The Sands Apartments are managed by Maltaqua Dive Centre and offer a comfortable and convenient base for your holiday, just 100m from the dive centre. The apartments are situated on a quiet street off the main road, but within walking distance of shops, restaurants, cinema, banks and the St. Paul’s Bay promenade.
Accommodation
The Sands Apartments have been designed with the traveling diver in mind. All the apartments are within the same block and vary in size, so depending on the number of persons in your party you can choose the apartment that best suits your holiday needs.
One bedroom apartments are ideal for couples or single travellers, while the larger two bedroom apartments are perfect for a family or group of four. A spacious top floor Penthouse apartment offers three large bedrooms and comfortably accommodates six persons.
Each apartment has a living and fully-equipped kitchen area, and a bathroom with toilet and shower. All rooms are fitted with metered AC units. On arrival each apartment will have a welcome breakfast pack and a credit of 5 Euro worth of air-conditioning units. Towels are changed every other day, and a there is a change of linen mid stay for stays over seven days. Some apartments are fitted with cable TV's. There is a charge of €15 per week to activate channels.
Facilities
The apartments have a lift for access to the upper floors but there is no need to carry dive gear upstairs as there is a spacious wet room in the basement to wash and store equipment. Trekkers or rambling enthusiasts are welcome to leave footwear over night for drying, while cyclists can safely store their cycles here overnight.
There is free Wi-Fi service in the apartment building for all residents. Guests should request the password from the on duty housekeeper or enquire at Maltaqua.
Location
The Sands Apartments are located in the northern Maltese town of St. Paul’s Bay, just 100m from Maltaqua Dive Centre and 10 minutes’ walk from the seafront promenade. St. Paul’s Bay is located about 22km from Malta International Airport. A 24 hour airport transfer service is provided for guests staying at Sands.
Resort Features
- WiFi
Recommended for
- Singles
- Dive Clubs & Groups
- Families
- Experienced Divers
- Beginner Divers
- Learn to Dive
- Tec
Our Holiday Prices
The price quoted is a guide, based on the cheapest time to travel and two people sharing. Flight prices change daily, so we'll prepare a personalised quotation to ensure that you receive the most competitive price for your chosen travel dates.
Please call 01353 659999 or complete an enquiry form for a quotation.
Sands Apartments
8 days from £975 inc. flights, transfers, accommodation, diving.
Send Enquiry Speak to an expert. Call 01353 659999
At a Glance
- When to Go Apr-Oct
- Rental Equipment Yes (£)
- Nitrox Paid
- Internet Yes
- Group Discount Please enquire
- Client Favourite
Highlights
- Self catering
- Run by dive centre
- Walk to dive centre
- Convenient location
- Various room options
What's included?
Price per person typically includes:
- Flights to/from UK
- Airport transfers to/from resort
- 7 nights accommodation on a room-only basis
- 10 dives
Our Price Match Promise
At Regaldive we are committed to offering you the best possible value for money on all our diving holidays. That's why we offer you a price match promise. Learn more about our promise to you.
Maltaqua Dive Centre
Maltaqua is a PADI Dive Centre and a BSAC School of Excellence with over 40 years’ experience on the islands of Malta. A well respected family run business, you can be assured of the warmest of welcomes here, backed up by skilled and committed Instructors and Dive Guides.
Equipment Rental
Nitrox Available (Paid)
Groups
Boat Diving
Shore Diving
Courses
Maltaqua offers a complete range of introductory dives, PADI and BSAC courses, and daily diving excursions around the three islands of Malta, Gozo and Comino. All excursions and courses are led by fully qualified Instructors and Maltaqua pride themselves on their ability to match Instructor to Student in terms of language, age and outlook as closely as possible. Maltaqua’s sister company, International Diver College, is a PADI 5 Star Career Development Centre.
Diving is shore based and offered daily from Monday to Saturday. No diving is offered on Sunday. Dives may be guided or non-guided (subject to diver ability and experience). Divers will need to provide a fit to dive medical certificate signed by a Doctor should they indicate any contraindications on the dive medical self-assessment questionnaire prior to diving.
There is a large, well-stocked shop at their dive centre in St Paul’s Bay and they are also able to assist with car hire and excursions for non-diving partners.
Divers staying at the Doubletree by Hilton Malta will be diving with Maltaqua Dive Centre, who offer a courtesy transfer to their Dive Centre in St. Paul's Bay, just a few minutes’ drive away.
Just a few steps from the dive centre are the Sands Apartments which are managed by Maltaqua. These air conditioned, studio apartments are purpose-built for divers, and have an area set aside to wash and hang your gear.
Just three minutes’ from Qawra point dive site, Villa Michael is also managed by Maltaqua. This lovely, newly refurbished Villa offers comfortable accommodation in the prime sought after seafront location of Qawra.
Gallery
Dive Info
Malta’s calm warm seas make for excellent visibility and superb conditions for tackling everything from diving courses to underwater photography to wreck and deep diving.
Explore Malta, Gozo and Comino's dive sites
Read more about visiting and diving the Maltese Islands
Shore diving is possible at many areas around the coast. At Marfa Point in the North West of the island, it is possible to reach 30 metres in a shore dive, taking in a detour to see a statue of the Madonna placed in a cave by fishermen. Cirkewwa Reef, one of the Marine Protected Areas, provides a great dive site for all levels of divers. An impressive drop off allows depths from 5m to 35m and there are plentiful overhangs, swim throughs and an arch to explore. This area is also home to two wrecks – the Rozi and the P29 – which rest around 30–40m and offer much to entertain the more experienced diver or those undertaking additional training.
On the Southern coast, divers will enjoy the easy access to Ghar Lapsi, a shallow system of underwater caves well-lit by sunlight and with numerous entry and exit points to explore. Just a little further along the coast at Wied Iz-Zurrieq, the well-known wreck of the Libyan freighter the Um El Faroud lies on a sandy bottom with its funnel at 17m.
Over on the North East side of Malta, there are plenty more wreck diving opportunities. HMS Maori, sunk in 1942 is a Tribal Class British Destroyer and with its forward section lying between 11-15m, there is plenty of room for less experienced divers to discover a piece of history. Another historical wreck is the Bristol Blenheim Bomber, located a short boat ride off Zonqor Point. Only one of five known wrecks of its kind, the engine and wings are intact at 42m and make an unusual and memorable dive for experienced and technical divers.
Local regulations
Medical - Please note that Maltese regulations require an up-to-date medical, should you mark any conditions on the dive medical self-assessment questionnaire.
Unguided dives - Those wishing to dive independently of a dive centre guide must be a minimum of PADI Advanced Open Water or BSAC Sports Diver or equivalent. The dive centre’s discretion remains.
Dive packs
Options available include 6, 8, 10 and 12 shore dive packages with guide, plus an unguided 7 days unlimited shore diving options. and 10 dive packages, plus an unlimited diving option. Please discuss your requirements with the Regaldive team, who will prepare a quotation suited to your needs.
Dive Courses
A range of diving courses is available for those looking to learn to dive. Please enquire for details.
Helpful Information
Getting Around
An easy island to access on foot, by taxi or rent a car locally. The airport is a 30 minute transfer from St. Paul's Bay.
Climate & Water temperature
Malta and Gozo have a classic Mediterranean climate. The summers are hot and dry, providing excellent diving conditions as water reaches the mid 20s. Spring and autumn are more comfortable on land, which is also reflected in the cooler water tempters, high winds can disrupt visibility. During the winter, air temperatures will drop to the low teens, and diving conditions can be limited.
Water visibility:
Malta and Gozo are renowned for its clear underwater visibility. During late Spring, Summer and Autumn, visibility can easily reach 30+ metres.
Time
GMT +1 hour
Currency
€ - Euros. Banks are normally open until early afternoon from Monday to Friday, and until midday on Saturday. Summer and winter opening hours may differ. Credit cards widely accepted. ATM's are widely available.
Planning your Holiday
Flight Information
Flights are generally with Air Malta but Regaldive can also offer Easyjet, BA or charter flights.
Flight schedules - Air Malta offer London Heathrow, London Gatwick and Manchester departures.
Flight duration: UK to Malta International Airport (Luga), Malta: 3–3½ hours
Departure tax: N/A
Visas
Entry requirements vary from country to country, and it’s important to check the latest visa information well before you travel. Some destinations may allow visa-free entry for a limited period, while others require an eVisa or a visa obtained in advance. To ensure you have the correct documentation for your trip, we recommend checking the official advice from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) or contacting the relevant country’s embassy or consulate. Other nationalities should check with their own consulate/embassy.
Passports
Before you travel, make sure your passport is valid for the full duration of your trip and meets the entry requirements of your destination. Many countries require at least six months’ validity beyond your planned return date, while others may have different rules. For the most reliable and up-to-date information, visit the UK Government’s passport guidance or the official travel advice pages for your destination. Other nationalities should check with their own consulate/embassy.
If you’re planning to travel to or via an EU country (with certain exceptions) your UK passport must meet two key requirements, it must be less than 10 years old on the day you enter the country and it must be valid for at least three months after your planned departure date.
Vaccinations & Health Advice
Health and vaccination requirements differ depending on where you're travelling. Some destinations may require proof of specific vaccinations or recommend certain precautions to protect your wellbeing.
We’re not qualified to provide you with specific advice on vaccinations and strongly recommend that you contact your healthcare professional before you travel to discuss the inoculations you may need to consider.
For trusted guidance on health and vaccination advice, refer to the NHS Travel Vaccination Advice, Masta Travel Health or Travel Health Pro websites.
Enquire about Sands Apartments
Speak to an expert. Call 01353 659999 Send Enquiry