Liveaboard diving in
Um El-Faroud
Must see
Wreck
HMS Faroud is a tanker ship lying upright at the depth of 34m/111ft. The tanker exploded in 1995 and nine dockyard workers were killed. For three years it was lying in the harbour of Valletta and in 1998 it was scuttled as an artificial reef near Qrendi. The wreck is large enough: about 110m/360ft long and 16m/52ft wide. Doors and windows have been removed, so the HMS Faroud is great for penetration. The rudder and propeller are still intact. Though the wreck has been torn in half during a heavy storm in 2005, it is still very interesting dive as it offers easy access into the forward holds.
When To Go Diving
Diving is available year-round. The average air temperature is 10-15C/50-59 F in the winter and 21-30C/70-83F in the summer. The average water temperature is about 14-17C/58-63F from December through April and 18-25C/65-77F from May through November.
What to see
The wreck is now home to a wide variety of underwater life: large bream,damsel fish, triggers, barracuda, jacks, nudibranchs, salemas and octopus can be found here.