What first inspired your interest in diving?

My father, who was a very keen diver, was one of the first people in Malta to set up a diving business when he opened a shop in St John Street, Valletta in 1974.

From a very young age, I used to tag along when my father took people diving. I remember at the end of a dive, he would let me breathe from the regulator and would take me around to see the fish and octopus.

These are some of my fondest memories not only of diving but also of special moments spent with my father.

When was Dive Systems set up and with what aims?

Dive Systems was established in 1978. At that time, the diving industry catered mostly for Maltese people wanting to learn how to dive, clients who wanted to fill tanks for work or leisure, and commercial diving.

As the company grew, Dive Systems started establishing itself as one of the foremost diving centres in Malta, offering a wide variety of diving services. In 2008, Louis Sciberras, who was one of founders of the company, retired and my brother and I decided to buy his share and enter in business together with my father Paul.

Since then, we have invested a lot of money and energy to ensure that Dive Systems continues to improve in quality and the diversity of services it offers. We will continue to do so in the future.

At Dive Systems, we aim to provide an excellent customer experience. We have invested heavily in our centre to make it comfortable and have all the necessary diving amenities. We are constantly updating our equipment to ensure that clients feel safe and look good in the equipment we provide. We also invest a lot in our instructors to ensure they are properly trained and can give our clients a great experience.

What elements make Malta a good destination for diving?

There are three main elements. Malta offers fantastic dive sites, has a great climate, and offers a variety of experiences – that means that, especially if travelling with family, there is plenty to do after your dive or for those who do not dive.

What are, for you, the best local diving sites?

I think that almost all dive sites in Malta have something special to offer. We are very lucky to have extremely clear waters and this has been improving even more since the sewage plants have started to clean all affluent.

We are also blessed with a seascape which is very interesting and diverse and even though we have a Mediterranean seascape, each dive site offers something different. Although we are lacking in fish and underwater life, there is still plenty to see and every dive could surprise you with something different.

Personally, I’m very fond of wrecks and Malta is nowadays renowned for its wrecks, from World War II ships like the Maori in Valletta or the Stubborn in Qawra to the Um El Faroud in Żurrieq or the Rozi in Ċirkewwa. These cater for different experience levels. Wrecks attract a lot of underwater life and since they are protected by law, they also tend to be safer for the fish that inhabit them.

Do you offer diving for all levels?

We cater for all levels and also offer technical diving and instructor training. Diving is very simple and we take people diving straight away on the first visit. Depth is limited on the first dive but the experience is still amazing. A dive course is quite easy too. You can complete the first level called the Open Water in four days – these can be consecutive days or tailor made to personal requirements.

Once you get the bug, it’s difficult to stop and Malta offers a fantastic playground for those who want to get away from it all and enjoy the tranquillity underwater.

What safety precautions do you take on every dive?

We are a PADI five star IDC centre with over 40 years of experience and a clean safety record. We pride ourselves in having very safety-conscious instructors and we do not take any short cuts.

Unlike what a lot of people think, diving is a very safe activity and most of the incidents that occur are not related directly to diving but are usually triggered by some other health problem that the person would not have been aware of.

Do you also offer the service of equipment hire?

Dive Systems is a one-stop-shop. We sell equipment, service all types and brands of equipment and offer the best after-sales possible.

Can diving be practised all year round?

We dive all year round, but this depends on your tolerance for cold and bad weather. Since Malta is an island, if the weather is bad on one side we go to the other side. There are only a few days every year where all the sites get blown out and it’s not safe to dive.

January to March tend to be the coldest months but at 15 degrees most foreigners from the northern countries find this very mild so we have no problem diving with them even in standard wet suits. Locals tend to be less tolerant but as soon as the sun is out, they’re keen to get back in the water.