Watersports in Malta and Gozo
From joining the Rolex Middle Sea Race to swimming with dolphins, the Maltese islands offer plenty of opportunities for anyone seeking a watersport adventure.
Think “Malta” and in seconds images of our sparkling, clear blue sea will conjure up in your mind.
The association between
Malta and the sea is an age-old reality.
Man first arrived in Malta – by sea – in 5200BC and formed the first fishing community. Almost seven thousand years later the sea is still a source of liveliness, employment and for many: enjoyment.
Water sports abound in Malta and its convenient location in the centre of the Mediterranean means that island-hopping to nearby Sicily may further widen the territory you could cover in a short sea-bound vacation here.
Here are some ideas for water-sports aficionados:
- Join the Rolex Middle Sea Race : Held every year in October this classic race starts from Malta’s spectacular Grand Harbour and attracts around 100 participating yachts. The start of the race is breathtaking and can be watched from any of Valletta’s bastions.
- Hop onto a kayak: with several operators in both Malta and Gozo you can easily choose your launch point and level of difficulty for your adventure. With clement weather conditions you can choose to calmly paddle and picnic in a spot of your choice, or if you’re an experienced kayaker you can circumnavigate the Maltese archipelago (as long as you have a BCU3 Star qualification or equivalent).
- Swim with the dolphins: interacting with dolphins isn’t something you come across everyday. Being given the opportunity to relive every child’s dream, one of Malta’s foremost marine parks offers an unforgettable experience to swim with gorgeous Bottlenose dolphins .
- Beaches by night: A great location for beach-volley by day, beaches also offer a great opportunity to unwind at night. With night swims and night-time sailing events, Malta’s coastline won’t disappoint.
- Water polo: Possibly only trumped by sailing and swimming, water polo represents Malta’s most-loved aquatic sport. The ASA is responsible for the organization of competitions and championships for both males and females. The games are followed by sizeable crowds and most towns have their own participating team.
- Swimming & Open-water swimming: Malta has produced many a swimming champion. With several medals garnered in the Games of the Small States of Europe, Malta is a keen swimming nation with large amounts of local coaching teams to assist in developing the right technique.