Timmy Gambin

Timmy Gambin is Professor of Maritime Archaeology in the Department of Classics and Archaeology at the University of Malta, where he directs the Maritime Archaeology Research Programme. His work brings together archaeological research, marine technology, and heritage management to study, document, and protect submerged cultural heritage in Malta and the wider Mediterranean.

Over the past two decades, he has led systematic offshore surveys that have significantly expanded knowledge of Malta’s underwater cultural landscape, encompassing ancient shipwrecks and twentieth-century military losses. His projects have contributed to the discovery, investigation, and documentation of numerous Second World War wrecks, including aircraft crash sites and naval vessels associated with the wartime history of the central Mediterranean. This work has helped place Malta within wider international discussions on deep-water archaeology, underwater aviation heritage, and the use of autonomous and remotely operated technologies in maritime archaeology.

Gambin also serves as Head of Heritage Malta’s Underwater Cultural Heritage Unit, overseeing the management, protection, and public presentation of Malta’s underwater heritage. In this role, he and his team have contributed to the development of site-protection measures, managed access for divers, conducted digital outreach, and led public-engagement initiatives. His work aims to ensure that Malta’s submerged cultural heritage is researched, protected, and shared responsibly with audiences in Malta and beyond through initiatives such as the Virtual Museum