Everyone knows that Valletta is a top tourist location for culture, history, restaurants and nightlife. Yet, a very obvious first class attraction is often overlooked: Valletta is literally surrounded by the beautiful blue Mediterrranean sea. The Valletta  including some provides A few minutes down the road from Carafa Valletta Residence one finds the secluded St. Elmo Bay. This lies on the south side of the entrance to Marsamxett harbour, below the majestic bastion walls. Besides being a unique swimming site, it is also a popular diving site in Malta due to the ship wreck HMS Maori, a British Destroyer which was sunk in WWII. The sheltered position and depth of St. Elmo Bay make it an ideal spot for easy dives and training purposes for beginners, although it also offers fascinating attractions for the more seasoned diver looking for alternative diving sites in Malta.  The Maori lies at a depth of 14m, and it...

The most interesting places are those that retain a sense of mystery. And even the most decorated and historically signposted of cities, like Valletta itself, can hide its own unique ‘gems’. Apart from the quaint streets and the curiosities contained within them — inevitably snowballing throughout the centuries, that brought with them various rulers and peoples — there are places in Valletta that, although they may be loved for and documented by historians and conscientious residents, might not strike you as all that well-known. For me, the prime example of such a place in Valletta would be the treacherous but beautifully enigmatic area surrounding the Marsamxett Harbour. Several disclaimers to follow here: I’m not even sure that ‘Marsamxett’ is the most accurate geo-location for the place. And I would also advise those of you willing to take the plunge after reading this, to go when natural light is generously present,...