Tug 2

About this dive site

This dive site presents the Tug Boat 2, a fascinating artificial reef and wreck located off the coast of Sliema, Malta. The wreck is situated near Exiles and offers an accessible dive experience for various skill levels. Originally a tugboat working in Valletta’s Grand Harbour, it was scuttled in June 2013 to create this underwater attraction. It now lies upright at approximately 22 meters deep, with a maximum depth of 25 meters from the entry point. The wreck is positioned about 20 meters north of its original parallel location following a storm in October 2016 and has become partially smashed into the reef, primarily oriented bow-first. The Tug Boat 2, built by Malta Drydocks for the Chinese Government in 1975, measured 30 meters in length, with a beam of 7.5 meters and a height of 15.24 meters including the mast. It was originally named Tuo Lun Er Hao and registered in Teintsin, China, but served its working life primarily in Malta. The vessel's features include penetrable wheelhouse and engine room, making it an interesting dive for experienced divers. The Tug Boat 2 is one of the few wrecks around Malta at a relatively shallow depth (15m average, 25m max), which makes it suitable for all levels of diving. Similar shallow wrecks in the area include HMS Maori and X127. The wreck’s history includes being part of the China Dock Project, financed by the Chinese Government. It is popular for navigation and dive lead training and offers a great opportunity for night dives.