Malta & Gozo · Malta · Cave & cavern · Reef
Ghar Lapsi
A 40 m tunnel pierced by shafts of light
Photo: Frank Vincentz · CC BY-SA 3.0
A rocky inlet at Siġġiewi on Malta's coast, often dived from shore, with a long, shallow tunnel lit by shafts of daylight. Seahorses and a variety of fish live around it, but strong currents and surge make conditions matter here.
Also known as Għar Lapsi, Ghar Lapsi Cave.
Where it is and how deep
35.8266° N, 14.4232° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The centrepiece is a 40 m tunnel with a maximum depth of 8 m and many shafts of light coming through the roof. Around the tunnel the dive reaches 15 m, with seahorses, rainbow wrasse, parrotfish and bream along the way.
Marine life and season
- Macro critters
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Fair |
Season follows Malta & Gozo: Jun–Sep is the main season, with the sea averaging 21–26 °C; it never drops below 14 °C, so diving carries on through the winter.
Know before you go
- Strong currents are not unusual in the area.
- A heavy surge runs when the waves are up; skip the dive in those conditions.
Dive videos
Malta Dive Sites - Cave & Finger Reef, Ghar Lapsi · Mika Tanninen on YouTube
Sources
- en.wikivoyage.org Diving_in_Malta — Wikivoyage
- www.calypsosac.org ghar-lapsi — Calypso Sub-Aqua Club
- maltadives.com en — MaltaDives.com
Photo credits
- A rocky inlet with a concrete jetty and clear green water, a few swimmers in the pool and a cave-cut headland behind. by Frank Vincentz, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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