Reef/Wall · 5–55m / 16-180ft
Inland Sea
One of the dive sites we run here in Malta — here's the story behind it, the depth and access, and what it takes to dive it properly.
One of the dive sites we run here in Malta — here's the story behind it, the depth and access, and what it takes to dive it properly.
A genuine Maltese classic. The Inland Sea at Dwejra is a shallow lagoon cut off from the open Mediterranean by the cliffs — except for one tunnel, around 80m long, bored straight through the headland. You kit up on the shingle, drop into the lagoon, then fin through the tunnel with the fishing boats puttering overhead, the light fading and then exploding back to blue as you emerge at roughly 26m onto a spectacular wall.
The play of light in the tunnel is unforgettable, and the wall outside is draped in life. One of the best easy-access dives anywhere on the islands.
The approach is part of the experience. You kit up on a shingle beach inside the lagoon, surrounded by luzzu fishing boats painted in traditional Maltese colours. The tunnel mouth is immediately obvious — a dark oval in the cliff face, around 8–10m wide and 80m long, with the light from the open sea just visible at the far end.
Inside the tunnel the light fades to near-darkness, then the exit blooms open and you drop out onto a wall at 26m. The contrast is immediate: the enclosed tunnel to open blue water and a wall that drops past 50m, draped in gorgonian fans and home to large grouper and occasional sea turtles. The wall runs south-west toward the Blue Hole, which you can combine into a single dive with a DPV if you want to cover the distance efficiently.
Current through the tunnel depends on tidal state and swell — on a flat day it's effectively nothing; on a bumpy day there's a noticeable push either in or out. We time entries accordingly. The lagoon itself is shallow (3–5m) and the local fishing boats treat it as their territory, so we move at neutral buoyancy and give them room. The whole dive including the tunnel transit and a proper explore of the wall runs around 50–60 minutes on open circuit.
The diving here suits divers at Trimix Diver level. If you’re not there yet, these are the courses that get you there:
Already certified and just want to dive it? Come and explore it with me on open circuit or CCR — one relaxed dive a day, no rushing, as long in the water as you like.
Want to dive Inland Sea? Tell me your certification level and your dates, and I'll plan it with you. No pressure, no hard sell — just a good dive.