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Overview
Off Qawra Point on Malta's northeast coast, a 3 m statue of Christ — concrete over fiberglass, arms outstretched, sculpted by Alfred Camilleri Cauchi and blessed by Pope John Paul II in 1990 — stands on white sand at 35 m inside a natural rock amphitheatre. Relocated here from St Paul's Islands in 2000, it sits about 30 m along an underwater valley from the MV Imperial Eagle, a 45 m former Malta–Gozo ferry scuttled in 1999 that rests upright with its deck at 32 m and keel near 42 m. A reef arch and a large 17th-century anchor mark the route. Dusky grouper, amberjack, barracuda, two-banded bream and moray eels work the wreck and walls in clear, deep water that suits experienced divers on a boat dive.
Briefing note
Boat-access deep dive: the statue rests at 35 m and the Imperial Eagle's keel reaches about 42 m, so it is for advanced/experienced divers — plan gas and no-deco limits accordingly. Below the ~30 m thermocline the water stays around 15-16 C year-round, even in summer. Penetrating the Imperial Eagle should only be attempted with wreck training and a guide.
What you'll see
6 species curated- year-roundDusky grouper
- seasonalGreater amberjackPeak: Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep
- year-roundEuropean barracuda
- year-roundMediterranean moray
- year-roundCommon two-banded seabream
- year-roundCommon octopus
Conditions
| Month | Water | Visibility | Current |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 15–16 °C | 15–25 m | moderate |
| Feb | 15–16 °C | 15–25 m | moderate |
| Mar | 15–16 °C | 15–25 m | moderate |
| Apr | 16–17 °C | 20–30 m | mild |
| May | 17–19 °C | 20–30 m | mild |
| Jun | 21–23 °C | 25–35 m | mild |
| Jul | 24–26 °C | 25–40 m | mild |
| Aug | 26–27 °C | 25–40 m | mild |
| Sep | 25–26 °C | 25–40 m | mild |
| Oct | 22–24 °C | 20–35 m | mild |
| Nov | 19–21 °C | 15–30 m | moderate |
| Dec | 17–18 °C | 15–25 m | moderate |
Season calendar
Peak season highlighted · current month outlined
Gear for this site
Beyond the basic kit- Primary dive light — The statue sits at 35 m in a shaded rock amphitheatre and the Imperial Eagle's interior is dark; a light brings back colour and aids orientation.
- Dive computer — Bottom depths of 35-42 m build nitrogen loading quickly, so a computer is needed to track no-decompression limits and stops.
- Redundant air (pony bottle) — A boat-only dive near 40 m where a direct free ascent is hazardous warrants an independent backup gas supply.
Next step
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