Read on to find out why Malta is a great diving spot for beginners.
The island of Malta is situated at the center of the Mediterranean Sea and it’s a hidden gem with agreeable weather that compliments the adventures it holds. This is a place where the sun almost always shines, even in winter. If this doesn’t already convince you that it’s a great diving spot, then you drive a hard bargain. Read on to find out why Malta is a great diving spot for beginners.
What makes Malta the right choice for beginners?
Besides the great weather, there are a lot of different factors that contribute to Malta’s status as one of the most popular diving spots in the world. In fact, diving enthusiasts have chosen Malta as “The Best Diving Spot in the World” many times over.
For one, there are hundreds of caves, reefs, holes, mysterious tunnels, and wrecks to explore. The waters are also known to be ideal for diving because they’re crystal-clear and always warm. This means you can explore without worrying about encountering dangerous underwater creatures or freezing socks off.
A beginner’ guide to diving in Malta
Below, we’ve compiled a simple and helpful guide on how to take on diving in Malta, particularly for beginners looking to take the plunge.
Preparation
The old cliché, “knowledge is power” is important here. The more knowledge you have the better prepared you are for the diving experience. Preparation will also free your from any stress or anxiety you may have experienced about taking on this new adventure.
That’s why Maltese law requires interested divers to becomes certified before they can take the plunge.
To become a certified diver, you need to register at one of the 50 diving centres in Malta and take a beginners’ course. Atlantis scuba diving for example, offers a superb program for beginner divers and it’s designed to make the whole process as painless as possible.
During the registration process, you'll have to fill in your medical information to prove that you’re fit to dive. The course covers theoretical and practical understanding of diving and you can take as much time you need to perfect both parts of it.
The theoretical phase:
This stage will teach you the basic principles of diving. You’ll get all the necessary study material and will be required to take a test at the end of the course to make sure you have a thorough knowledge of diving basics. This includes what to consider when planning dives, and how to choose the right equipment. You'll also learn underwater signals and other diving procedures.
The practical phase:
The practical phase involves learning how to set up your equipment, as well as how to enter and navigate the water. You'll also learn:
• How to breathe through your mask
• How to get water out of it
• Buoyancy control
• How to exit the water
You'll take this test in a confined pool-like water unit.
After passing all the above stages, you’ll be ready to take on the open water dive. You’ll still have an instructor with you at all times to guide you as you apply everything you’ve learned during training.
Certification
Getting a certification will depend on many factors. What is most important is showing that you know what to do at all times. You'll also need to show that you take safety procedures properly.
Once you get certified, you’ll be free to go diving without an instructor and enjoy all the beauty that the Mediterranean has to offer.
Diving equipment
Diving centres in Malta have diving equipment available for rental. But should you want to carry your own gear, this is a list of what you’ll need.
– Mask – this covers the eyes, the ears and mouth.
– Wetsuit – this protects your skin.
– Diving gloves – these protect your hands.
– Snorkel – Useful for breathing.
– Fins – help control your movement underwater.
– Tank- helps you breathe underwater.
– Regulator- this connects to the tank and your mouth for breathing purposes.
– Buoyancy compensator – this helps control your depth underwater.
– Pressure gauge – shows how much air pressure is still left in your tank.
– Dive computer – this reads you depth. It also tells you the length of time underwater and how much longer you can still stay at any depth.
