Is a ladder rickety or missing? Any dangers that someone could do something about? Are you noticing illegal activities on site? Do you have a suggestion to improve the diving facilities on site? Or on the positive side: Something well done that you would like to let others know, like addition / change of ladders or good maintenance of public utilities? Tell authorities and visitors to this website about it by filling the form below.
Current entries received from you
Date | Name of diving site | Issue status | Site issue, Comment or Message to send to authorities and divers about this diving site | File Upload (Publicly viewable) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
27/04/2024 | Exiles Beach / Tug 2 | Resolved | No entry ladder under the Paradise Exiles entry - missing for a few weeks now. MTA - update 29/04/2024 - "Our contractor had been informed and a new ladder has been ordered. Hopefully it will be installed within the coming weeks." Update 29/052024 - Issue has been resolved as seen from pictures on social media. | |
26/04/2024 | Xatt l-Aħmar and Reqqa Point, mgarr ix-xini, Ras il-Hobz | Partly resolved | No portaloo /bathroom facilties at any of these sites, with visiting divers having to use bushes and trees, and a general mess thus caused. Somone forgot that Gozo has a diving Industry? How can instructors tell tourists to go in bushes to relieve themselves??? -----divinginfo.mt update - portaloos placed in summer, not a permanent solution, | |
22/03/2024 | Xatt l-Ahmar | Resolved | The video attached shows sewage or dirty water runoff that is ongoing for weeks at Xatt l-Ahmar, in Ghajnsielem, Gozo. This spot is a popular diving site that is used year-round and frequented by both locals and tourists. Divers on site report the smell to be disgusting. Can you kindly direct WSC drainage staff to try to find the source of leaks and sort this once and for all? Ideally, a cleaning up operation is needed too as the stagnant water in pools makes the area feel like a cesspit. | |
25/02/2024 | Xatt l-ahmar / MT Hephaestus | Partly resolved | A contributor to our site has advised us today that the path to access the Xatt l-Ahmar diving site has been washed out due to recent storms, making it highly difficult for diving support vehicles (save 4x4s) to arrive near enough to the entry point for the M/T Hephaestus wreck for divers with heavy equipment (as is needed for such a dive). This has also reminded me about the previous correspondence exchanged which you can see below, where we had pointed out that no kitting up facilities were available in the area, such as benches or equipment setting up tables, as further to the west for the Three Wrecks entry point. Over a year later so far no improvement has been noted at this site. Your attention is kindly solicited to take the necessary action so that both the local residents, as well as the very much prized & sought quality tourists that the diving spots of Gozo attract, can have decent access to and at the very least, basic facilities rather than setting up highly sensitive equipment worth thousands of euros on a muddy shore. | |
13/01/2024 | Cathedral Cavern, Reqqa Point, Anchor Reef, Billinghurst Cavern | Partly resolved | We're informed that the following dive sites are currently inaccessible due to lack of ladders: -Cathedral Cave near Wied il-Ghasri -Reqqa Point (West of Xwejni) -Anchor Reef (mid-way between Reqqa and Xwejni) -Billinghurst Cave (just round the corner from Reqqa Point) Wied il-Mielah also has lost shore access a long time ago - which is both an issue for swimmers and divers at this iconic point which also draws lots of tourists since it is popular on social media and has taken over some attention which in the past was given to the Azure Window. May this access be restored and/or are there any related plans? Divers have also asked for an update on the Dwejra bathroom/shower facilities previously used by divers which have been closed for quite a while, understandably as well because of the unfortunate fatality which occurred during their maintenance a few years ago. Update on 16/05/2024: BIllinghurst ladder back in Update on 09/06/2024: Reqqa Point ladder and top rails in place. Update on 01/07/2024: Catherdral Cave ladder reported to be in place for the last two weeks. | |
08/12/2023 | Xatt l-Ahmar, Billinghurst, Reqqa, Cathedral Cave | Partly resolved | Even though it's winter and maybe for some people the water may be too cold, for visiting tourists & locals using the appropriate gear it's still dive season, especially when holidays are coming up and both tourists and local Maltese divers travel up for some final days off for the year. Some few reports that we got and saw with our own eyes or got reports about. Pictures may be supplied. Xatt l-Ahmar: One of the ladders has fallen, probably as it had no chains & bolts and the few cm of pipe in the rock being kept in with cement has given way. The ladder may be fished out easily just under its intended location. Since the NW wind is prevalent during winter, important that there is a backup (not just one ladder) at Xattl-Ahmar as it serves as a double deep dive option regularly for both Gozitan and Maltese Dive Centres Billinghurst cavern entry point at Xwejni (South west of Reqqa Point: Both ladder and top handrail are gone. This makes this site unusable even though it is an iconic cavern for Cave Diving training and on every guide book. Reqqa Point: One chain is broken from the ladder, so it's at risk of getting washed away by the first storm. Unless recently retrieved, a washed away ladder was also located below it at about 15m depth - with some long ropes that could be resurfaced & reused or kept as a reserve. Cathedral Cave: Chains have been broken up - so at the first decent storm, this will be washed away. Thank you in advance for pushing for immediate maintenance where possible. Update on 16/05/2024: BIllinghurst ladder back in Update on 09/06/2024: Reqqa Point ladder and railings in place. | |
01/11/2023 | Xatt l-Aħmar and Reqqa Point - Gozo | Partly resolved | As per attached picture and comments noted, the second ladder at Xatt l-Ahmar appears to have been washed away since it was not secured. We received no update on the Handrail at Reqqa Point. Update on 07/06/2024: Still no second ladder at Xatt l-Ahmar. Update on 09/06/2024: Reqqa Point ladder and top rails in place. | |
16/10/2023 | Xatt l-Aħmar and Reqqa Point - Gozo | Partly resolved | I'm informed that this morning workers have started works and secured one ladder. Hopefully later on in the day, or later in the coming days, the second ladder may be secured too. Like we referred to in previous emails, at Reqqa there is also a need for a simple handrail to be replaced which would be of a great aid to divers coming up the ladder. There used to be up to mid-summer, but one has been reported lost at least since the middle of August. This handrail (left hand side when coming up the ladder) is needed as otherwise a diver with easily 30kg on his back has to grab on a single arm to pull himself up the rocks from the last ladder step. For the taller diver it's not a big issue, but for mid-size and shorter divers this is a dangerous maneuver without this handrail. The picture below shows the location of the previous handrail's holes, and gives an idea of the height involved. Update 07/06/2024: Only 1 ladder in place at Xatt l-Ahmar. Reminder sent. Update 09/06/2024: Reqqa ladder and handrails in place. | |
15/10/2023 | Xatt l-Aħmar and Reqqa Point - Gozo | Resolved | Your kind and urgent attention is being solicited to address the Xatt l-Aħmar divers' access ladders which we are informed that they are, as per attached pictures, in dire need of maintenance as they will soon fall off or injure someone. Since winter is coming, it is most important that these are fixed before being lost to the weather, as this site is also a safety valve for both local club members and the diving industry in strong NW winds. Please note that the diving season is nowadays a year-round season and the importance of this site for Gozo visitors cannot be underestimated. The Diving Industry Master Plan - 2022 lists this site as a key site and therefore also needs year-round, sturdy access. A kind reminder is also being made regarding Reqqa Point, where a handrail that was extremely helpful for divers is still missing, months after it was reported. There is also a ladder sitting down at the bottom which should be recovered as it's a waste of a good ladder. Should you have no available divers to help bring it up from the sea, let us know and we can seek volunteers to assist to pass a rope so it can be pulled up. Update 07/06/2024: Only 1 ladder in place at Xatt l-Ahmar. Reminder sent. Update 09/06/2024: Reqqa ladder and handrails in place. | |
01/06/2023 | Xatt l-Ahmar | Open / Current Issue | Diving Boat anchoring at the Xatt l-Ahmar Diving site. Boat owners and MTA/Eco-Gozo contacted to consider a permanent mooring on the reef for diving boats in windy weather rather than anchoring. |
Reporting Form
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Other related news items
Reports received include the following:
- Ladders back in in Gozo!
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