Gozo: An Underwater Treasure Trove in the Heart of the Mediterranean

Published 1 year agoon August 13, 2024

The Maltese island of Gozo lies at the heart of the Mediterranean and, despite its diminutive size, it punches well above its weight as a world-class diving destination. So, what is it that’s so magical about Gozo and the surrounding sea that, like the bioluminescent light of an angler fish, draws in divers from far and wide?

Email: info@gozodive.com / Tel: +35621551301 / Web: www.gozodive.com

Standing on the bastions of the UNESCO-rated medieval citadel at the centre of this tiny tranquil idyll, you can see nearly 50km of enticing curvaceous coastline circumscribing this golden island. Crystal-clear waters lap at Gozo’s shore which boasts a wealth of dive sites in every direction – the colours shift smoothly from a transparent jade over white sand to a rich sapphire blue over the deeps beyond, and all promise spectacular visibility. Raise your eyes from the warm azure water, and you’ll spot Gozo’s sister Comino, a short boat ride away, with yet more underwater wonders.

Email: info@gozodive.com / Tel: +35621551301 / Web: www.gozodive.com

It’s no wonder that the ancient Greek myths tell of how, when Odysseus came here, he stayed for seven years. You might hear tell that he was captivated by the sea-nymph Calypso but we know better: surely it was the lure of the sea and the beauty beneath the surface that kept him entranced!

Email: info@gozodive.com / Tel: +35621551301 / Web: www.gozodive.com

Zoom in to Xlendi, the island’s most picturesque fishing village, acclaimed for its scenic bay: it’s a charming cove nestled between dramatic cliffs. Here, just steps away from the water’s edge, you’ll find Gozo Dive (formerly St Andrews), a dynamic, professional dive centre which caters comprehensively for every level of diver, from the exuberant 8-year old or the nervous beginner to the avid advanced open water diver and established experts with bulging log-books under their weight-belts.

Email: info@gozodive.com / Tel: +35621551301 / Web: www.gozodive.com

Xlendi Bay itself is a marvel – whether for a shake-out dive on its gently sloping sands, or for something more dramatic. Underwater, it’s spectacular, with inner and outer reefs, a towering pinnacle, a secret tunnel into an open water cave, and the criss-crossed ropes of the boats on one side of the bay that add a ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ flavour for those with a whimsical leaning.

Xlendi’s deeper waters are also home to the world’s first deepwater archaeological park where a Phoenician shipwreck dating back to the 7th century BC lies 110 metres below the surface. Although some intrepid divers head down to see this for real, most people view this wreck and its ancient amphora on screen inside the historic watchtower that stands on guard at the entrance to the bay. (Standing above Roman salt pans, traditionally used to harvest sea salt, this tower dates back to the Knights of Malta for whom it provided protection against pirates, deterring smugglers and quarantine evaders. It was also used as an observation deck during World War II, when the entire Maltese Islands were awarded The George Cross for bravery by King George VI.)

Email: info@gozodive.com / Tel: +35621551301 / Web: www.gozodive.com

With a 30-year history of excellence, and a friendly international team of professional instructors, Gozo Dive offers guided diving for everyone, all year round, whatever your ambition whether that’s simply a 1 day try dive you’re after, Advanced Open Water Diver, Rescue Diver or specialty courses. Training packages available include PADI, SSI, RAID & SDI/TDI for adults and children, and technical, CCR & instructor courses too, all personalised as you wish. Fancy developing your underwater photography or learning Trimix techniques to explore deeper dive sites with the use of helium-based breathing mixtures? Rebreather courses or looking to build up 30 or more rebreather hours before your MOD2? No problem. With a dedicated Tech Room, Gozo Dive have it all covered.

Email: info@gozodive.com / Tel: +35621551301 / Web: www.gozodive.com

Gozo Dive will welcome you – in English, French, Italian, German, Spanish or Maltese – as a solo diver, a family or a large group, and with the brand-new deluxe Gozo Dive Residence on the hillside just above Gozo Dive, they’ll can make life easy for you with a fully organized dive & stay package (complete with airport transfers). Designed for divers, these brand-new self-catering apartments have stunning bay-view balconies, a breathtaking roof-top plunge pool, air conditioning and powerful WiFi.

Email: info@gozodive.com / Tel: +35621551301 / Web: www.gozodive.com

Beyond Xlendi, North, South, East and West, Gozo is a playground of caves, tunnels, reefs, and wrecks whatever the direction of the waves and wind. Most dives are accessible from the shore; others, Gozo Dive reaches with its own purpose-built spacious boat. Stay in the shade, as you whip across the waves!

Email: info@gozodive.com / Tel: +35621551301 / Web: www.gozodive.com

The Blue Hole is the most famous dive site on Gozo, an extraordinary rock chimney with a giant window to the ocean sixteen metres below the surface, from which you can venture out into Gozo’s Coral Gardens and Coral Cave or over a seabed scattered with giant boulders and geological intrigue. Just 100 metres away, The Inland Sea is another extraordinary spot, a green-blue lake surrounded by rock, from which you can follow a shallow tunnel to the cerulean blue beyond. For Game of Thrones fans, this rocky outcrop, ‘Dwejra’, is the location at which the wedding between the Dothraki warlord Khal Drogo and Khaleesi Daenerys Targaryen, was filmed. (You could also, on your final afternoon before you fly home, visit Malta’s ancient city of Medina, to see the Entrance Gate and streets, and squares of King’s Landing.)

Email: info@gozodive.com / Tel: +35621551301 / Web: www.gozodive.com

Perhaps lesser known, but equally striking, on Gozo’s Northern coast, Cathedral Cave is reached by following an ‘underwater stairway’ of momentous boulders that leads into a large cave, to enjoy both above and below the water. Into this vast dome of rock, light floods from below whilst fresh air reaches you through a crack in the rock and the water’s a vivid blue. Surfacing here is a fantastical experience and an amazing photo opportunity.

There’s nothing like a wreck emerging from the seabed to trigger the imagination: at the MV Karwela, a 1950s passenger ferry from Valletta’s Grand Harbour sitting upright on the sand to the south of the island, the light dapples through the windows and wooded slats. Its classic split stairway evokes thoughts of the Titanic!

Email: info@gozodive.com / Tel: +35621551301 / Web: www.gozodive.com

Then over on the remote island of Comino, the P31 is a decommissioned military patrol boat, scuttled at 21m for divers of all levels. It’s home to many fish and other marine life; and Gozo Dive guides will lead you through the interconnecting Santa Marija Caves with its slashed-rock Z-for-Zorro swim through. And that’s just for starters.

Email: info@gozodive.com / Tel: +35621551301 / Web: www.gozodive.com

If you’re dreaming of a trip to Gozo but some of the family prefer to stay on the surface, snorkelling is an option at many of the dive sites. Alternatively, in Xlendi, there’s a small sandy beach and two swimming areas with lifeguards for splashing and diving. You can hire pedalos and stand-up paddle boards, and it’s a great starting point for coastal walks. Even the smallest legs can follow the secret path to Karolina’s Cave, a hidden sea cave used by nuns to access the sea in privacy. Oh, and Xlendi has the best ice-cream in Malta!

Email: info@gozodive.com / Tel: +35621551301 / Web: www.gozodive.com

(And should you – however unlikely it seems – decide to put your fins to one side for an afternoon, reliable regular buses deliver you to Victoria, the island’s main town, in less than ten minutes. Or because this gemstone of an island is only pocket-sized, Uber and the local equivalents, can transport you wherever you want to go in mere moments!)

Take the plunge and book your Gozo adventure, for this year or next, today!