Coral Gardens reef

Coral Gardens reef

Coral Gardens, located off the seaside promenade of Sliema on Malta’s northeast coast, is a delightful shore dive site known for its scenic underwater topography and marine life. This dive site is characterized by its shallow reef, featuring valleys, canyons, gullies, and interesting rock formations. The presence of swim-through tunnels adds to the allure of the site, making it a fascinating location for exploration and underwater photography.

With an average depth of around 5 meters and reaching a maximum of about 15 meters, Coral Gardens is accessible and suitable for divers of all levels, including beginners. The relatively shallow waters ensure good visibility, typically ranging from 10 to 30 meters, with an average of about 25 meters. The reef’s diverse marine life includes species such as crabs, amberjacks, lobsters, common octopuses, flying gurnards, Mediterranean damselfishes, painted combers, and discodoris or dotted seaslugs.

Adjacent to Coral Gardens is Fortizza Reef, also known as Sliema House Reef, which shares similar depths and underwater characteristics. Both sites are popular among divers and snorkelers for their accessible yet diverse underwater environments.