Advanced Diving in Gozo

Enquire Now

Famed for its aquatic arches and myriad wrecks, the Maltese island of Gozo is a much-loved dive destina-tion for Europeans. The archipelago’s strategic location in the southern Mediterranean, between Sicily and Libya, has ensured it has a storied history, which reveals itself as you wander through its ancient Cittadella, explore the monolithic Ġgantija temples and dive its historic wrecks. Plenty of dive sites have shore access so there is a nice mix to suit all diving levels pleasant shallow coral gardens give way to caverns and caves and deeper reefs and wrecks. Whether you’re looking to test your skills or learn new ones, there’s plenty of opportunity to enjoy the more advanced diving in Gozo and maybe even make the short hop over to Malta for more of the same... Our team of dive travel specialists love taking the short flight across to explore the varied diving in the Maltese Archipelago. The mix of gentle shore dives and more advanced diving in Gozo is perfect for a short break: a deeper, more challenging dive to wake up, followed by a Gozitan lunch overlooking the Mediter-ranean, before a relaxing afternoon dive and a chilled evening. We can help you put together your ideal itinerary to ensure you get the most from this intriguing island group.

Xatt l-Ahmar

Located in the south-east corner of Gozo, in the shadows of Fort Chambray and a short drive from the Ta' Cenc cliffs, is a collection of four purpose-sunk wrecks. The MV Cominoland, the MV Xlendi, the MT Hephaestus and the MV Karwela lie a short distance from each other on the seabed and are accessible from shore. While all four are great dives, the MV Karwela has become the most popular, with its iconic staircase being a focal point for underwater photographers. As a purpose-sank wreck, it is open enough to make the dive relatively simple, but the depth (the seabed is at 40 metres) make it among the more advanced diving in Gozo.

Other neighbouring wrecks in the same area offer similar dive conditions and each have a maximum depth of around 45 metres, making Xatt I-Ahmar a great base for metalheads looking to enjoy the more advanced diving in Gozo.

Dwerja Bay

Dwerja Bay is a great place to enjoy Gozo's most iconic dive sites, offering a pleasant mix of easy and more advanced diving. In Gozo, many of the dive sites are famed for their natural geological beauty, and Dwerja Bay is on the doorstep of two of them: the Inland Sea and the Blue Hole. The area was once known for the Azure Window, a natural rock archway which was one of the island's major tourist attractions until it collapsed in 2017.

The remnants of the archway can still be seen when diving in the Inland Sea, with dive centres now referring to the rubble below the former arch as the Azure Boulders. The Inland Sea features a tunnel to the open ocean and can be reached by divers of all levels. But it is the west coast of Gozo, which is flanked by deep water, where more advanced divers can explore these less-visited depths and enjoy the swim-throughs and tunnels.

For those seeking more advanced diving in Gozo, you can join boat trips from Dwerja Bay to the northern coast, with Gudja Cave being a particular highlight for the more experienced diver. The cave features a halocline and the chance to surface into a smaller air chamber within it.

Valletta

The siege of Malta was a military campaign in the Mediterranean Theatre of World War II. From June 1940 to November 1942, the air and naval forces of Germany and Italy aimed to wrestle control of Malta from the British forces, and launched strikes on the islands. These offensives do have a silver lining for divers though. Around Valletta - now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the capital of the archipelago - there is a smattering of both ship and plane wrecks just waiting to be explored.

To the south of Malta, you can explore the wreck of a Blenheim bomber plane, and from Valletta itself, a number of shipwrecks.. One of the most popular is that of HMS Stubborn, which, true to her name, refused to be sunk during the war. Shortly after the war, however, the British military scuttled her to be used as target practise for their Anti-Submarine Division. The wreck's maximum depth is 56 metres and is only for suitably experienced divers. With several other wrecks dotted around the coast of Malta, including a few to the north, close to Gozo, the archipelago is a wreck diver's dream. However, given their depth, most of them are considered to be among the more advanced diving in Gozo and Malta, and the relevant experience is required to enjoy them to the max.

Show less