Ocean Atlas · Europe and Mediterranean
Malta
Three small islands in the middle of the Mediterranean, where dolphins and loggerhead turtles pass through and new sea protected areas now cover the deep water.
Story only, for now. We love learning about this place and its ocean, so we share its story here and do not sell trips yet. Checked by Ocean Calling on 6 Oct 2026. Sources: Keep your distance: how to responsibly observe marine animals in Maltese waters, GuideMeMalta; How to enjoy Malta without supporting captivity, Friends of the Earth Malta; Ecotourism, Ocean Literacy and scientific research, Blue Life Hub.
Why: Malta's seas have bottlenose dolphins and loggerhead turtles, and the marine Natura 2000 network covers more than 4,100 square km. Dolphins, whales and turtles are protected under European law, and Malta's code asks boats to keep at least 100 metres away, travel slowly at no more than 5 knots, never touch, feed or swim with them, and keep fish finders switched off. We follow those rules and more, watching from a respectful distance and never swimming with or feeding animals.
🧭 Travel advice, checked 30 Sep 2026. The US State Department rates Malta at Level 1, exercise normal precautions (July 2026), and notes riptides at local beaches. Smartraveller also advises normal safety precautions and mentions petty crime. Sources: US State Department travel advisory, Malta · Smartraveller travel advice, Malta Advice differs by passport: check your own government before you plan.
Why Malta
Malta's environment authority lists bottlenose, common and striped dolphins as regular visitors, with Risso's dolphins recorded less often. Loggerhead turtles use Maltese waters to travel and to feed, and 23 nests were recorded on six beaches from 2020 to 2025. Nine new marine protected areas joined the EU Natura 2000 network for dolphins, turtles and seabirds.
Conservation-led. Ocean Calling guests never chase, touch or bait animals.
When to go
Timing changes a lot from place to place. See each place below.
We share this place as a story so you can learn. There is no Ocean Calling trip.
Can we travel here ethically?
Story only
We tell the story. We do not sell a trip here.
Checked 6 Oct 2026. Places change, so we look again every year.
Where in Malta
We share these places as stories and research notes. We do not offer or sell trips here.
Comino and the channel south of Comino
Story onlyA tiny island between Malta and Gozo, and the channel where wild dolphins are often recorded.
Also seen: Dolphins (from the boat, at a distance), Loggerhead turtles (passing or feeding)
Gozo north and north west coast
Story onlyA quieter coast of the sister island, listed among the areas where dolphins are recorded.
Also seen: Dolphins (from the boat, at a distance)
Animals recorded in Malta
Tap an animal to learn how it lives, where it travels and how to meet it respectfully.
Common bottlenose dolphinTursiops truncatusSeen in 89 countries in the AtlasLeast Concern
Common dolphinDelphinus delphisSeen in 53 countries in the AtlasLeast Concern
Striped dolphinStenella coeruleoalbaSeen in 43 countries in the AtlasLeast Concern
Risso's dolphinGrampus griseusSeen in 56 countries in the AtlasLeast Concern
Loggerhead turtleCaretta carettaSeen in 89 countries in the AtlasVulnerable
Sperm whalePhyseter macrocephalusSeen in 114 countries in the AtlasVulnerable
Fin whaleBalaenoptera physalusSeen in 37 countries in the AtlasVulnerable
Cuvier's beaked whaleZiphius cavirostrisSeen in 42 countries in the AtlasLeast Concern
Long-finned pilot whaleGlobicephala melasSeen in 24 countries in the AtlasLeast Concern
Common octopusOctopus vulgarisSeen in 32 countries in the AtlasLeast Concern
Shortfin makoIsurus oxyrinchusSeen in 40 countries in the AtlasEndangered
Blue sharkPrionace glaucaSeen in 50 countries in the AtlasNear Threatened
Long-snouted seahorseHippocampus guttulatusSeen in 21 countries in the AtlasNear Threatened
Mauve stinger jellyfishPelagia noctilucaSeen in 20 countries in the AtlasNot Evaluated
Dusky grouperEpinephelus marginatusSeen in 40 countries in the AtlasVulnerable
Atlantic bluefin tunaThunnus thynnusSeen in 39 countries in the AtlasLeast Concern
Red coralCorallium rubrumSeen in 6 countries in the AtlasNot Evaluated
Common smooth-houndMustelus mustelusSeen in 35 countries in the AtlasEndangered
Great cormorantPhalacrocorax carboSeen in 90 countries in the AtlasLeast Concern
Northern gannetMorus bassanusSeen in 38 countries in the AtlasLeast Concern
Scopoli's shearwaterCalonectris diomedeaSeen in 37 countries in the AtlasLeast Concern
Small-spotted catshark (lesser spotted dogfish)Scyliorhinus caniculaSeen in 25 countries in the AtlasLeast Concern
Yelkouan shearwaterPuffinus yelkouanSeen in 19 countries in the AtlasVulnerable
Thornback rayRaja clavataSeen in 16 countries in the AtlasNear Threatened
Rough rayRaja radulaSeen in 11 countries in the AtlasEndangeredWhy this is a story, not a trip
Read our ethics check above. If you would like to talk about it, Rocío is happy to explain.
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United KingdomBased in Malta?
We are always happy to hear from exceptional local operators, accommodation, conservation organisations and destination experts in Malta. If your work fits responsible, small-group ocean travel, we would love to learn more.
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