Diving Some of Gozo’s Most Popular Underwater Sites
Gozo has long enjoyed a reputation as one of the Mediterranean’s finest diving destinations, offering the best of both worlds: spectacular marine heritage and four wrecks that were scuttled to form artificial reefs off ix-Xatt l-Aħmar. Found at depths of between 30 to 50 metres below sea level, these wrecks are ideal for technical and advanced divers for whom the allure of exploring decks and hulls beats any other underwater adventure.
But even divers with a lust for rust tend to agree that the Blue Hole at Dwejra is an unmissable dive site, where dramatic rock formations, natural arches and interconnected passageways leave you hankering for more underwater experiences. Another site that ranks high with divers is Reqqa Point, which is located west of the Xwejni salt pans and has become synonymous with sightings of large groupers and barracudas. These fish are also protagonists of the Double Arch dive, where stunning underwater topography and rich biodiversity come together beautifully.
Yet, Gozo’s most expansive underwater site is still one of the island’s best-kept secrets.
A First-Of-Its-Kind Underwater Park
Hidden beneath the waters of Xlendi Bay is the Xlendi Underwater Archaeological Park, which was declared the world’s first-of-its-kind park in 2022. Lying southwest of the historic Xlendi coastal watchtower and covering an impressive area of 67,000 square metres, the site is located between approximately 105 and 115 metres below sea level.
While ancient relics, predominantly amphorae, have been retreived from the Xlendi seabed since the late 1950s, the dense concentration of artefacts that is now a world-recognised park was first discovered during a submarine survey in 1993. The site offers a unique glimpse into the seaborne activity that took place around the Malta in ancient times, confirming the islands’ importance within the Punic maritime network.
The site continues to be investigated, with researchers documenting and digitally mapping the remarkably well-preserved Punic-era artefacts that make it so unique, while hoping that further exploration will eventually reveal the shipwreck or wrecks from which they originated.
Explore the Xlendi Underwater Archaeological Park Virtually
It is the extraordinary depth at which the site lies, together with the remarkable way the ancient artefacts are scattered across such a vast area, that makes it a world first. At first, a site located more than 100 metres beneath the Mediterranean might sound like something reserved exclusively for professional archaeologists, especially when bearing in mind that the maximum depth a diver can reach in safety is generally agreed to be 50 metres.
For technical divers who are willing to dive to these greath depths, the experience can be taken to the seabed itself. Suitably qualified divers can buy a ticket to explore the park, with the support, including an informative lecture on the eve of the dive, of the professional team of the Underwater Cultural Heritage Unit – the guardians of this site.
But you certainly do not need to be a technical diver to experience this extraordinary part of Gozo’s cultural heritage.
At the historic Xlendi tower, visitors can discover an exhibition dedicated to the underwater archaeological site, bringing the discoveries from the depths closer to the people. Artefacts and information help tell the story of what lies off Xlendi Bay, while digital and virtual experiences offer another way of exploring an environment that would otherwise be inaccessible to most visitors.
The annual Xlendi tower open weekend will be happening on 15 and 16 August 2026, with a free entrance and no booking required.
Experience Gozo’s Underwater Cultural Heritage at the Xlendi Shipwreck Festival
There is no better time to learn more about Gozo’s fascinating underwater cultural heritage than during the Xlendi Shipwreck Festival, taking place on 21 and 22 August 2026 along the Xlendi waterfront from 6 pm to 11 pm
The free annual event gives visitors an opportunity to experience Gozo’s underwater heritage without having to don a diving suit. Highlights include an immersive virtual reality dive of the Xlendi Underwater Archaeological Park and the nearby Phoenician Shipwreck and displays of archaeological artefacts recovered from the seabed.
Once again, no pre-booking is required, making the festival an ideal opportunity to discover another dimension of Gozo’s layered history.
