Scuba Season
Underwater at HMS Russell
John Dory confirmed 1 month agoPeak season now

HMS Russell

Gozo · Malta

Royal Navy Duncan class battleship that struck two mines laid by German submarine U73 on 27 April 1916 and now rests upside down on sand 6 km east of Fort St Elmo off the Delimara peninsula. The 132 m hull sits at 115 m with the keel rising to roughly 100 m and the stern torn off by the second detonation. Discovered in 2003 and opened to permit holders in May 2019, the wreck is the largest tech accessible WWI battleship in the Mediterranean. Trimix teams tie shot lines to the inverted keel, drop alongside 12 inch gun barrels still in their barbettes, and pass open hatches where John Dory and forkbeard hold station inside the casemates. Visibility at depth regularly exceeds 30 m and the steel is draped in white gorgonians and red sponges.

Conditions

Depth

100 to 115 m

Advanced depths

Current

Usually gentle

Can pick up on the edge

Visibility

25 to 40 m

Clearest in the calm season

Water

14 to 22°C

Drysuit; cold thermocline at depth

Month by month

MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Water (°C)141414151617171717171615
Vis (m)252525252525252525252525
CurrentGentleGentleGentleGentleGentleGentleGentleGentleGentleGentleGentleGentle

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Gear

  • Basic kit

    • Mask and fins
    • BCD and regulator
    • 7mm wetsuit or drysuit · cold water
    • Dive computer