Whether you’re an experienced scuba diver or have always wanted to give it a try, the gorgeous azure Mediterranean Sea surrounding Gozo has something for everyone.
The Maltese Islands are a great destination for a diving holiday and offer a fantastic range of different diving experiences. They are truly a diver’s paradise.
In this blog post we aim to answer some common questions as well as provide some top tips about getting the most out of your diving holiday in Gozo. More info can also be found on our blog post Plunge Into Gozo’s Gorgeous Sea For An Exciting Dive.
Is Malta a good place for scuba diving?
The Maltese Islands, comprising the main island, Gozo, and Comino comprise one of the best and most popular diving destinations in the Mediterranean. They are easily reached from most of Europe, the sea is famous for being crystal clear, and when you’re not underwater there is plenty to do and see on land.
When you go diving in Malta and Gozo you’ll discover many wonderful natural underwater features such as caves, arches, tunnels and chimneys. And there are also artificial reefs grown on scuttled ships to explore.
When can you dive in Gozo?
Photo taken in October 2022 at Xlendi Bay, Gozo. Photo: Baron Holiday Home
The good news is that you can pretty much dive all year round in the Maltese Islands. Gozo has hot summers and temperate winters. In August sea temperatures can reach up to 26C and in February they are around 16C.
The best seasons to book a diving holiday on Gozo are spring and autumn. At these times the sea temperatures are generally warm, hovering around the 20C mark.
Where are the best dive sites in Gozo?
Gozo may be a small island but it has an abundance of dive sites from challenging technical dives for experienced divers to fun and safe shore dives for beginners.
What’s more, as a diving destination, Gozo is considered to be amongst the best in Europe and has some world class sites comparable to those found in The Maldives and Egypt.
Gozo and its smaller sister island Comino have around 50 dive sites between them. Experienced and qualified divers can hire equipment from one of Gozo’s many dive centres. While people wanting to experience a fun dive can book a range of guided dives.
Options include lagoons, underwater tunnels and caves, and wreck diving. You’ll get to see lots of fish and an amazing variety of other sealife.
Here are some of the top sites in Gozo and Comino:
Dwerja Bay, Gozo
The west coast of Gozo is famous for its spectacular limestone coastline and was home to the famous Azure Window until its collapse in March 2017. Beneath the waves, the limestone topography is just as interesting and offers dives down to about 60m.
The area features many caverns and arches. One of the standout attractions for divers here is a 35m tunnel which leads to the Inland Sea – a sea water lagoon. This short video clip gives you a taste of the Inland Sea:
Blue Hole, Gozo
The Blue Hole in Dwejra, Gozo. Photo: Richard B via Tripadvisor
The Blue Hole can be found in Dwerja Bay and is reached by descending some steps cut into the rough limestone. It is about 10m wide and reaches a depth of around 26m. This is one of Gozo’s top dive sites, offering a fantastic experience with lots of marine life. At the bottom you can explore a large cave and also go through an archway into the open sea.
Reqqa Point, Gozo
Another very popular dive site can be found at Reqqa Point, a promontory on Gozo’s northern coast. The site comprises a parapet at about 30m and a drop off down to 60m. The reef has crevices teeming with life.
Cathedral Cave
Accessed from Wied il-Għasri, between the village Għasri and Marsalforn, the Cathedral Cave is a spectacular dive site suitable for all levels of experience. There are a number of different ways to get to the cave but most involve following a boulder-strewn slope underwater to a large mushroom-shaped cave at about 6-18m. You actually surface beneath the huge dome and thanks to a small hole window above sea level, you can take out your regulators and sing!
Wreck diving at Xatt l-Aħmar, Gozo
Xatt l-Aħmar is a small red sand bay on Gozo’s southern coast, not far from Mġarr Harbour. And here, in depths of around 40m, three former ferries have been scuttled to create artificial reefs for divers to explore. These wrecks are easily accessed from the shore and offer a challenging technical dive for experienced divers.
The MV Xlendi was scuttled first in 1999. Divers cannot enter the wreck as it overturned while being scuttled which makes it unstable. The MV Karwela, and the MV Cominoland were scuttled in 2006. Both sit upright and as all doors and windows were removed, they can be swum through.
Santa Maria Caves, Comino
Located between Gozo and Malta, Comino is a tiny island surrounded by stunning turquoise sea. It’s perhaps most famous for its sheltered inlet called the Blue Lagoon, which is a great place to go snorkelling.
The Santa Maria Caves comprise a series of interconnected caverns, well-lit with natural light. Suitable for all levels of experience, you’re bound to see large shoals of sea bream as well as octopus and grouper.
P31 wreck, Comino
Scuttled in 2009, the P31 wreck offers an interesting dive for all levels of divers. The wreck used to be a patrol boat but now sits on white sand at an average depth of around 20m. Beginners can explore the outside of the wreck while more experienced divers can go inside the wreck to explore the inside.
Top tips for divers staying in Gozo
- Before you travel, make sure your travel insurance includes medical cover for activities such as scuba diving. If you’re a citizen of the EU you can also bring your EHIC card.
- You don’t have to be an elite athlete to scuba dive but a reasonable level of fitness is advisable. We’ve been hosting divers for the past 25 years and work with trusted diving partners. It’s best to contact us to confirm your diving needs and make your booking before you travel. You can make a diving enquiry here. Our diving partners will provide a Medical Screening Statement for to complete and for you and your doctor to sign. You may also need to be examined by a doctor in Gozo.
- Experienced divers who want to hire equipment for independent dives to 30 metres must provide proof of their diving qualifications and certification to the dive centre. If you forget to bring your certification, you can still dive with a licensed dive instructor.
- Children aged 10+ years can be included on guided fun dives but will be required to train in a pool to learn the basics of snorkelling. Some dive centres offer children’s PADI adventure and open water courses.
- On ‘dry’ days when you’re not out on a dive, make sure you take some time to explore all that Gozo has to offer. There are plenty of other activities to keep you busy – such as hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing and even Segway tours.
- Don’t forget to explore Gozo’s heritage sites like the Gġantija Temples and the Citadella. And do make sure you sample some of Gozo’s delicious home-grown food and wine. We can help with bookings and providing local advice on what to see in Gozo and things to do in Gozo.
- If you book accommodation on Gozo with Baron Holiday Homes, we can help book diving trips with our trusted partners for you and your group or family.
- Most of the dive centres in Gozo can be found in the main resort villages of Marsalforn and Xlendi. Whether you’re a couple, a family or a group looking for some diving fun on Gozo, Baron Holiday Homes has a range of rental apartments, villas and farmhouses all over the island, including Marsalforn and close to Xlendi. Getting to the dive centres is easy by car or public transport.
Posted in Activity, Adventure, Diving, Fun, Things to do, What to see in Gozo
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