Um El Faroud

Posted on April 27, 2024  •  3 minutes  • 639 words

Um El Faroud Shipwreck Background and History

The Um El Faroud was a 10,000-ton tanker owned by Libya. It used to transport refined fuel between Italy and Libya. However, in 1995, while it was undergoing maintenance work at Malta dry docks, a gas explosion tragically killed nine shipyard workers and damaged the vessel. The ship was then considered unsuitable for its original use. The Um El Faroud was sunk off the south coast at Wied iz-Zurrieq of Malta in 1998. It became an artificial reef and a fascinating scuba diving attraction.

Details and fact

• Depth: The wreck is between 15 and 35 meters deep.
• Size: The Um El Faroud is 115 meters long and 15.5 meters wide, making it a remarkable sight.
• Top Mark: The exhaust funnel, which marks the top of the shipwreck, is at 15 meters.
• Wreck Structure: The ship is split into two parts due to a storm in 2005/2006.
• Marine Life: Barracuda, Jacks, Nudibranch Flabellina (some kind of beautiful slug), Moray Eels, Jack Dory’s and much more.

• Wreck Penetration: Experienced divers with proper training and equipment can enter the engine room and other areas that are open.

The Dive

The Um El Faroud lays upright on the white sandy bottom, southwest of Wied iz-Zurrieq. The length of the skip is 115 meters and the beam is 15.5 meters.

-So this is a very large shipwreck!

You can choose different methods to reach the wreck.

Option 1

One option is to follow the reef along the channel from the entry point of the water. You should stay around 5-6 meters deep. You need to watch out for the boats that use the channel.
When the reef wall stops or curves, you go straight ahead and gradually go down to 10-12 meters. This way, you can start to see the seafloor.

Soon, you will see a monument (plaque). When you get closer to the plaque, I suggest you gradually descend to 20 meters and then around 25 meters to get to the stern.
As you enter the deck on the stern, the depth is about 25 meters. The sand around the wreck is about 32-35 meters deep. If you follow the left side along the “walkway” on the deck, it feels like you are almost diving into the wreck. You will end up where Um El Faroud split in half. The wreck broke in the middle during a storm in 2005/2006 and which make the wreck even more interesting.

Option 2

The other way is to follow the reef and head out towards the funnel. This part is the shallowest part. As you go down to the exhaust funnel, which is the highest point of the shipwreck at 15 meters, you can see how big the wreck is. This part is well described in the book from Peter Lemon SCUBA DIVING MALTA – GOZO – COMINO He presents the bearing for those who like to follow with compass only.

Penetrating the wreck

With the necessary wreck diver training and equipment, you can enter the wreck if you have enough experience. In the back part, you can access the engine room and some of the smaller rooms around it. The middle and front storage sections of the ship are also open.

Why dive this wreck?

The Um El Faroud is a huge wreck that attracts many divers who come to Malta. You can dive it several times and depending on how much air you use (SAC rate) you could follow my plan, the left side for the first dive and the right side and the tunnel for the second dive.

It offers many areas to discover, whether you are an experienced wreck diver or an advanced open water diver.

So, get ready and dive into the amazing world of the Um El Faroud shipwreck. Enjoy your dive! 🌊🚢🤿