Diving in Gozo

Explore 70 dive sites in Gozo, Malta. Ocean conditions, marine species, and dive centres.

Best Time to Dive in Gozo

The warmest water temperatures in Gozo occur in August, averaging 27.7°C. The coolest conditions are in March at 15.3°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 16.4°C
  • February: 15.3°C
  • March: 15.3°C
  • April: 16.1°C
  • May: 18.5°C
  • June: 22.6°C
  • July: 26.3°C
  • August: 27.7°C
  • September: 27.1°C
  • October: 24.5°C
  • November: 22.0°C
  • December: 18.9°C

Marine Life in Gozo

Home to 24 recorded species including 12 reef fish, 3 hard corals, 2 whales & dolphins, 2 seagrass & algae, 2 sharks & rays, 1 other.

Recommended Packing List for Gozo

Based on average water temperature of 20.9°C, currents 9 cm/s.

  • Wetsuit (3-5mm) - comfortable for 21°C water
  • Mask - essential for every dive
  • Fins
  • BCD - buoyancy compensator
  • Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
  • Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
  • Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
  • Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
  • Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories

Marine Protected Areas in Gozo

  • Il-Gżejjer ta\' Filfa - Area of Ecological Importance/Site of Scientific Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Għaram tar- Ramel fir-Ramla tat-Torri, limiti tal Mellieħa - Area of Ecological Importance/Site of Scientific Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Għadajjar ta\' l-ilma ħelu fl-Għadira s-Safra, Għallis (l/tan-Naxxar) - Area of Ecological Importance/Site of Scientific Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Għadajjar ta\' l-ilma ħelu fil-Qaliet (l/ta\' San Ġiljan) - Area of Ecological Importance/Site of Scientific Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Il-Gżejjer ta\' San Pawl (Selmunett), limiti tal-Mellieħa - Area of Ecological Importance/Site of Scientific Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Ġebel ta\' Bejn il-Kmiemen, limiti ta\' Għajnsielem - Area of Ecological Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Manoel Island/Il-Gżira ta\' Forti Manwel - Bird Sanctuary (IUCN Category IV)
  • It-Taqtiegħa u t-Taqtiegħa ta\' Delimara, limiti ta\' Marsaxlokk - Site of Scientific Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Għaram tar-Ramel f\'Daħlet Xilep, il-Mellieħa - Area of Ecological Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Il-Ġebla tal-Għallis, limiti tan-Naxxar - Site of Scientific Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Il-Ħnejja, limiti tal-Qala - Site of Scientific Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Il-Baħar ta\' Madwar Filfla - No Berthing Zone/No Entry Zone except for Fisheries (IUCN Category VI)
  • Ġebla Fessej - Site of Scientific Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Il-bajja taċ-Ċagħaq ta\' Kemmunett - Site of Scientific Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Irdumijiet Ta\' Madwar il-Kosta f\'Ta\' Buleben, San Pawl il-Baħar - Area of Ecological Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Għaram tar-Ramel fir-Ramla tal-Mixquqa, il-Mellieħa - Area of Ecological Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Il-Ġebla l-Ħalfa, limiti tal-Qala - Area of Ecological Importance/Site of Scientific Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Irdumijiet Ta\' Madwar Il-Kosta mill-Ponta tal-Miġnuna sal-Bajja ta\' San Tumas f\' Wied il-Għajn - Area of Ecological Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Il-Gżira ta\' Filfla - Bird Sanctuary (IUCN Category IV)
  • Filfla - Nature Reserve (Filfla) (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Il-Gżejjer Selmunett (Gżejjer ta\' San Pawl) - Nature Reserve (Islands) (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Il-Gżejjer ta\' San Pawl - Bird Sanctuary (IUCN Category IV)
  • L-Għadira s-Safra u l-Iskoll tal-Għallis - Special Areas of Conservation - International Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Filfla - Special Areas of Conservation - International Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Il-Gżejjer ta\' San Pawl / Selmunett - Special Areas of Conservation - International Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Il-Ġebla taċ-Ċawla - Special Areas of Conservation - National Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Il-Ġebla tal-Ħalfa - Special Areas of Conservation - National Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Żona fil-Baħar bejn Rdum Majjiesa u Għar Lapsi - Special Areas of Conservation - International Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Il-Bajja ta\' l-Armier - Protected Beaches (IUCN Category Not Assigned)
  • Il-Bajja tal-Ġnejna - Protected Beaches (IUCN Category Not Assigned)
  • Il-Bajja tax-Xlendi - Protected Beaches (IUCN Category Not Assigned)
  • Il-Prajjiet - Protected Beaches (IUCN Category Not Assigned)
  • Ir-Ramla ta\' Għajn Tuffieħa - Protected Beaches (IUCN Category Not Assigned)
  • Ir-Ramla taċ-Ċirkewwa - Protected Beaches (IUCN Category Not Assigned)
  • Ir-Ramla tal-Mixquqa - Protected Beaches (IUCN Category Not Assigned)
  • L-Għadira s-Safra u l-Iskoll tal-Għallis - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Il-Gżejjer ta’ San Pawl (Selmunett) - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Żona fil-Baħar bejn Rdum Majjiesa u Għar Lapsi - Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Rdumijiet ta’ Malta: Wied Moqbol sal-Ponta ta’ Bengħisa - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Żona fil-Baħar fl-inħawi ta\' Għar Lapsi u ta\' Filfla - Special Areas of Conservation - International Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Żona fil-Baħar fl-inħawi tad-Dwerja (Għawdex) - Special Areas of Conservation - International Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Żona fil-Baħar bejn Il-Ponta tal-Ħotba u Tal-Fessej (Għawdex) - Special Areas of Conservation - International Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Żona fil-Baħar bejn Il-Ponta ta’ San Dimitri (Għawdex) u Il-Qaliet - Special Areas of Conservation - International Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Il-Wied ta\' Għajn Żejtuna (limiti tal-Mellieħa) - Area of Ecological Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Fortifikazzjonijiet tal-Port - Area of High Landscape Value (IUCN Category V)
  • Filfla - Special Protection Areas (IUCN Category IV)
  • Rdumijiet ta\' Malta: Wied Moqbol sal-Ponta ta\' Bengħisa - Special Protection Areas (IUCN Category IV)
  • Żona fil-Baħar fl-Inħawi ta’ Għar Lapsi u ta’ Filfla - Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Żona fil-Baħar fl-Inħawi tad-Dwejra (Għawdex) - Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Żona fil-Baħar bejn Il-Ponta tal-Ħotba u Tal-Fessej (Għawdex) - Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Żona fil-Baħar bejn Il-Ponta ta’ San Dimitri (Għawdex) u Il-Qaliet - Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Filfla u l-Gżejjer ta’ Madwarha - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Żona fil-Baħar fit-Tramuntana - Special Protection Areas (IUCN Category IV)
  • Żona fil-Baħar fl-inħawi tal-Graben tat-Tramuntana ta’ Għawdex - Special Areas of Conservation - International Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Żona fil-Baħar fil-Grigal - Special Protection Areas (IUCN Category IV)
  • Żona fil-Baħar fil-Lvant - Special Protection Areas (IUCN Category IV)
  • Żona fil-Baħar fix-Xlokk - Special Protection Areas (IUCN Category IV)
  • Żona fil-Baħar fin-Nofsinhar - Special Protection Areas (IUCN Category IV)
  • Żona fil-Baħar fl-inħawi tal-Graben ta’ Medina - Special Areas of Conservation - International Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Żona fil-Baħar fil-Lbiċ - Special Protection Areas (IUCN Category IV)
  • Żona fil-Baħar madwar Għawdex - Special Protection Areas (IUCN Category IV)
  • Żona fil-Baħar fil-Punent - Special Areas of Conservation - International Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Żona fil-Baħar fil-Majjistral - Special Protection Areas (IUCN Category IV)
  • Żona fil-Baħar fil-Punent - Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Żona fil-Baħar fit-Tramuntana - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Żona fil-Baħar fin-Nofsinhar - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Żona fil-Baħar fil-Grigal - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Żona fil-Baħar fil-Lvant - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Żona fil-Baħar fix-Xlokk - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Żona fil-Baħar fil-Lbiċ - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Żona fil-Baħar madwar Għawdex - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Żona fil-Baħar fil-Majjistral - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Il-bruk (Tamarix africana) fir-Ramla tat-Torri (limiti tal-Mtarfa) - Tree Protection Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • Żona fil-Baħar fl-inħawi tal-Majjistral tal-Graben ta’ Malta - Special Areas of Conservation - International Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Żona fil-Baħar fl-inħawi tal-Punent tal-Graben ta’ Malta - Special Areas of Conservation - International Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Il-Bajja tal-Ġnejna - Area of Ecological Importance (IUCN Category IV)
  • Żona fil-Baħar fl-inħawi tal-Graben ta’ Medina - Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Żona fil-Baħar fl-inħawi tal-Punent tal-Graben ta’ Malta - Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Żona fil-Baħar fl-inħawi tal-Majjistral tal-Graben ta’ Malta - Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Żona fil-Baħar fl-inħawi tal-Graben tat-Tramuntana ta’ Għawdex - Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Filfla u l-Gżejjer ta’ Madwarha - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)

Getting to Gozo - Nearest Airports

  • Malta International Airport (MLA), Valletta - 44 km away, approx 63 min travel time
  • Catania-Fontanarossa Airport (CTA), Catania - 156 km away, approx 186 min travel time
  • Falcone–Borsellino Airport (PMO), Palermo - 243 km away, approx 280 min travel time

Dive Sites

Dive Centres

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the typical water conditions and visibility like for diving in Gozo?
Gozo is renowned for its dramatic underwater topography, featuring impressive caves and chimneys. World-renowned dive sites like the Inland Sea offer unique geological formations to explore. While specific visibility details are not provided in the data, the Mediterranean Sea is generally known for good clarity.
What kind of marine life can divers expect to encounter in Gozo's waters?
The provided data does not specify the types of marine life divers can expect to encounter in Gozo's waters. However, the Mediterranean Sea is known for its diverse ecosystems. For general information on marine species, you can visit our wildlife database.
Which are considered the best or most popular dive sites in Gozo?
Gozo is home to world-renowned dive sites such as the Blue Hole and Inland Sea, known for their dramatic caves and chimneys. Other popular options include numerous wrecks like the MV Karwela and P 31, as well as captivating cave dives such as Comino Caves. With 69 dive sites, there is a wide variety to explore in Gozo.
Is Gozo suitable for beginner divers, or are most dive sites for experienced divers?
Based on the available data, all listed dive sites in Gozo are classified as "intermediate" difficulty. This suggests that while some sites might be accessible to advanced beginners, most diving opportunities are geared towards divers with some prior experience. With 15 dive centres in Gozo, there are likely options for various skill levels and training.
What is the best time of year to go diving in Gozo, considering seasonal variations?
The best time of year to go diving in Gozo, based on water temperatures, is during the summer months. Specifically, August offers the warmest waters at 27.66°C, followed closely by September at 27.06°C and July at 26.33°C. These months provide the most comfortable conditions for diving in Gozo.
How do travelers typically get to Gozo for a diving trip?
The provided data does not specify how travelers typically get to Gozo for a diving trip. For more information on travel logistics to this sub-region of Malta, please consult general travel resources.
What are the water temperatures in Gozo throughout the year for diving?
While specific year-round water temperatures are not provided, the warmest months for diving in Gozo are July, August, and September. During these months, divers can expect comfortable temperatures, peaking at 27.66°C in August, 27.06°C in September, and 26.33°C in July. For more details on seasonal conditions, refer to our when to dive guide.
Are there many shore diving opportunities in Gozo, or is boat diving more common?
Gozo offers shore diving opportunities, with sites like Mġarr ix-Xini and Il-Bajja tax-Xwejni explicitly listed as shore dives. With a total of 69 dive sites, including numerous wrecks, reefs, and caves, divers can expect a mix of access types, though the prevalence of boat vs. shore diving isn't specifically detailed for Gozo.