Underwater Cultural Heritage Unit

This underwater cultural heritage legacy has made Malta the curator for a uniquely well-preserved cultural resource that is global and belongs to all humankind.

The recognition of responsibility towards properly managing and protecting Malta’s underwater cultural heritage resulted in the decision to create the Underwater Cultural Heritage Unit (UCHU) within Heritage Malta. The main objectives of the UCHU are the identification and documentation of sites, the valorisation of sites, site protection, as well as public access management and outreach. The UCHU aims to continue opening sites for public access, ensuring that the authenticity and integrity of Malta’s UCH is protected, in keeping with the principles of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage.

 uchu@heritagemalta.org

Located at depths that are beyond 50m, underwater cultural heritage sites in Malta’s territorial waters are invisible and inaccessible for the majority of people.

Dive into History 360° is an outreach initiative offered by the Underwater Cultural Heritage Unit, allowing the public to experience these historic wrecks using Virtual Reality (VR).

These 45-minute sessions include a presentation and are offered to Year 7 and Year 8 school classes.

Historic ship graffiti are etchings in a surface in the likening of seafaring vessels dating to more than 50 years.

These etchings are an intentional form of expression of individuals who lived through key events in Malta’s history and thus form part of the wider context of Malta’s maritime heritage.

The Malta Ship Graffiti Project was launched by the Underwater Cultural Heritage Unit, together with the University of Malta, and is dedicated to the discovery, recording and sharing of Malta’s historic ship graffiti.

For more information contact  uchu@heritagemalta.org

Instructions for divers:

• Obey legal protection of archaeological sites
• Do not penetrate the wreck, observe from the outside
• Look but don’t touch
• Avoid touching and disturbing any marine flora or fauna
• Ensure that all diving equipment — such as gauges and regulators — are secured firmly and not dragging
• Be aware of your fins
• Exercise proper buoyancy control
• Avoid contact with the wreck when taking photographs or videos
• Stay safe

Instructions for dive leaders:

• Respect measures that protect sites
• Do not tie marker buoys or access lines directly to the wreck site
• Keep diving groups small
• Follow up and observe the group at any time throughout the dive
• Be a role model
• Strictly respect the rules of no contact and no wreck penetration
• Stay safe

Instructions for boat skippers:

• Do not anchor on shipwrecks
• Use moorings wherever possible
• Locate the wreck using a depth sounder, if it’s unmarked
• Drop the anchor upwind, or up-current, of the wreck site and lay back on the anchor line until the boat is over the wreck