Reviewed · DIVING & SNORKELING
Malta: Discover Scuba Diving in crystal clear waters
Breathing underwater changes your sense of place. This three-hour Malta experience gives you a careful first step into scuba, with an instructor, equipment, transport, and a shallow underwater tour at Cirkewwa marine park. You begin with a short online lesson, then practice basic skills before exploring the Mediterranean.
I like the clear, calm water and the small group limit of 10 people. I also like that the experience includes the full beginner setup, from the learning lesson to equipment and transport to the site. The main drawback is that this is not suitable for non-swimmers or people with several medical conditions, so you need to check the requirements before booking.
The price is $147 per person. That is a fair amount for a first-time scuba session because it covers instruction, equipment, the online preparation, transportation, and the underwater tour. Still, three hours goes quickly, and the maximum depth is 12 meters, so experienced divers will want something more advanced.
In This Review
- Key Points To Know Before You Book
- Why Cirkewwa Works Well For A First Scuba Experience
- The First Step Is An Online Lesson
- Trying The Equipment Before Leaving The Center
- Traveling To The Cirkewwa Site
- Three Simple Exercises Underwater
- What The Underwater Tour Is Really Like
- Is $147 A Fair Price?
- Who Should Book This Malta Activity?
- What To Bring And What To Leave Behind
- What Happens After The Session?
- Practical Verdict: Book Or Skip?
- FAQ
- How long does the Malta scuba experience last?
- Where does the underwater session take place?
- What is the maximum depth?
- Do I need to complete anything before entering the water?
- Is scuba equipment included?
- Is transportation included?
- What languages can the instructor speak?
- Who cannot take part?
Key Points To Know Before You Book

- Your first underwater breathing session: You learn to use scuba equipment and complete simple exercises before touring the site.
- Cirkewwa marine park: The session takes place in protected waters known for good visibility and a shallow entry point.
- Online lesson first: You must watch short videos and complete a simple quiz before getting into the water.
- Maximum depth of 12 meters: The experience is designed for beginners, not advanced scuba training.
- Small group attention: A group of no more than 10 people gives the instructor room to help with equipment and basic skills.
- Multilingual instruction: The instructor can teach in English, French, Spanish, Italian, or German.
Why Cirkewwa Works Well For A First Scuba Experience

Cirkewwa is a practical choice for your first session because the water is described as shallow, calm, and clear. Those conditions matter when you are learning to breathe through a regulator, adjust your equipment, and stay relaxed underwater.
You are not being sent straight into a demanding open-water challenge. Instead, the instructor introduces the equipment and the site, then has you complete three simple exercises in the water. Once those skills are done, you take an underwater tour.
The protected marine park setting adds interest beyond the mechanics of scuba. You are learning in a place where the main attraction is the underwater world itself, not just a swimming pool practice session. The supplied information does not specify which fish, plants, or underwater features you will see, so you should treat the marine life as a pleasant possibility rather than a promised part of the tour.
The clear water is one of the strongest reasons to choose this activity in Malta. Good visibility can make it easier for you to understand where you are and to enjoy the view while you learn. It may also help nervous beginners feel less boxed in, though anyone who feels anxious in open water should consider the suitability rules carefully.
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The First Step Is An Online Lesson
Your experience begins at the dive center with a briefing. You will download an app, watch a series of short videos, and answer a simple quiz before entering the water.
This online lesson is not just a formality. It gives you an early introduction to the equipment, safety ideas, and basic expectations. You can complete that part before the wet portion begins, but you should plan enough time to finish it before your scheduled session.
The requirement is worth noting because arriving without completing the lesson could slow down your group. The activity is only three hours long, so the schedule depends on everyone being ready when the group moves to the site.
I like this format for beginners. It lets you process the basic information at your own pace before you are standing in swimwear with equipment around you. It also means the instructor can use the in-person briefing for practical questions and demonstrations rather than spending the entire session on introductory theory.
Trying The Equipment Before Leaving The Center

After the online preparation, you try the scuba equipment at the center. The instructor introduces the equipment you will use and helps you become familiar with it before you go to the water.
For a first-time participant, this step can make a big difference. The equipment may feel unfamiliar at first, and the idea of breathing through a regulator takes some getting used to. Handling it on land gives you a chance to ask questions and get comfortable before the underwater portion begins.
The experience includes the necessary diving equipment and an experienced instructor. You do not need to arrange your own gear, which makes the $147 price easier to judge. You are paying for instruction and use of equipment, not simply access to the water.
The information does not give a specific equipment list or identify the instructor by name. It does confirm that instructors speak English, French, Spanish, Italian, or German. If language is important to you, check the available language when choosing a time.
Traveling To The Cirkewwa Site

The package includes transport from the center to a dive site close by. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you need to make your own way to the starting point.
That distinction matters. The experience is convenient once you are at the center, but it is not a door-to-door excursion from your hotel. Before booking, check where the dive center is and allow time to arrive with your swimwear, towel, water, sunscreen, and a change of clothes.
The short transfer keeps the focus on the activity. You are not spending a large part of the three-hour schedule on a long road journey. At the site, the instructor gives you an introduction to both the equipment and the place where you will enter the water.
The exact transport vehicle and travel time are not specified. Smoking and alcohol are not allowed in the vehicle, and you cannot bring alcoholic drinks into it. Those rules are straightforward, but they are worth knowing if you are planning a full day around the session.
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Three Simple Exercises Underwater

Once you enter the water, you complete three basic exercises. The supplied details do not name each exercise, but they are intended to help you use the equipment and become comfortable underwater.
This is the heart of the experience. The instructor is not simply taking you on a sightseeing swim. You first learn the basic actions needed to manage yourself in the water, then move on to the site tour.
For you, the pace may feel slow at first. That is a good thing. A beginner session should give you time to listen, practice, and settle into the rhythm of breathing through the equipment. The small group limit of 10 supports more personal attention, although the exact number in your group will depend on the booking.
After the exercises, you tour the site with the instructor. The maximum permitted depth is 12 meters. You may remain much shallower, especially while completing the first skills, so do not assume you will automatically reach that limit.
The shallow setting is one of the main advantages here. You get a real Mediterranean scuba experience while staying within a clearly defined beginner depth. If you already hold a certification or have substantial scuba experience, the restrictions may make the session feel basic.
What The Underwater Tour Is Really Like
The final tour lets you use the skills you have just practiced in a real marine setting. The waters at Cirkewwa are described as calm and clear, and the site is within a protected marine park.
I would approach this as an introduction rather than a major marine-life expedition. The information promises an underwater tour, but it does not promise particular animals, wrecks, caves, or dramatic formations. That makes the experience best suited to someone who wants to find out how scuba feels for the first time.
The French reviews add a small but useful clue about the appeal. One verified booking from September 2025 praised it as a great moment for a partner, while another from August 2025 called it a wonderful activity and said the children enjoyed it. Those comments support the idea that this works well as a shared holiday activity, especially for a couple or family with eligible children.
Children must be at least 10 years old. The activity is not suitable for unaccompanied minors, so a child cannot simply attend alone. The available information does not state the exact adult-to-child arrangement, so check directly if you are booking for a family group.
Is $147 A Fair Price?
At $147 per person, this is not a cheap swim. It is also more than a simple snorkeling outing. The price includes an instructor, scuba equipment, the online lesson, transport to the nearby site, and the underwater tour.
That package gives you a reasonable amount of value if you are curious about scuba but do not own equipment or want to commit to a full certification course. You receive a structured introduction and a chance to decide if you want to continue.
The price is less attractive if you are already certified. The maximum depth is 12 meters, and the session is built around beginner exercises. Experienced scuba users may get more from a certified trip designed around a particular site.
You should also remember what is not included. Food and drinks are extra, and there is no hotel pickup or drop-off. The session lasts three hours, so you can fit it into a day of sightseeing, but you will need to plan your own transport to and from the center.
A reserve-now, pay-later option lets you hold a place without paying immediately. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund. Those terms help if your Malta schedule is still shifting, but you should not leave the online lesson until the last minute.
Who Should Book This Malta Activity?
I would recommend this experience to adults and children aged 10 or older who can swim, meet the health requirements, and want a guided first introduction to scuba.
It is especially suitable for:
- Couples looking for a shared activity
- Families with children aged 10 or above
- First-time scuba participants
- People who prefer a small group instead of a large class
- Anyone who wants to test scuba before taking further training
- Visitors who value clear, calm water and a short activity
You should not book it if you are a non-swimmer or if you are pregnant. It is also not suitable for people with back or heart problems, epilepsy, high blood pressure, recent surgery, a cold, or other pre-existing medical conditions.
Wheelchair users are listed as not suitable for this experience. If you are unsure about your health, speak with a medical professional before booking and check with the provider before making payment.
You should also avoid the activity if you plan to drink beforehand. Alcohol and drugs are not allowed, and intoxication is prohibited. The same practical rule applies to the vehicle, where smoking and alcoholic drinks are not permitted.
What To Bring And What To Leave Behind
Pack swimwear, a towel, a change of clothes, sunscreen, and water. These are simple items, but you will want all of them after spending time in the sea.
Do not bring weapons, sharp objects, fireworks, explosives, or alcohol. You must not feed animals, touch marine life, touch plants, or take part while intoxicated. These restrictions protect both you and the marine park.
The no-touch rule deserves attention. Clear water can make marine life feel close enough to handle, but you should observe it without contact. That is better for the animals, plants, and your own safety.
Nudity is also not allowed. The activity is organized, practical, and equipment-focused, so come prepared to follow the center’s basic conduct rules.
What Happens After The Session?
After you finish the underwater tour, you receive an email confirming completion. If you enjoyed the experience and want to continue, the center can provide information about your next steps.
That follow-up is useful because a first session often leaves you with one key question: should you take a formal scuba course? This activity does not appear to be a certification course. It is an introductory experience that helps you decide if you like the equipment, breathing method, and feeling of being underwater.
The completion email gives you a record that you finished the session and a route toward further information. Do not confuse it with a full scuba qualification. If certification is your goal, ask what training comes next and what additional requirements apply.
Practical Verdict: Book Or Skip?
Book this experience if you want a guided first taste of scuba in clear Mediterranean water and value having the equipment, instruction, transport, and beginner exercises arranged for you. Cirkewwa’s shallow, calm setting and the 12-meter limit make the activity approachable, while the small group keeps it more personal than a crowded class.
Skip it if you are a non-swimmer, have one of the listed medical restrictions, or already have solid scuba experience. You should also look elsewhere if you expect a long underwater expedition, a particular marine animal, or a certified qualification.
For most suitable beginners, $147 is a reasonable price for a three-hour introduction. Complete the online lesson before you arrive, bring dry clothes and water, and think of the session as a careful first step rather than a full scuba course.
FAQ
How long does the Malta scuba experience last?
The experience lasts three hours. Check availability for the available starting times.
Where does the underwater session take place?
The session takes place in the Cirkewwa marine park, in shallow, calm, and clear Mediterranean waters.
What is the maximum depth?
The maximum permitted depth is 12 meters.
Do I need to complete anything before entering the water?
Yes. You must download an app, watch short online learning videos, and complete a simple quiz before the water session.
Is scuba equipment included?
Yes. Diving equipment and an experienced instructor are included in the price.
Is transportation included?
Transport to the nearby dive site is included. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.
What languages can the instructor speak?
Instruction is available in English, French, Spanish, Italian, and German.
Who cannot take part?
The activity is not suitable for children under 10, pregnant women, non-swimmers, wheelchair users, people with back or heart problems, epilepsy, a cold, high blood pressure, recent surgery, or other pre-existing medical conditions. Unaccompanied minors are also not allowed.
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