Cave diving in Malta & Gozo

• No permit needed for recreational diving. Unguided diving is allowed from AOWD, CMAS** or BSAC Sports Diver (certified to -30 m); lower-certified divers only with an instructor. Dive centres only fill for such 'independent divers'. Medical: self-declaration (questionnaire); from age 60 an annual diving medical. • Spearfishing with scuba is banned, as is fishing in the marine protected areas. Dwejra is a Natura 2000 site with a bordering marine protected area; Fungus Rock is a nature reserve. In Feb 2026 ERA proposed also making Dwejra–Qawra a Site of Geological Importance (no off-roading, no taking fossils; boats to switch off external lights at night). Għar Ħarq Ħamiem is on private land and protected. • Real cave is scarce: mostly sea caves and caverns with daylight. Dark/overhead dives: Billinghurst, Tal-Barba, Bottleneck (tech, to ~-58 m) and the land cave Għar Ħarq Ħamiem. Local centres train up to intro-to-cave; for full cave they go abroad. • Wind decides the site: the NW majjistral (the most common wind) puts swell on the north and west coasts (Dwejra, Reqqa Point, Anchor Bay) — then go south (Xlendi, Mġarr ix-Xini, Għar Lapsi, Żurrieq). In xlokk (SE) the south coast is rough and the north calm; grigal (NE) pushes swell into the channel between Malta and Comino. There is nearly always a sheltered side. Gozo Technical Diving gives unguided divers a sea and weather briefing every morning. • Boat traffic: tourist boats run through the Inland Sea tunnel, into Whale Cave and at the Blue Grotto. Santa Marija Caves, Lantern Point and Stoker's Cave are boat-only, via dive centres. • Gozo Channel ferry Ċirkewwa–Mġarr: ~25 min, 24/7 (every 15–45 min, fewer at night); you pay the return in Mġarr (car + driver ~€16). The Valletta–Gozo fast ferry takes no cars. • Water ~16 °C in Jan–Mar, 16–18 °C in Apr–May, 21–26 °C in Jun–Aug, 21–25 °C in Sep–Nov; strong thermoclines in summer. Best season April–November. • CCR and scooters: CCR rental at Gozo Technical Diving (Triton, JJ-CCR, Liberty SM, ~€80/day) and Dive Systems in Sliema (JJ, X-CCR, AP, rEvo, Liberty); Atlantis has Divesoft Liberty units and Bonex scooters; scooter rental also at Gozo Technical Diving. Arrange sofnolime and trimix in advance (Atlantis: order blends a day ahead). • Storm Harry (January 2026) damaged ladders, steps and railings at several dive sites; at Għar Lapsi the slipway, stairs and jetty were still being rebuilt in September 2026. Ask your dive centre which entries are in order. • Diving accident: call 112 — urgent chamber treatment is given to everyone, tourists included. Mater Dei Hospital, Msida MSD 2090: hyperbaric unit +356 2545 5269 (non-urgent; office Mon–Fri 07–15 h), 24 h switchboard +356 2545 0000, A&E +356 2545 4030. Gozo General Hospital, Triq l-Arċisqof Pietru Pace, Victoria VCT 2520 (own chamber): hyperbaric unit +356 2344 6455, switchboard +356 2344 6000. DAN Europe +39 06 4211 5685.