Maori Wreck

Location: Marsamxetto Creek - off Valletta Bastions facing Sliema
HMS Maori Facing: North
Type: Shore dive
Max. depth: 15 meters 
Entry: Easy - walk off jetty down the stairs from road level

Navigation: Before kitting up, look along the pavement on the sea side of the road. You should be able to see a foot long piece of metal water pipe sticking out of the ground! Stand by the pipe, positioning yourself so that the big tunnel in the bastion face is directly behind you. Take a bearing straight out to sea, drawing a straight line from the tunnel through your body and over the pipe. That's your bearing!!!!

What's left of the the Maori is lying upright on the sand with the depth on her starboard side being approximately 16 meters deep and on her port side about 12 meters deep. Once you navigate out from the entry point you will come across a drop-off following the contours of the bay. On the seaward side the bottom is sand. Follow the drop off to the west and you will eventually arrive on the Maori. The first thing you will notice is the hole in her starboard bow, close to her winches. As you travel down her length you will notice large round "hatches" with brass rims. These were her gun mountings. Next come the remains of her super structure with another gun mount on top. After this you will only find debris. This is because she was actually broken in two and only her forward section remains! This has the advantage that entry is possible without the possibility of getting lost. In addition plenty of light comes in through some missing side panels as well as through various hatches leading to her deck.

Wreck penetration should not be attempted without previous training and experience.