SHORE DIVES IN GOZO

By swimming through an area named the gardens  one swims through a small v-shaped crack in the wall onto a ledge that drops of 25 meters opening into the blue. Going straight down and to the left one swims into the huge gaping opening of Coral cave starting at 18 meters, This cave roof has some excellent examples of hard coral and sea horses often choose to hide out at this site.

Entrance is obtained over a slipway into standing depth.After a short swim across what is called the inland sea  we dive down a gradual incline to a max depth in the cave of 25 meters. Swimming through this huge tunnel  in the limestone cliffs, the deep blue colour is framed at the far end by the rock fissure. This then leads out to the open sea and the drop of 50 meters below. Divers are usually happy to explore either the right or left walls which offer fantastic sea life.

Viewed from shore this offshore rock looks like a crocodile. The dive can be attempted from the shore but is usually a boat dive. The dive starts from a shallow lagoon 6m to 8 m deep. After a few meters one swims over a steep drop off that goes down to a maximum depth of 45m. divers can enjoy swimming along this vertical wall in the company of groupers, shoals of salema, amberjacks and tunas.

This site is situated under the highest cliffs in Gozo. Nudibranchs and lobsters can be encountered in between the boulders which dot the area.

The blue hole is world famous and situated on the western edge of Gozo at a place known as Dwejra.  Entrance into a lagoon offers divers a multitude of options as this site has something for every level of diver Here. Stunning caves fantastic walls and crystal clear blue waters have rightly earned this site it's reputation as a world class dive.

The mosaic like structure of the few remaining traditional salt pans on the islands are the prelude to this dive site. Here one can enjoy swerving along canals whilst spotting a large variety of fish such as eels, octopus, star fish, morays and sea urchins.

This dive is quite a swim from shore but worth every fin stroke, it is another spectacular. The dive takes its name from a unique geological formation, where two arches, one on top of the other, pierce this slightly offshore reef. Due to its location it abounds with thousands of damsel fish, and shoals of different breams. Often when the current is right, big shoals of hunting barracudas can also be seen.

This cave is situated in Ghasri valley. This dive can be done from the shore but requires a walk down some steep steps cut in the rock face.  At the mouth of the valley at a depth of 18m one will find a huge entrance leading you to the domed vault known as Cathedral Cave. Inside there are some boulders covered with colourful sponges and soft coral. During this dive we have the opportunity to surface in the dome itself where we will be surrounded by electrical blue light coming from the underwater entrance. Definitely worth the effort.

This dive is done along a vertical wall that goes down to 40 meters. It continues on a reef jutting from the main land, the shallowest part of which is 18m. The large boulders propped against the vertical underwater cliffs appear as though they have been deliberately placed, and offer an excellent refuge for groupers, dentex, octopus and large scorpionfish. .

Billinghurst cave is found on the north side of the island. The top of the cave entrance is just few meters below the surface and the bottom is at 27m meters. A giant stride from the top of the cliffs above the cave and you are ready to begin a fifty meter swim in the cave where one will be surrounded by lots of multi-coloured sponges, soft coral and virgin lace coral. It is possible to surface at the very end of the tunnel and only experienced divers using the correct equipment should be tempted this far inside.

Xlendi is one of Gozo's tourist resorts. The bay is at the end of a long narrow cove with its northern side protected by steep cliffs while the southern side abounds with bars, cafes, restaurants and hotels. A tunnel passes through these cliffs and leads to the open sea. The dive starts in the bay, at a depth of 9 meters.

Swimming through the tunnel, one can admire the intense blue coming from the exit. Outside the tunnel, one will continue swimming over boulders and on to a pyramid like reef where barracudas abound.

This huge pinnacle rises from a depth of sixty meters. During this boat dive, divers circle the rock, carefully maintaining a safe depth but also enjoying barracudas and the ubiquitous grouper

This is the former ferry boat MV Xlendi which was scuttled and is situated at a depth of 40 m.  It's size is impressive and due the fact that it landed up side down it can be quite confusing for the unsuspecting diver. Resting at that depth you must also consider the effect that nitrogen narcosis will be having on your judgment..