Also known as
Dornier Do J
Interest
Wreck
Popularity
Low
Depth
5m (avg), 6m (max)
Qualification
Beginner
Shore access
Easy
Location
35.9217° N 14.3413° E (Nearby)
35°55.302' N 014°20.478' E
35°55'18" N 014°20'29" E
Rating
★★☆☆☆ from 2 divers

Dornier Wal XI seaplane wreckage is located in the middle of Gnejna Bay on the northwest coast of Malta. Dornier flying boat wreck lies at depth of 5-6 metres on sandy seabed. The plane wreck consists of only part of the fuselage together with the sponsons, and some parts of the cockpit controls including the rudder pedal. The plane force-landed in the sea and was towed to Malta in 1932.

Dornier Wal wreck is a nice dive site for freedivers. For scuba divers interested in airplane wrecks, there are several other dive sites in Malta: Bristol Beaufighter, Bristol Blenheim Bomber, Mosquito Fighter Bomber and Lockheed P2V Neptune. These plane wrecks are between 30 and 42 m deep. Technical airplane wreck dives are Junkers Ju 88 and B-24 Liberator Bomber, both at 55 m, Fairey Swordfish at 70 m, Douglas A-1 Skyraider at 96 m, and another Junkers Ju 88 at 106 m depth.

Dornier Do J Wal seaplane wreck history

Dornier Do J Wal was a German design seaplane built in Italy between the World Wars. Wal ("whale") was a twin-engine flying boat, about 17 m in length with 22 m wingspan. It had crew of three and carried 8-10 passengers.

This Dornier Wal XI with registration l-AZEA and operated by Italian airline SANA made a forced landing in the sea near Malta after an engine fire on Tuesday 16th February 1932. Passengers and crew were brought ashore on HMS Brillant, and the flying boat was towed to Malta.

The aircraft wreckage in Gnejna Bay which was thought to be CANT Z.506B floatplane was positively identified as Dornier Wal flying boat by Malta Aviation Museum, after researching the subject in great detail together with Dornier Museum in Germany. There is a cleat still in place which confirms that the wreck is a Wal.

More info about Dornier Wal XI dive site

https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/34188
http://www.luftwaffe-zur-see.de/Seeluft/Werknummerlisten/Dornier Wal.htm

Dornier Wal XI Dornier Wal XI cock pit [mark camilleri] Dornier Wal XI [mark camilleri]

Comments and Ratings

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mark camilleri, June 2022:
★★★☆☆ ideal for snorkeling not diving but still nice to see a sea plane that shallow
Adam Sant, April 2021:
☆☆☆☆ Really not worth the hassle for scuba divers. Maybe for free diving or snorkelling.

Short url here: https://maltadives.com/1400