Dive Gozo

Many guided dives move at the speed of the leader, which is frustrating for anyone who wants to look closely at a reef or take photographs. Dive Gozo was set up to offer something slower: relaxed, stress-free dives led by an experienced local guide who is also a photographer and knows where the best shots are on Gozo's dive sites.

The dive centre facilities are in Xlendi Bay, and the business is affiliated to a licensed dive centre and to licensed accommodation in the bay. On VisitMalta.co.uk it appears in our directory of dive centres in Malta. You do not need a camera to join, because the slower pace suits anyone who simply wants more time underwater, or a buddy pair in which only one person takes pictures.

Who you will dive with

The business is run by Colin and Belinda, who have dived for around 20 years and have been underwater photographers for most of that time. They started Dive Gozo because regular guided dives went too fast for them to get the shots they wanted, and they now want to share a better way of diving.

Colin is a BSAC and PADI Open Water dive instructor who has dived around Gozo since 2015 as a freelance instructor and guide. Barry Ashwick first dived Gozo in 2010, moved here permanently in 2020 and has been diving for 17 years. He works as a freelance PADI Open Water instructor and dive guide, and after diving with the photographers he has learned to spot small marine life, although he does not photograph it himself.

What you can see underwater

Gozo can be dived all year round apart from occasional bad weather, and from late spring to early autumn the sea is often crystal clear. Dive sites include caves and swim-throughs, pinnacles and walls, and three wrecks just offshore at Xatt l-Aħmar with a reef above them where divers can off-gas among octopus, starfish, cuttlefish, moray eels and hermit crabs. Seahorses appear occasionally, and shoals of barracuda, jack fish and garfish pass by.

For photographers the team gives a full briefing about the shots it hopes to find, longer time in the water than a normal guided dive and advice on what equipment will work best on each dive. Our Malta weather guide is useful when choosing a month.

Prices and what is included

Standard guided packages are limited to four divers unless you make a group booking, and prices are per diver: one dive €45, two dives in one day €84, four dives over two days €152, six dives over three days €216 and ten dives over five days €340. Personalised or photography guided packages, with groups of no more than two divers, cost €65 for one dive, €130 for two, €240 for four, €330 for six and €500 for ten.

Each package includes shore dives around Gozo, hire of tank and weights, a wash area and storage for your kit after each dive, and transport to and from the dive sites. Extras are an €8 surcharge for a night dive, plus €6.00 torch hire if you need one, €5 per cylinder for nitrox up to 30%, €2 per cylinder for a 15 litre tank, and €40 per diver for a boat dive at Comino, with a minimum of two divers. Full kit hire can be arranged, and group booking discounts are available on request. Diving on Malta is priced by group size and location.

If you are planning a Comino day, our Blue Lagoon guide explains the island, and for a non-diving boat day see Aloha Boat Charters Malta.

Rules, planning and getting there

Local rules apply. Every diver completes a medical self-certification, and a physician's statement is required if any answer is yes, or for anyone over 60, valid for the last twelve months. Divers must stay within their certification level, accompanied dives go to a maximum depth of 40 metres for divers qualified to that depth, under-18s need a guardian's approval and there must be no diving within 24 hours before flying. The centre points divers to the Professional Diving Schools Association of Malta, Gozo and Comino for quality standards.

Gozo is a short ferry ride from Malta and has a calmer atmosphere, with swimming spots, restaurants, bars and town festivals from May to October. Our Gozo guide, the hotels in Gozo guide and things to do in Malta help plan the rest of the trip, and you can check flights to Malta from the UK.

To book dives or ask about a photography package, use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will pass your message to Dive Gozo.