Gozo - Dive Holiday October 2011
For the coming Autumn we're planning a trip to the Mediterranean Island of Gozo (the small sister island to Malta). Sheltered by Sicily at the foot of Italy and the bulge of the North African coast of Tunisia, Gozo enjoys great easy diving in clear visibility of up to 30 mtrs. It involves only a 3.5 hour flight direct from Dublin. The island is 14kms long and 7kms wide meaning you will have plenty of time to explore the character and topography of the whole island during your stay here. The island itself has a population of around 31,000 people. Maltese and English are the official languages and official currency is the Euro.
Most good dive sites are from the shore and the sea temperature is likely to be 24 degrees so suitable for wetsuit diving with air temperatures around 22 degrees C. You typically drive to the water's edge, kit up and walk or jump in (good wetsuit booties are required as the shores are rocky with ledges and sharp edges. Depths very quickly drop to 25 or 30 metres and the topography offers caves, caverns, crevices, overhangs and beautiful swim-throughs. There are plenty of wrecks (sunk through wars or weather conditions but also newer ones scuttled by the authorities to create new dive sites). There's the M.V. Xlendi, an ex ferry boat, sunk in the south of Gozo near Fort Chambray, just 60 mtrs out from the shore lying upside down in 42m with her hull in 30m (there's a general depth limit of 40m for recreational diving, depending on qualification and experience of course).
The Inland Sea and Tunnel, Azure Window and Blue Hole at Dwejra point are just some of Gozo’s most popular sites and the marine life is diverse with many rare species of fish which have vanished from other part of the Mediterranean. There are no tides and few currents so you can dive when you feel like it and night diving too is fantastic. Driving distances on the island are short whilst there's always a sheltered dive site when the wind blows.
Depending on the group size, we'll stay in self-catering apartments or houses, rent jeeps to get around (you'll be driving on the same side of the road) and there's the option of some offshore boat diving as well.
Gozo has an amazing rural countryside and is well known for it’s scenic hills. Historical architecture abounds structures from pre-Egyptian pyramids through to the Crusaders of the St John’s Cross. Between May & October every town celebrates their patron saints feast day or “festa”! These celebrations are not to be missed, when the church is illuminated and streets are festooned with flags, drapes and light bulbs it’s something magical. The evening culminates in a firework spectacular.
The local food is heavily influenced by Italy and eating out is much cheaper than at home. The national dish is Fenech (rabbit) and seafood too features prominently on every menu - and the local bear Cisk isn't bad either!
Places of interest on Gozo are the Citadel, the Cathedral & Cathedral museum, the Natural History museum and Folk museums, in Victoria (named in honour of Queen Victoria) or by its old name Rabat, literally “the city” Ta’ Pinu church is a place of pilgrimage for the Maltese and Gozitans at Xewkija. The Megalithic temples of Ggantija near the village of Xaghra according to latest analysis were built around 3600 BC, earlier than the first pyramids in Egypt and Stonehenge. On our final non-diving day we'll take a day trip across to Comino, the smallest inhabited island, where you can truly relax without traffic or noise pollution. Swimming in the Blue Lagoon or walking over the wild flower and thyme covered rocky landscape are ideally suited to this island.
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