The 2002 Act set up the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage as the regulator of cultural heritage, and Heritage Malta as the operator. The addition of underwater cultural heritage in the Act, saw these same agencies take over the roles of regulator and operator. However, the recognition of responsibility towards properly managing and protecting underwater cultural heritage, resulted in the decision to create a platform for the protection, valorisation, management and public outreach of the archipelagos rich and diverse variety of underwater sites. This platform took shape in the form of the Underwater Cultural Heritage Unit (UCHU) within Heritage Malta, which in tandem with Superintendence of Cultural Heritage has been tasked with identifying a number of underwater sites so that these may be properly documented, managed and protected. The main aims behind the setting up of this platform were to properly protect and manage access to Malta’s underwater cultural heritage since in previous years, divers could (illicitly) access any historic wreck site without any form of monitoring. In addition, public outreach was identified as another important element to be included as part of what UCHU does, particularly since it is difficult to instil a sense of cultural awareness for sites that are not immediately accessible for the majority of the public.

A number of rules and regulations for diving on protected underwater sites have been introduced, which include directives for dive boat operators, dive leaders and divers, as listed below.