HMS Maori WW2 Wreck

Wreck Dive, St Elmos Bay, Valletta, Malta

The site is found below fort St. Elmo, in front of a cafe which has its outside walls covered with a number of painted Destroyers, amongst which is the HMS Maori. HMS Maori, a British Destroyer, was launched in 1937 and saw considerable action in the Mediterranean. On February 12th, 1942, it was moored at the entrance to Dockyard Creek, when it received a direct hit in her engine room. She was eventually set down in the back-water of St. Elmo’s Bay, on the sandy bottom at a depth of around 15 meters. Her guns were removed and the bows and stern are gone, however, part of the raised bridge is still there.

During the years the wreck has taken some hard hits from the weather. A storm in early 2019 has caused tremendous damage to the wreck, which has made the wreck unpenetrable, to divers.

The Bridge

The bridge sits proudly on the top of the wreck and allows divers the opportunity to see loads of marine life and underwater fauna. If you are into your photography, make sure you spend some time here.

Experience Needed

You must be certified to dive to a depth of 18 meters to dive this site, as such we would require a minimum of Open Water Diver certification. We would also recommend Nitrox Diver.