B24 Liberator – 55m WWII Bomber Wreck Dive, Malta

Overview of the Dive Site

The B24 Liberator is a WWII American four-engine heavy bomber lying upright on a sandy seabed at around 55–56 metres, roughly 1.5 km south-west of Marsaxlokk on Malta’s south-east coast. Dive Systems Malta

The wreck was discovered in 2015 during a side-scan sonar survey and later opened to divers as part of Malta’s managed deep-wreck heritage programme. The Virtual Museum It is a war grave, with one crew member remaining unaccounted for; nine others survived the crash and were rescued at the time. The Virtual Museum

For technical and CCR divers, the B24 offers a rare chance to explore a large, mostly intact bomber on a relatively accessible deep profile – serious, but achievable for well-trained 50–60 m divers.

Key Facts at a Glance

Type: WWII American Consolidated B-24 Liberator heavy bomber
Location: ~1.5 km south-west of Marsaxlokk, off Malta’s south-east coast Dive Systems Malta
Depth: ~55 m (avg), ~56 m max; some sources mention local 60 m pockets divinginfo.mt
Seabed: Flat sand
Orientation: Upright; wing structure largely intact maltadives.com
Size: Approx. 20 m long, 33 m wingspan maltadives.com
Access: Boat dive only
Certification: Technical deep air/trimix or CCR (normoxic/advanced)
Status: Managed war grave, open only via registered dive centres and clubs under Heritage Malta MaltaToday.com.mt

Location & Access

The B24 Liberator rests on a gently sloping sandy seabed south-west of Marsaxlokk, offshore from Malta’s southern coastline near Bengħajsa Point. MaltaToday.com.mt

Boat only: Access is via boat, typically from Marsaxlokk, Marsaskala or central harbours depending on operator and conditions.
Shot line: A shot or permanent mooring line is used for descent and ascent – you drop in blue water until the wreck appears below.
Permits: The site is part of Malta’s underwater cultural heritage; diving is restricted to Heritage Malta–registered dive centres and clubs. divinginfo.mt

Depth Range & Profile

Seabed / wreck: 55–56 m for most of the site, with small variations where wreckage sits slightly higher or lower. maltadives.com
Relief: Engines, fuselage sides and tail debris add a few metres of vertical relief but you’re essentially on a flat, single-level wreck.

This makes the B24 a classic 50–60 m technical profile:

Short–moderate bottom time at depth
Long multi-level decompression on ascent
Excellent “next step” wreck for divers progressing from 45–50 m deeper tech dives.

Recommended Certification Level

B24 Liberator isn’t extreme like the 100 m+ wrecks, but it’s still a serious technical dive with full decompression and cold-ish bottom temps.

Recommended minimums:

Open circuit:
- PADI Tec50 / Tec65, normoxic trimix or equivalent
- Comfortable with staged decompression and multi-gas switches
- Previous 50–60 m experience on similar dives
CCR / Hollis Prism2:
- Normoxic/advanced trimix CCR certification
- Solid bailout skills and recent deep CCR dives in the 50–60 m range
- Confident in task loading (video, photography, guideline management) at depth

If your last serious deco dive was years ago, treat B24 as something to work up to with a progression of shallower wrecks rather than the first big dip back in.

Best Season & Typical Conditions

Best season: Late spring to early autumn for calmer seas and more stable weather – the area is exposed to swell and wind.
Water temperature: Typically 14–16°C at depth in spring, rising to 16–18°C in late summer.
Visibility: Often 20–30 m, with clear blue water giving superb views of the aircraft profile; can drop with plankton or strong wind. maltadives.com

Sea state is the key limiter – if there’s significant wind or chop, shot-line management and long decompression become uncomfortable quickly.

Why Dive B24 Liberator?

What Makes This Site Special for Tec / CCR Divers

Iconic WWII aircraft: The B-24 was one of the most produced bombers of the war, heavily used by US and Allied forces worldwide. Guide Me Malta
Photogenic wreck: The full wing structure, engines and much of the fuselage are still in place, giving the classic “plane on the seabed” look many divers dream about. maltadives.com
Manageable depth: At 55–56 m, it’s deep enough to be a proper technical challenge, but still accessible as a normoxic trimix / Tec50–65 / CCR objective. divinginfo.mt
Historical weight: The wreck marks the site of a wartime emergency landing and crash; it’s a recognised war grave that’s been carefully documented and cleared of ghost gear. divinginfo.mt

If you enjoy aircraft wrecks, B24 Liberator is easily one of Malta’s most impressive – and a perfect stepping stone towards deeper plane wrecks like the Skyraider and JU88 South.

Dive Profile & Route Options

Typical Open Circuit Profiles

On open circuit, gas volume and deco commitment dictate a tight, disciplined schedule. Many teams run:

Bottom time: ~18–25 minutes at 55–56 m
Gases: Normoxic trimix back gas with one or two deco mixes (e.g. 50% and 80% / O₂ depending on plan)

Common OC route:

Descend the shot to the central wing / fuselage area.
Verify gas, time and team, then:
- Sweep along one wing, inspecting the engines and remaining propellers. maltadives.com
- Move around the cockpit area, which is torn open with the nose destroyed. maltadives.com
- Check the tail section, which lies broken and partly tucked under the fuselage. maltadives.com
Return to the shot, confirm remaining gas and start ascent on schedule – no “just one more photo” at turn pressure.

Typical CCR / Prism2 Profiles

On the Hollis Prism2 CCR, B24 Liberator becomes a very comfortable deep-wreck target:

Bottom time: Often 25–35 minutes for experienced teams, depending on deco strategy
Setpoints: Conservative working pO₂ at depth with smooth transitions and a focus on bailout planning first, runtime second

A typical CCR route:

Descend on a 1.0–1.2 setpoint to the wing root.
Make a full circuit of the aircraft: wing–nose–cockpit–tail–other wing.
Use remaining bottom time for specific shots (engines, gun mounts, cockpit details).
Begin ascent with plenty of bailout reserves, running gas and deco exactly as planned.

Jason will normally build this dive into a progression of CCR training and coaching dives, not as a first outing at 55 m.

Entry, Exit & Navigation Notes

Entry: Giant stride or controlled entry from the dive boat, straight onto the shot line.
Descent: Blue-water drop; you might not see the wreck until ~40 m, so good line discipline and team spacing matter.
On the wreck:
- Orientation is straightforward: long wing, central fuselage, engines, broken nose and tail.
- It’s compact enough that you can see most of it in one or two circuits, but there’s lots of detail for photographers.
Ascent: All decompression is done on the same line, sometimes with a trapeze or deco station at shallower stops depending on operator and plan.

Conditions & Hazards

Current, Visibility & Temperature

Current: Can be present at mid-water or at depth; holding 6 m stops on a busy line with multiple stages can be tiring.
Visibility: Usually good, but plankton or stirred-up sand can reduce it and make the wreck feel darker and moodier.
Temperature: Bottom temps in the mid-teens °C – expect a drysuit or a very solid thick wetsuit plus good undergarments.

Overheads, Entanglement & Other Risks

The wreck is broken but open – you can easily get caught up in twisted metal, cabling and piping if you start poking inside.
Fishing nets and ghost gear have been actively cleared in recent years, but it’s still wise to assume possible line / net entanglement. Guide Me Malta
It is a war grave, and there may still be sensitive material on site; nothing should be moved or taken.

From a technical point of view, the main risks are:

Gas management errors on OC
Poorly practised bailout protocols on CCR
Task loading with cameras leading to lost situational awareness

Hollis Prism2 / CCR-Specific Notes

For Hollis Prism2 divers training or diving with Jason:

Expect a strong focus on pre-dive checklists, loop integrity, PO₂ control and bailout readiness.
B24 is ideal for:
- Dialling in mid-range deep-wreck procedures (50–60 m)
- Refining bailout decision points and gas calculations
- Working with camera rigs and video on CCR while keeping safety front and centre

Jason will typically schedule build-up dives on shallower wrecks (e.g. 35–45 m planes and ships, then 50 m range) before a B24 day for new CCR clients.

Logistics & Surface Interval

Meeting Point & Boat Logistics

Most trips to the B24 Liberator run as single-deep-dive projects from Marsaxlokk / Marsaskala or central harbours, depending on the boat partner and conditions. Black and White Diving

On the day you can expect:

Early meet-up, kit check and full briefing on history, hazards and permit conditions
One deep dive with a long runtime (bottom + deco)
Proper surface oxygen, first-aid kit and emergency plan on the boat

Facilities Nearby (Parking, Food, Fills)

Trimix fills, O₂ and CCR sorb are arranged through Jason’s partner technical centres.
Food, accommodation and post-dive debrief spots are easy to organise around Marsaxlokk and the south-east coast.

Why Dive This Site with Jason Trott & diveprism2.eu

Small Groups & Safety Focus

Jason runs small, well-matched teams on wrecks like the B24 – usually experienced tech and CCR divers who value planning and safety as much as good video.

Expect:

Thorough pre-dive planning (gases, bailout, contingencies)
Honest, practical briefings about the wreck and the risks
Structured debriefs to squeeze as much learning as possible from each dive

Wreck & Tech Diving Experience

Jason Trott is a Malta-based PADI Tec instructor and Hollis Prism2 CCR instructor who specialises in wreck-focused technical and CCR training around Malta, including deep aircraft and battleship wrecks such as the B24 Liberator, JU88 South, HMS Russell and HMS Southwold.

Jason Trott, at diveprism2.eu, offers small-group, wreck-focused trimix and Hollis Prism2 CCR training plus guided technical dives on Malta’s deep heritage wrecks, including the 55 m B24 Liberator bomber off Marsaxlokk.

FAQs About Diving the B24 Liberator

How deep is the B24 Liberator wreck?
The B24 Liberator lies upright on sand at about 55–56 m, roughly 1.5 km south-west of Marsaxlokk. MaltaToday.com.mt

What level of diver is this for?
This is a technical dive for experienced 50–60 m divers – typically Tec50 / normoxic trimix or advanced CCR. It’s not suitable for recreational or newly-qualified tech divers without recent deep-deco experience. divinginfo.mt

Can I dive it on open circuit and CCR?
Yes. Both OC and CCR teams dive the B24. OC dives will have shorter bottom times and higher gas logistics; CCR (e.g. Hollis Prism2) allows more time on the wreck but requires serious bailout planning. maltadives.com

Is a permit required?
Yes. The B24 Liberator is a war grave and managed heritage site. Diving is arranged through Heritage Malta–registered dive centres and clubs, which handle permits and reporting. MaltaToday.com.mt

What are the main risks?
Depth, decompression, potential current, entanglement in wreckage, and – on CCR – any failure that might force a full bailout from 55–56 m. Proper training, kit, planning and a competent team are essential.

How to Book or Plan Your Dive

Check Dates & Availability

Because of permits and logistics, B24 Liberator dives are usually run as dedicated tech days, often with limited spaces and specific experience requirements.

Contact Jason for a Training or Dive Plan

If you’d like to:

Add the B24 Liberator to a week of technical wreck diving in Malta, or
Build a training pathway (OC or Hollis Prism2) that logically leads up to this dive

…get in touch with Jason via diveprism2.eu.

Send over your current certifications, recent dive history and goals, and Jason can help you plan a safe, progressive route to one of Malta’s most impressive WWII aircraft wrecks.

B24 Liberator, Malta – Technical & CCR Dive Guide