba (St Paul's Bay), with instructors certified by PADI, SSI, and ADIP. The "baptême" (introductory dive, ~20–30 minutes) starts at €50 per person at Siren's Bay. The fuller "plongée découverte" — about 40–60 minutes underwater at Paradise Bay or Anchor Bay — is €75, everything included. The total time for the discovery session is about 3 hours 30 minutes. The centre also has its own compressor station for air and nitrox.
ABC Diving Malta — St Paul's Bay
A PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Centre in San Pawl il-Baħar (St Paul's Bay). The centre says all its instructors have at least 1,000 dives in Maltese coastal waters, and it keeps dive groups small. Guests staying in the "blue zone" of its transport map are collected free of charge; bespoke course packages include a private transfer from anywhere in Malta.
Guided dives and equipment hire for certified divers
If you already hold an Open Water certification or equivalent, guided shore dives and dive packs are the main products. The table below compares prices at centres on the main island of Malta.
| Item | Centre | Price | Unit | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2-dive pack (tanks & weights) | Scuba Life Malta | €105 | per pack | Tanks, weights |
| 4-dive pack (tanks & weights) | Scuba Life Malta | €195 | per pack | Tanks, weights |
| 6-dive pack (tanks & weights) | Scuba Life Malta | €255 | per pack | Tanks, weights |
| 8-dive pack (tanks & weights) | Scuba Life Malta | €330 | per pack | Tanks, weights |
| 10-dive pack (tanks & weights) | Scuba Life Malta | €390 | per pack | Tanks, weights |
| 2-dive pack (full equipment) | Scuba Life Malta | €120 | per pack | Tanks, weights, full rental kit |
| 10-dive pack (full equipment) | Scuba Life Malta | €460 | per pack | Tanks, weights, full rental kit |
| Night dive + torch | Scuba Life Malta | €20 | per dive (supplement) | Torch |
| Gozo day supplement | Scuba Life Malta | €25 | per day | — |
| BCD/wing hire | ABC Diving Malta | €2 | per dive | — |
| Regulator set hire | ABC Diving Malta | €2 | per dive | — |
| Wetsuit hire | ABC Diving Malta | €2 | per dive | — |
| Night dive supplement | ABC Diving Malta | €25 | per diver | Dive light included |
| Refresher dive supplement | ABC Diving Malta | €15 | per diver | Required if >12 months since last dive |
| GoPro 4 rental | Scuba Life Malta | €30 | per day | — |
| Private instructor | Scuba Life Malta | €150 | per day | — |
Tip
At ABC Diving Malta, equipment is hired piece by piece — €2 per dive for each item (BCD, regulator, wetsuit). If you bring your own kit except for a regulator, you add just €2 per dive. A refresher dive is €15 per diver and is required if more than 12 months have passed since your last dive.
At Scuba Life Malta, equipment rental is only available for use on their guided dives — not for private or independent use. All prices there are subject to change; confirm when enquiring.
Open Water and further courses — a price snapshot
If the try dive hooks you, the next step is usually the PADI Open Water Diver or SSI Open Water Diver course — typically three to four days, certifying you to dive to 18 metres with a buddy. Here is what it costs at the Malta-based centres in this guide:
| Centre | System | Price | Unit | Duration | Min age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scuba Life Malta | PADI | €540 | per person | 3 days | 10 |
| Paradise Diving | PADI | €540 | per person | — | 10 |
| PLONGÉE-MALTE.fr | SSI/PADI | €440 | per person | — | 10 |
| ABC Diving Malta | PADI (Bespoke) | €1,190 | per person | 4-day course | 10 |
The €1,190 "Bespoke" course at ABC Diving Malta is private tuition with a private transfer from anywhere in Malta, five confined-water and five open-water dives, multilingual eLearning, premium equipment, student dive insurance, and workshops on descent, buoyancy and efficient finning. It is not a group course — you choose the days. The PLONGÉE-MALTE.fr price of €440 includes eLearning registration, equipment and certification. At Paradise Diving, equipment rental is included in the €540 price, and if you do PADI eLearning and nominate Paradise Diving as your dive centre, you get 10% off the Open Water course fee.
Age limits and medical requirements
Dive Systems Malta and ABC Diving Malta ask every diver to complete a medical form. At Dive Systems, if you answer "yes" to any question, you need to bring a medical certificate from a doctor.
- Age 8+: Bubble Maker (Scuba Life Malta, €80) and SSI Try Scuba (Dive Systems Malta, €85) accept children from 8.
- Age 10+: Discover Scuba Diving (PADI) and SSI Basic Diver programmes begin at 10. Open Water certification is also available from age 10 (juniors are certified to 12 metres).
- Age 12+: Advanced Open Water and Rescue Diver courses.
- Age 15+: Deep Diver and Wreck Diver at Scuba Life Malta, Deep Diver at ABC Diving Malta, Wreck Diver at Paradise Diving.
- No experience needed: Try dives require no prior certification. You need adequate swimming skills — "you don't need to be an Olympian, just happy in the water", as ABC Diving Malta puts it.
Important
Dive Systems Malta advises leaving a minimum of 12 hours between your last dive and your flight. Plan your final dive day with that in mind.
When to dive
Malta is diveable year-round. ABC Diving Malta states that May to October offers calm waters and excellent visibility, though diving is possible year-round. Dive Systems Malta reports visibility up to 30 metres year-round. For water temperature, expect 24–28°C from June to October and 14–16°C in winter (December to March), according to Utina Diving in Gozo. Dive Systems Malta's summer hours run May to October (08:30–18:30, seven days); the off-season schedule is November to April (08:30–17:00, Monday–Saturday).
