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GOZO ISLAND DIVE SITES
The Smaller of the two main Maltese islands, Gozo, lies 8 km to the northwest of Malta. The island is 15km long by 7 km at its widest point, with a total of 43km of coastline. Like its big sister, Gozo features an impressive inland citadel at Victoria; nearly all the main roads radiate from this city.
Although distinguished by a layer of blue clay soil, Gozo shares some geological charachteristics with malta. Much of the island slopes gently into the sea before it plunges into the depths, while on the west and the south coasts towering cliffs plummet an equal distance underwater, making the diving experience more spectacular. Indeed the diving is even more scenic than on Malta, with dramatic vertical cliff faces, natural arches and caves- Gozo is unquestionably one of the most popular diving destinations in the Mediterranean.
By far the best diving in the archipelago is in the southwest at Dwejra Point. Here divers can visit two natural wonders of the Mediterranean : the gigantic arch known as the Azure window at the tip of Dwejra point, and inland from this rocky outcrop the Inland Sea a sheltered lagoon cut by an awesome fissure which runs through the headland, offering divers 25m of depth below underhanging cliffs. Further to the south, the landmass rears up vertically , with few entry points except at xlendi bay. From St. Andrews Divers cove towards the east of the island much of the coastline is accessed by boat. In particular, the dive boat is the only way to reach the caves below the awesome ramparts of Ta Cenc Cliffs.
1 Marsalforn BayLocation: off the breakwater to the northwest of Marsalforn Bay. Access: From the shore Conditions: Generally sheltered , normally used as a beginners dive Average depth: 8 m Maximum depth: 12m Average visibility: 15m This is a gently sloping dive, often used for training purposes, with visibility improving the further you move out from the bay. The sandy seabed here is intersped with large boulders and small beds of possidonia.
2 Xwieni Bay Location: To the northwest of Xwejni Bay Access: Directly off the beach and the small concrete platforms Conditions: This is a small , sheltered inlet and always popular with the locals and children, so expect it to be busy. Average depth: 9m Maximum depth: 12m Average visibility: 15m
There is a very shallow shore entry over small banks of possidonia leading down to a series of rocky surfaces around here. A small mixture of algal fuzz covers the rocky passageways. A small ledge then drops down to a sandy bottom and hundreds of small fissures and cracks are home to a number of moray eels as well as the common octopus. This site is mostly used as a beginners dive, but for those who are fit, keen and adventurous , the dive for the twin arches can be started at this location.
3 Twin Arches (Marsalforn Reef) Location: Directly out from the headland north of Xwejni bay, about 200m offshore Access: 80 m north of Xwejni bay to the corner can be reached by a very long snorkel swim, but access is better by boat. Conditions: Can be blown out during easterly winds, so best dive when it is flat calm Average depth:30m Max depth: 45m Average visibility:45m There is a prolific fish life around this extended rocky headland carved by two large archways. The entry point is over very shallow waters
4 Anchor Reef Location Midway between the Twin arches and Reqqa Point Access From the shore, to the left of a concrete fishing platform. Conditions Can be difficult if there is any surface surge Entry is easy but exit is thicker as you have to scramble up a steep rocky incline. Watch out for fishing lines. Average depth 12-30m Maximum depth-45m Average visibility-45m
This is a very good snorkel dive along the edge of the shoreline, which affords some shelter. Thousands of small sand smelt amd damselfish are always to be seen. Grouper are common, as are various species of bream , and wrasse patrol the reef edge while small groups of parrotfish nibble at the corals. These fish are perhaps the most brightly coloured of all fish found around the Maltese archipelago. The dive down and along the steeply sloping wall to iether the right or left , where you will find cardinalfish in every single crevice nestling among the algae.
5 Reqqa Point Location Most northerly point of Gozo, a small curved low spur which juts out into the sea. Access Along the rocky, bumpy coastal route next to the saltpans. Average depth-25m Max depth beyond 70m Average visibility 45m
Depending on the surge, access is iether to the right or the left of the headland, but the dive is conducted by swimming around the headland to the left, or west. This wall is near vertical in many places and is cut by numerous fissures, caves and crevices. Snorkelling is popular along the wall because of the dramatic location and the large numbers of small fish . However there can be a problem with fishermen here so exercise caution. On the submarine section of the headland are two chimneys or holes, which drop down through the wall. To the right of the sheltered inlet there is a chimney that drops through the reef from 6m to 16m while on the headland there is another much more serious chimney , to be dived only by very experienced divers. Diving this deep is not necessary however, as there is so much marine life and interest in the shallows , including shrimps cave, which is a shallow indentation in the cliff wall filled with several species of shrimp.
6 Billinghurst Cave Location To the west of Reqqa Point and into the deeply indented corner of the shorleine, where you can see the entrance to the cave. Access Entry is possible by a 2m jump and swimming underwater to the cave , the exit is at Reqqa Point. Conditions There can be some serious surge in the cave and it should be only dived by experienced divers in flat calm conditions. Average depth 20m Maximum depth 35m Average visibility25m- Torchlight needed.
The cave has very little natural light penetration and a dip in the middle further cuts off the daylight. The sides of the tunnel are pitted and eroded by the pounding sea covered in a multitude of differently coloured sponges. There is less marine life than there may be imagined but after a 50m swim you can surface inside the cave and cast your lights over the vaulted natural stone ceiling. The sight of the blue open water with the sun shining through from the outer reef on the way out of this cavern comes as something of a relief.
7 The Blue Dome- Ghasri Valley – Cathedral cave
Location Between Reqqa Point and Forna Point, a very distinctive deep winding cut in the headland. Access Can be done from the shore , but requires an arduous climb – particularly after it has rained , when the valley silts up very quickly, over rock and down steps and then a long snorkel swim. Best done by dive boat
Conditions- Sheltered inlet ideal for all levels of diver
Average depth-12m Max depth 30m Average visibility 25m
This dive is best started on the right hand side of a steeply sloping wall , which drops down underwater to a huge cluster of large , rounded boulders covered in algae, sea urchins and brilliantly covered starfish. The shallows are also home to huge numbers of damselfish and it was here that we spotted our first seahorse in the maltese islands, almost perfectly camouflaged among the spiky algae The best part of this dive , however is the cave itslef . The entrance is only 5m below the surface and leads you through a huge doomed vault, where you can surface and chat about your dive. As the dome extends above water level , there is no danger here of your exhalations disrupting the marine species on the ceiling. Although there a few fish in the cave, the walls are covered with corals, hydroids, sponges and golden zoanthids. The interior of the cave s sea bed is covered in massive boulders and the view to the outside blue of the ocean is breathtaking, perfect for diver –silhouette photographs.
8 San DiMitri Point
Location – Just south of San Dimitri the most westerly point on gozo
Access – by boat only Average depth-25m Average visibility-50m
A shallow reef juts out from a sheltered spike off the headland, where the dive boat is able to anchor in 6m. This reeftop is perfect for any timed safety stops at the end of your dive. The first part of the drop off is quite gentile, after which you come to some house sized boulders with vertical walls. Head out due west in open water – you will come across massive shoals of barracuda then turn around and come back into the wall, which curves around to the south. Grouper are common , as are dentex, with thousands of damselfish and large shoals of saupe which feed on the algae covered boulders. On the inside of the rocky ledge there is a gully between the reef platform and the shore which is very sheltered and filled with marine life.
9 Inland SeaLocation – At Dwejra Point head down to the right to the small enclosed bay in front of the fishing huts and small snack bar.
Access- From the shore , swim out on the surface then drop down immediatelly at the corner of the left hand side to avoid the constant boat traffic carrying tourists through this dramatic headland. Conditions- Must be done when the waters are crystal clear. Average depth-18m Max depth-25-60m
When conditions are perfect this is a fantastic dive along a narrow canyon that stretches 80m through the headland to open water beyond. Boats constantly whizz overhead, but the wall is so deep, vertical and underhanging for the most part that there is no danger of collision other than at the beginning of the dive and at the end, assuming you exit in the same place. The view as you look out into the deep indigo blue of the open ocean is spectacular. Around the corner to both the right and the left there are further vertical fissures in the cliff face which can be explored at all levels and are covered in marine life. These routes to the left and to the right of the inland Sea are not to be missed.
10AzureWindow
Location Underneath the tip of Dwejra Point a very obvious natural archway Access- can be done by boat but more popularly done by access through the blue hole. Average depth-20-35m Maximum depth-beyond 60m Average visibility-45m The site gets its name from the underwater view as you look upwards to the natural arch above the surface, which reflects the azure blue as if you were looking through a massive window. Large boulders lie underneath the archway where they have fallen from above – which is somewhat disconcerning, but the marine life is prolific and the rocky surfaces are covered in spiny starfish and dotted everywhere with tiny tube worms damselfish wrasse, parrotfish and many different spiecies of bream can be found along the walls, while deeper down amongst the large boulders on the seabed you can see the dusky grouper recognizeable by the yellow fringe on its dorsal fin. This is an incredibly scenic dive, as is the entire area, and divers tend to travel around the headland and back to the Blue Hole, which is the best entry and exit point.
11 The Blue Hole and the ChimneyLocation- Directly in front of the Azure Window at the bottom of Dwejra beach Access- Reached by a fairly difficult walk over ancient coraline limestone. The rough path leads you down to the shore where a shallow water shelf leads to the right where the Blue Hole is formed
Average depth- 20m Max depth-45m Average visibility-45m
The Blue Hole is a natural rock formation carved out over the centuries by wind and wave power. Offering a sheltered entry for a number of dives, this site includes a huge archway which starts at 8m and has a flat top , almost square in shape, and covered in golden cup corals. A large cavealso worth exploring can be found at the bottom of the hole. This dive then leads you round to the left, or west , until you reach a fissure in the near vertical wall. This opens up at around 6m, directly ahead of you is another, much smaller hole that is perfect for photograph. Exit by retracing your route to the blue hole or the flat reef just to the left of the Blue Hole headland. This site is very popular later on in the day, so get there early before 0930 to have the place you yourself |
