Dive Atlas of the World. Jack Jackson

deliberately in 1992 for divers and sits upright on sand at 36m (120ft). It is home to thousands of chromis, bream and sand smelt. Nearby, the Posidonia seagrass beds contain cuttlefish and pipefish.

      2 MARFA CENTRAL (THE TRAINING POOL)

      With access from the car park down a concrete ramp to the water’s edge and 1m (3ft) of water, this is perfect for trainees, with a rocky seabed of varying depths and a small shelf and mini-wall that eventually drops to 18m (59ft). An excellent night dive, the site is highly regarded for its octopuses, moray eels, shrimps, crabs and golden cup corals.

      3 ANCHOR BAY

      This lies down the steeply cut road to the small pier opposite Popeye Village. The diving is best out of the bay and around the corner to the left. A massive boulder next to the wall marks the entrance of the cave and has a base of rounded stones. You will find lots of brittle stars and cave shrimps here.

      4 MTAHLEB

      This is an unspoiled dive site due to the conditions on the shore before you get to the water. Its all right clambering down 300m (984ft) of rugged headland, but it is another matter climbing back up after a deep dive! The vertical walls, ledges, caves and caverns are home to large numbers of wrasse, parrotfish, chromis (Chromis chromis) and grouper.

      5 GHAR LAPSI

      This is a safe, shallow cave that runs through the headland. It starts in about 3m (10ft) and comes out on a convoluted wall at 6m (20ft), with a large pile of algae-covered boulders at the entrance. It is near the recently sunk Um El Faroud 6, a tanker that sits in 36m (120ft). This huge ship is a ten-minute swim offshore, but can be reached from the shore entry point for the Blue Grotto, or as a boat dive.

      The wreck of the Rozi off Cirkewwa Point sits intact and upright on sand in 36m (120ft). She is always surrounded by large schools of Bogue, chromis, picarel and sand smelt.

      Cardinal fish (Apogon imberbis) are found in groups under overhangs and cave entrances during the day.

       Small caves, tunnels and caverns are common all over the archipelago, covered in algae, corals and sponges.

      Though common around the islands, the camouflage techniques of the sea horse (Hippocampus ramulosus) makes it hard to find.

      8 MV ODILE

      First thought to be the wreck of HMS Abingdon, this is in fact an Italian steam freighter, bombed during the war and salvaged in the 1970s. Fairly well broken up, she faces north-west and lies on her port side, covering quite a large area. She is difficult to find without local knowledge because of poor underwater visibility. Penetration is possible for experienced divers with suitable equipment.

      10 HMS MAORI

      This ship was launched in 1937 and saw considerable action in the Mediterranean, being ultimately responsible for the sinking of the Bismarck. During a massive aerial bombardment in February 1942, she sank quickly from a direct hit. The bows and the entire stern are gone. Part of the bridge is accessible above the muddy seabed of the harbour, but divers should beware the numerous live shells sticking out of the wreckage and mud.

      11 BARGE CAROLITA (CORAL)

      Struck by torpedo in April 1942, the Carolita sank immediately and now rests against the shore opposite the old naval hospital. Her bow is in 6m (20ft) and her stern at 22m (72ft). Access into this flat barge is fairly restricted, but you can examine the engine room from the damaged stern.

      GOZO

      Much of the best diving in the Maltese islands is done off Gozo, and day-trip cars and dive-centre vehicles cross regularly on the ferry from Malta. At just over a quarter the size of Malta, it has 43km (27 miles) of coastline and is so popular because much of the diving is done from shore. Like Malta, the northern coast is gently sloping, but here it drops vertically, in many places to more than 60m (200ft). To the south of the island, huge vertical cliffs, make boat diving more appropriate.

      To the west, at Dwejra Point, is an area considered to be one of the natural wonders of the Mediterranean. Several fantastic sites can be found within a small area, all accessible from the large car park. Dominated by the spectacular natural arch called the Azure Window, its caves and caverns are among the most scenic dives I have encountered. To the southwest and south the landmass rears up vertically, with only a few entry points except at Xlendi Bay. From St Andrew’s Divers Cove. The former ferries Xlendi, Karwela and Cominoland 25 are all grouped together southeast of Gozo. The Karwela and the Cominoland were both scuttled in Ix Xatt L-Ahmar, Gozo, on 12 August 2006 as artificial reefs for divers. The Karwela is 50m (165ft) long and carried 863 passengers, while the Cominoland is 34m (113ft) and carried 450 passengers and 15 cars.

      14 TWIN ARCHES (MARSALFORN REEF)

      There is prolific fish life around this underwater rocky spur, which has two large archways cut into the cliff. The first, smaller one starts at 20m (65ft), and directly underneath is a larger one that stretches to the seabed at 45m (150ft). This is best done as a boat dive to avoid a lengthy swim out.

      15 REQQA POINT

      This headland is very exposed and the entry can be rather difficult over sharp, fossilized rock. A vertical wall drops away to the east (or right) and you can find a shaft that drops through the reef from 6m (20ft) to 16m (52ft). This site is also popular with fishermen.

      16 THE BLUE DOME (GHASRI VALLEY, THE CATHEDRAL CAVE)

      The Blue Dome at the mouth of Ghasri Valley is best done as a boat dive. The cave is along the right-hand wall, with entry in only 5m (16ft). Inside, the huge roof reflects the outside light, creating the blue-dome effect. Perfect for photography, the cave walls and rocky floor are filled with marine life, including pen shells and sea horses.

      17 SAN DIMITRI POINT

      This site on Gozo’s most westerly point has a shallow reef that juts out from the headland, where the dive boat can anchor in 6m (20ft). It is done as a deep dive, and includes the thrill of diving with a large school of barracuda. The reef has vertical walls and some interesting potholes carved out by tidal forces.

      18 INLAND SEA

      The Inland Sea at Dwejra Point is a sheltered lagoon, offering easy access from a small jetty. Pleasure boats use this route to the open sea, so watch out. Passing through a massive fissure in the rock, divers enter a canyon that runs through to open water. First descend to 6m (20ft) and gradually to 25m (80ft) below the cliffs at the seaward side, where the drop continues to more than 60m (200ft). The vertical and underhanging walls are covered with marine life, and the view out to sea is breathtaking.

      19 AZURE WINDOW

      The site gets its name from the underwater view as you look up towards the natural arch above the surface. It reflects the azure-blue colour as if you were looking through a massive window. The seabed under the arch is covered in large boulders 18m (60ft) below, all covered in an algal fuzz that is home to large numbers of wrasse, bream and Spiny Sea Stars. Entry is from The Blue Hole nearby.