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.
The Imperial Eagle began life as the excursion ship New Royal Lady, built by John Crown & Sons and launched in 1938 — about 45m long with a 9m beam. Requisitioned by the Royal Navy in 1940 for wartime transport, she returned to civilian service in 1947 as Crested Eagle, running pleasure cruises on the Thames and along England's south coast. In 1958 E. Zammit & Co. bought her for Malta, renaming her Imperial Eagle; she ran the Malta-Gozo ferry route carrying around 70 passengers and ten vehicles. From 1968 the Pisani family used her for cargo and livestock between Gozo and Valletta until she fell into disrepair and partly sank at her moorings. The diving community bought her in 1995 and, after lengthy delays, she was scuttled on 19 July 1999 about half a kilometre north-east of Qawra Point. She sits upright on sand at a maximum 42m, deck at around 32m, and can be penetrated, though the timber has largely gone leaving the metal frame and the wheel on the bridge. In 2000 the Statue of Christ (Kristu tal-Bahhara) was moved from St Paul's Island to a spot about 30m from her bow, making the site a distinctive two-in-one dive.
The diving here suits divers at Decompression Procedures 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 MV Imperial Eagle? Tell me your certification level and your dates, and I'll plan it with you. No pressure, no hard sell — just a good dive.