Wreck of the Xlendi - Gozo

The Xlendi is one of those wrecks we keep coming back to. We love it because it’s surprisingly accessible for a deep wreck, sitting at around 40 metres. You’ll usually drop onto the bow, which is a bit broken up, but the stern section is still largely intact and worth a thorough swim-through. We always find conger eels lurking in the deeper, darker sections, and often see large dusky groupers patrolling the edges. For the macro enthusiasts, keep an eye out for scarlet and sunset cup corals. They add pops of colour to the wreck’s metal structure. We’ve also had a few lucky loggerhead turtle sightings here, casually cruising by. The real standout, though, is the sheer volume of damsel fish and salema that often school right over the deck. It’s like a shimmering, living cloud. It’s a dive that suits experienced divers comfortable with depth and overhead environments, offering a real sense of exploration.

Location
Gozo, Malta, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
36.016827, 14.285004
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
10-30m

Wreck History - Wreck of the Xlendi

Year Sunk
1999
Vessel Type
ferry
Cause
scuttled
Tonnage
833 GRT

Before its final chapter as an artificial reef, the MV Xlendi had a long and storied career connecting islands. Originally launched in Denmark in 1955 as the MV Helsingor, she faithfully served Danish routes for decades. In 1990, she was purchased by the Gozo Channel Company and renamed, becoming a familiar sight as she ferried passengers and vehicles between Malta and Gozo. After years of service in the Mediterranean, the aging vessel was decommissioned with a new purpose in mind: to become an underwater attraction for the diving community.

In November 1999, the MV Xlendi was scuttled off the southern coast of Gozo at Xatt l-Ahmar. The plan was for her to settle upright on the seabed, creating a perfect wreck for exploration. However, the scuttling did not go as planned. The ferry quickly filled with water, capsized, and sank to the bottom, landing completely upside down at a depth of around 42 meters. Over the years, powerful winter storms have taken their toll on the inverted hull, causing the superstructure to collapse and the wreck to break apart, scattering debris across the sandy slope.

Today, the Xlendi offers a unique and challenging dive for experienced wreck enthusiasts. The most prominent features are her two large propellers, which point eerily towards the surface. Divers can explore the haunting, cavernous space of the inverted car deck and navigate the surrounding debris field. While she is no longer the intact vessel she once was, the fragmented remains of the Xlendi have created a complex habitat for marine life, making it a fascinating, if somber, exploration of a ferry's final, inverted resting place.

Marine Protected Area: Ġebla Fessej

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

Nearest Dive Centres to Wreck of the Xlendi

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

Recommended Packing List for Wreck of the Xlendi

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