Double Arch Reef - Gozo
Double Arch Reef often gets mentioned when people talk about Gozo diving, and for good reason. The main attraction here is the double archway itself, a natural rock formation that’s quite photogenic, especially with the light playing through it. We usually find it’s home to a few Dusky Groupers lurking in the shadows, and we’ve spotted Common Spiny Lobsters tucked away in crevices too. It’s a pretty straightforward dive, suitable for most levels, where you can take your time exploring the arches and the surrounding reef. You’ll definitely see plenty of Painted Combers and Parrotfish flitting about, and on a good day, the Slender Seagrass beds can reveal a Loggerhead Turtle.
- Location
- Gozo, Malta, Mediterranean & Europe
- Coordinates
- 36.081738, 14.246514
- Type
- reef
- Maximum Depth
- 10-30m
Marine Protected Area: Żona fil-Baħar fl-inħawi tad-Dwerja (Għawdex)
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
Nearby Dive Sites in Gozo
- ARIANNA PRIMA - 7m (wreck)
- ARSIA - 6m (wreck)
- Atlantis Diving Centre - 5-20m (shore)
- Big Bear-Little Bear - 10-25m (pinnacle)
- Billinghurst Cave - 10-25m (cave)
- Billinghurst Cave - 10-25m (cave)
- Blue Grotto (cave)
- Blue Grotto (cave)
- Blue Hole (cave)
- Bottleneck Cave (Dive Site) (cave)
- Calypso Cave (cave)
- Cathedral Cave (cave)
- Cave of Wheat (cave)
- CHIOS REEFER - 26m (wreck)
- Cirkewwa - 10-30m (reef)
Nearest Dive Centres to Double Arch Reef
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.
Notable Species
- Painted Comber (Serranus scriba) - Reef Fish
- Wrasse (Coris julis) - Reef Fish
- Parrotfish (Sparisoma cretense) - Reef Fish
- Ornate Wrasse (Thalassoma pavo) - Reef Fish
- loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)
- Salema (Sarpa salpa) - Reef Fish
- Garrupa (Serranus cabrilla) - Reef Fish
- Dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus) - Reef Fish
- Blue-white Dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) - Whales & Dolphins
- Cowfish (Tursiops truncatus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Mediterranean tapeweed (Posidonia oceanica) - Seagrass & Algae
- Damsel fish (Chromis chromis) - Reef Fish
- Moonfish (Mola mola) - Reef Fish
- mauve stinger (Pelagia noctiluca) - Jellyfish
- killer alga (Caulerpa taxifolia) - Seagrass & Algae
- Scarlet Coral (Balanophyllia (Balanophyllia) europaea) - Hard Corals
- Bushy Coral (Cladocora caespitosa) - Hard Corals
- dogfish (Scyliorhinus canicula) - Sharks & Rays
- Marbled Spinefoot (Siganus rivulatus) - Reef Fish
- Red coral (Corallium rubrum) - Soft Corals
Recommended Packing List for Double Arch Reef
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