HMS MAORI
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HMS MAORI |
Location: In front of the entrance to the dockyard creek at St. Elmo’s Bay
Maximum depth: 18m (60ft)
HMS MAORI was launched in 1937 and saw considerable action in the Norwegian campaign, Atlantic convoys and the Mediterranean. From its rear divers are able to gain easy access to her remains, with exits through the large holes in her starboard side. The Maori is home to a large number of fish.
Location: Off the northern coast along the coast road between Sliema and Bugibba.
Maximum depth: 14m (47ft)
This is a site ideal for novice divers. This area is full of boulders, which are covered in algae, with lots of Posidonia sea grass beds.
Location: Off the NE point of the Marfa Ridge
Maximum depth: 18m (60ft)
A popular diving site with photographers it is rich in lovely scenic views. The boat anchors in around 10m and then it is a short swim to the outside cavern. From here a tunnel opens up into a small inland grotto, open to daylight. Here the water temperature is a few degrees higher, so there is an abundance of golden cup corals.
Location: Near Ahrax Point
Maximum Depth: 36m (120ft)
Due to difficult access this diving site is very rarely visited. Large numbers of massive rocks create swimthroughs.
Location: At the Western end of Marfa, off the SW of Qammieh Point
Maximum Depth: Beyond 70m
An exciting dive off the reef that juts out the SW from Qammieh Point to a coupd of small islands just offshore. This site drops near vertically to the seabed 50m below and then slopes off to very deep water. This is a popular site for sightings of predatory fish, such as barracuda and dentex
Location: Off the east coast at the end of the road leading to Rdum tas-Sarg north of Ras id-Dawwara Bay
Maximum depth: Beyond 70m (230ft)
This is a relatively unexplored site due to its inaccessibility. Clambering down 300m of rugged headland is fine but climbing back is fairly difficult. This site features vertical walls, ledges, caves and caverns
Location: Off the Dingli Cliffs on the SW coast
Maximum depth: Beyond 60m (200ft)
This is another spectacular climb dive, which involves a difficult challenge for the less fit. Entry is into 8m of water, from where you head SE. Along the wall there is an archway and cave at 12m which rises up inside to 4m, often with a layer of fresh water at the top. At the end of the dive it is advisable to climb back very slowly.
Location: Off the south coast near the Mnajdra Temples
Maximum Depth: 15m (50ft)
A much popular site among novice divers, it has a safe entrance into a shallow cave that runs through the headland, starting in around 3m and coming out on a convoluted wall at 6m with a large pile of algae-covered boulders at the entrance.
Location:
140m (460ft) southwest of Wied iz-Zurrieq
Maximum Depth:
34m (115ft)
After a terrible explosion, killing nine Maltese dockyard workers this ill-fated ship was sunk back in the 1998. It sits upright on a sandy seabed and it is an impressive sight. It is completely open for penetration, but not yet totally safe inside, so cautious venturing is advisable and attempted with proper training.
Location: Off the ferry slip at Wied iz-Zurrieq headland for trips to Blue Grotto
Maximum depth: 30m (100ft)
A much sought-after site indeed. After a giant stride entry into the water, one must swim across and out of the mouth of the bay and turn West to follow the cliff wall. There a number of caves can be found. The bigger cave, Bell cave/Chimney Cave is just around the corner, with 3 entrances and the exit is by retracing the route into the bay.
Location: Off the Southern shore
Maximum depth: Beyond 70m (230ft)
One can divide this site into several diving areas. Once used for target practice during World War II, Filfla is now a National Nature Reserve, with restricted accesses. Special and limited visiting permits are granted. The waters around the island are littered with armaments
Location: Approximately 120m (400ft) directly out from the old steel jetty on a bearing of 280 degrees magnetic.
Maximum depth: 36m (120ft)
This tugboat was sunk in 1992 as a tourist attraction, mainly submarine tours. Such tours no longer operate. This ship sits upright on a sandy bottom and still offers a magnificent diving site, which is slowly being colonised. Among other sea creatures the chromis, bream and sand smelt dominate the site
MARFA
POINT (THE MADONNA)
Location: Directly out from the Marfa Point entry and down the corner of the wall to 18 m (60ft)
Maximum depth: 18m (60ft)
A statue of the Holy Mary was placed here in a small natural cavern by the Amphibians Diving Club, covered in 18m of water. The shallows found here are home to a number of octapuses’ colonies
Location: 800m due east of Xorb il-Ghagin, off the SE coast, in a depth of 42m (140ft)
Maximum depth: 42m (140ft)
Located by the Sports Diving Limited this wreck is one of the most sought-after sites. It is restricted to the experienced divers because of the depth and condition of the bomber.
Location: NW of Santa Marija Tunnel to the large natural arch
Maximum depth: 10m (33ft)
A large cave, extending to over 30 m (100ft) connects to another cave. At the junction there is a shaft open to the sky, which makes this site a remarkable one. This is a popular site for fish feeding.
Location: NW of Cominotto island to the edge of the outer reef drop-off
Maximum depth: 36m (120ft)
This is a vertical wall with very little large fish life. It drops to 39m (127ft). Here bit boulders covered in colourful sponges and golden cup corals create swimthroughs and caverns. On the way down an old four-pointed anchor can be seen.
Location: On the Southern side of the light on the SW point of Comino
Maximum depth: Beyond 50m (165ft)
This is a remarkable dive down from a low rocky shelf at 6m. The dive starts at the entrance to a chimney. Boulders here create huge caverns and swimthroughs. This is perhaps the best dive site around Comino
Location: Directly out from the headland north of Xwieni Bay, about 200m offshore
Maximum depth: 45m (150ft)
Carved by two large archways this extended rocky headland is rich in fish life. Its entry is over shallow water. Reaching the start of the wall at around 14m (45ft) and keeping to the right the twin arches are reached. Because of the depth divers must make haste to swim back by cutting diagonally back to the shore. Around the coast on the right one can come across a few large caves cut into the cliffs
Location: Most northerly point of Gozo
Maximum depth: Beyond 70m (230ft)
The wall at this site is near vertical in many places and is cut by numerous fissures caves and crevices. Snorkelling is very popular here along the wall, however divers should exercise caution because of the fishermen. On the submarine section of the headland are 2 chimneys or holes, which drop down through the wall. To the right of the sheltered inlet there is a chimney that drops through the reef from 6m to 16m while on the headland there is another chimney to be dived only by experienced divers. In the shallows one can find Shrimps Cave, a shallow indention in the cliff wall, filled with several species of shrimp
Location: To the west of Reqqa Point
Maximum depth: 35m (115ft)
This dive is best started on the right-hand side of a sloping wall, which drops down leading to a huge number of rounded boulders. The best part of this dive is the cave itself. The entrance leads you through to a huge domed vault where one can surface. There are few fish in the cave but the walls are covered in coral and sponges.
Location: Most westerly point of Gozo, just south of San Dimitri Point
Maximum depth: Beyond 60m (200ft)
The first part of the dive is gently, leading to huge boulders with vertical walls. On the inside of the rocky ledge there is a gully between the reef platform and the shore, which is very sheltered and filled with marine life
Location: At Dwejra Point head down to the right to the small enclosed bay
Maximum depth: 25-60m (80 – 200ft)
When visibility is perfect this is a fantastic dive along a narrow canyon stretching through the headland to open water beyond. Around the corner to both the right and left there are further vertical fissures in the cliff face, which can easily be explored and is rich in marine life.
AZURE
WINDOW (DWEJRA POINT)
Location: Underneath the tip of Dwejra Point
Maximum depth: Beyond 60m (200ft)
Azure Window is the name of the majestic natural arch rising above the surface of the sea. Large boulders falling from the arch are now home to a prolific marine life. This is an incredibly scenic dive. The best entry and exit point is the Blue Hole.
Location: In front of the Azure Window
Maximum Depth: 45m (150ft)
The Blue Hole gets its name from the natural rock formation carved out over the centuries by wind and sea power. It includes a huge archway with a flat surface. At the bottom of the hole a large cave is found, also very much worth exploring.
Location: To the left of the headland before you continue on the path all the way down to the Blue Hole at Dwejra Point
Maximum depth: 30m (100ft)
At first glance the entry may appear difficult, but is actually the best entrance. Its huge semi-circular opening has a sandy bottom and boulders under the entrance. Turning north a vertical sloping wall can be found, which is home to hermit crabs, starfish and colourful scorpionfish. The exit is via the Blue Hole
Location: The crocodile-shaped rock just offshore between Dwejra Point and Fungus Rock
Maximum depth: 45m (150ft)
The dive boat anchors between Crocodile Rock and the shore, where the depth is around 7m (24ft). The southern edge of the rock one can find a natural amphitheatre with near near-vertical sides and deeply incised fissures. The bottom of the wall is filled with huge algae-covered boulders
Location: The huge rock offshore at the entrance to Dwejra Bay
Maximum Depth: Beyond 60m (200ft)
Fungus Rock is a massive lump of limestone and it has a hole running through its northern part. Boulders lying against one another create a dramatic scenery of walls, fissures, gulleys and caverns
Location: To the northern corner of Xlendi Bay
Maximum depth: 25m (80ft)
It is possible to snorkel through the tunnel which leads to the headland, as it is only 2 m deep in Xlendi Bay and 6m on the other side. This site is popular with less experienced divers and is for many the first venture in an underwater cave. The cave’s walls are covered with golden zoanthids, red starfish and sponges
Location: The first sheltered inlet to the southwest of Xlendi Bay
Maximum Depth: 45m (150ft)
This is a deep cave and arch eroded from the surrounding cliffs, with a large semi-circular cavern at the base of the archway. The bottom of the arch has some massive boulders, covered in colourful sponges. The entrance to the cave next to the cliff face is absolutely rich in marine life.
FESSEJ ROCK
(BLACK ROCK)
Location: Offshore from the Mgarr ix-Xini inlet along the south shore near Mgarr Harbour
Maximum depth: 50m (165ft)
Amidst a number of huge boulders Fessej Rock rises 15m above the water, plunging vertically to the seabed 50m below. Essentially the dive is around the rock, descending and ascending in a spiral to bring you back to the surface
Location: At the Mgarr ix-Xini inlet
Maximum depth: 14m (47ft)
A very popular photographic site. An interesting cave lies about 100m along the right-hand wall in 14m which extends quite far in and has a sharp narrow twist to the left at the end. Inside the cave one can surface. The sheltered valley and shallow depths make this site very popular for night dives.
