MTA channels €3,000 diving award to marine conservation NGOs
MTA donates €3,000 prize from 'Diving Destination of the Year' award to Sharklab Malta and Nature Trust – FEE Malta.
The Malta Tourism Authority has redirected a €3,000 cash prize from an international diving award to two environmental NGOs, backing the very organisations that help sustain the marine product the award celebrates.
Malta and Gozo were named 'Diving Destination of the Year 2025' at the BOOT Düsseldorf Dive Fair in Germany earlier this year. The prize money that came with the title has now been split equally between Sharklab Malta and Nature Trust – FEE Malta.
Each NGO received a cheque for €1,500 during a ceremony held on 10th December at the MTA offices in Smart City.
Sharklab Malta works on the conservation and research of sharks, rays, and skates in Maltese waters, while Nature Trust – FEE Malta focuses on habitat protection, wildlife rescue, and environmental education across land and marine environments.
MTA CEO Carlo Micallef said the award reflects the quality of Malta's diving product and the work of many stakeholders. He described the two NGOs as instrumental in supporting the marine environment and promoting sustainability.
Their efforts, he added, help position Malta not only as a world-class diving destination but as a responsible and environmentally conscious one.
The donation signals a practical link between international recognition and local environmental investment. For Malta's diving tourism sector, which competes on water quality and marine biodiversity, the move reinforces a brand built on sustainability rather than volume alone.