Malta
Best overall months to dive: Jun–Oct
Malta is a small archipelago in the central Mediterranean, south of Sicily, built around wreck, cavern and reef diving rather than big marine life. The three islands — Malta, Gozo and Comino — put dozens of scuttled wrecks, natural arches and swim-throughs within short shore or boat access, in water that regularly clears past 30m. Fish life is modest by tropical standards; the draw is the topography and the wrecks. It dives year-round, but water swings from about 15-16C in late winter to 25-26C in late summer, so winter needs a thick wetsuit or drysuit.