Diving in Gozo
The islands of Gozo and Comino are a paradise for diving and snorkelling, with their unique topographic structure, healthy water situation and rich fauna and flora.
A survey published in The Independent newspaper voted Dwejra 'best for diving'. The editor of 'Dive' magazine commented: "For British divers, Malta and the neighbouring island of Gozo are the biggest dive destinations in the Med. The draw is the Med's only known blue hole - a real geological anomaly."
Diving
Gozo is an all-year-round centre for diving. Even in a severe winter the sea temperature never drops below 13° Celsius. In stormy weather, sheltered coasts offer a sufficient number of interesting diving sites. In winter, many species of fish move inshore, and as they are not disturbed by swimmers during this season, the diver has even better opportunities for observation. Sea temperatures in summer are about 23° Celsius, and divers may wear a light 3 mm diving suit or even swim without one. The seas around Gozo are virtually tideless, and underwater currents are very rare in summer. The waters are known for their excellent visibility - up to 35 metres, thanks to the distance from the continental coasts and the currents that continuously renew the waters.
Gozo has an Association of Professional Diving Schools, ensuring well-trained and responsible staff. All schools offer high quality, up-to-date equipment, available to hire at reasonable rates. Compressors are regularly checked by the Department of Health.
Species which the diver will find around the Maltese islands include amberjack, bream, damsel fish, octopus, squid, flying gurnard, stingrays, red mullet and occasionally John Dory and moray eels. Some of the most delicate organisms found in the waters of Gozo are algae such as the sea rose which forms expanding rings of purple in shaded areas such as the walls and roofs of caves.
In November 1999, a former Gozo-Malta ferry, the MV Xlendi, was scuttled off the south coast of Gozo, not far from Ix-Xatt l-Ahmar. This inlet is a short distance off Mgarr harbour and can be reached by taking a side street just after the first houses on Mgarr-Rabat road. A wreck like this, with its large number of cavities and crevices, provides shelter and protection for a large variety of fish and coral. Divers can explore the increase in underwater life with ease.