Malta's Divesites: Bristol Beaufighter

Seventy years ago a Bristol Beaufighter aircraft took off from Malta, unfortunately she never returned! Now this wreck sits just off St Julian's and she is one of the most memorable and photogenic dive sites the island has to offer!  

The Bristol Type 156 Beaufighter, referred to as the Beau and nicknamed 'the ten gunned terror', was a British long-range heavy fighter. The name 'Beaufighter' is a portmanteau of 'Beaufort' and 'fighter'. In 1941, during the Second World War, a detachment operated from Malta. The aircraft proved so effective in the Mediterranean against shipping, aircraft and ground targets, that Coastal Command became the major use of the Beaufighter. The St Julian's wreck is that of Beaufighter 'N' of No 272 squadron. On March 17, 1943, she left Malta on an escort mission, but as soon as she took flight off the airfield, mechanical problems caused the aircraft to vibrate violently and the aircraft immediately began to lose altitude. The crew had to ditch the aircraft in the sea as close to the coastline as possible. 

Today, the aircraft lies upside down on a sandy bottom at a depth of 38 metres. Due to its position, this dive site is reached by boat. As divers descend, the wreck starts to come into view at a depth of about 12 to 17 metres, depending on the visibility. 

The wings and central fuselage are still intact, but most of the wreck is actually buried in the sand. The tall section of the fuselage is missing, probably broken off and scattered when the plane hit the water. Both undercarriage frames with shredded tyres now stick up from the wind position behind the engines. One of the propellers is intact and attached to the engine, which is also partly buried in the fine white sand. Due to the upside-down position at which the Beaufighter came to rest on the sea floor, the four 20mm cannon under the nose can still be seen. 

This is an excellent dive for the photographer. The often great visibility and the fine white sand makes for memorable photographs, while the Moray eels, octopus, nudibrach and bream that are permanent residents here also give the wreck a unique aura. Extra care has to be taken in planning this dive so as not to stir up the fine sand on the bottom in order to maintain good visibility.