Um El Faroud

Um El Faroud is a Libyan oil tanker that was scuttled off the coast of Malta to create an artificial reef and scuba diving site. The ship has a rich history and is now a popular destination for divers due to its size, accessibility, and the variety of marine life that has colonized it.

History

The Um El Faroud was built in 1969 by the Hawthorn Leslie shipyard in Hebburn, England. It was owned by the General National Maritime Transport Company, a state-owned Libyan shipping company. The ship was primarily used for transporting crude oil from Libya to Europe.

In 1995, while undergoing repairs at the Malta Drydocks, an explosion in the ship's pump room killed nine dockyard workers. The explosion was caused by a spark from a cutting torch igniting gas fumes. After the explosion, the ship was deemed a total loss and was scuttled in 1998 to create an artificial reef.

Diving Site

The Um El Faroud is now one of the most popular diving sites in Malta. The ship lies at a depth of approximately 35 meters, making it accessible to divers with an advanced open water certification. The ship is largely intact, and divers can explore the exterior of the ship as well as some of the interior compartments.

The ship has become a haven for a variety of marine life, including barracuda, octopus, and various species of coral. The site is also popular for underwater photography due to the ship's size and the abundance of marine life.

See Also

• List of shipwrecks
• Artificial reefs
• Scuba diving in Malta