Level: Free shore access This spot have a free shore access: you can go snorkeling there freely and without having to book a tour or pay an entrance fee.
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Gozo’s Blue Hole is one of the most famous diving spots in Malta Islands. This round blue hole about 15 meters wide seems carved into the surrounding rocks, but an underwater arch located 10 meters below the surface actually connects it to the open sea. This geological formation is unique and freedivers love to dive here, but it is not a place for snorkeling. Instead, head to the nearby rocky point called “coral gardens” and you will swim amongst many fish, over a multi-leveled rocky seabed. Altogether, this spot is a must-do on your Malta snorkeling list.
The Blue Hole is located close to the hamlet of Dwejra, on Gozo Island’s west coast (Gozo being the second largest island in Malta archipelago). Follow Azure Window and Inland Sea signs, park on the lot when the road dead-ends. If you’re not driving, a bus line also spots here. A rough path carved into stone leads down to the sea where you will enter the water.
This site has a water entrance area leading straight to the Coral Gardens. Be cautious when getting in the water: rocks are sharp and sea urchins cover them.
The Coral Gardens are a small rocky protrusion a few dozens of meters wide located close to the Blue Hole. Water Depth ranges from 1 to 10 meters, depending on the underwater rock level you’re over. The seabed itself if very rough: several plateaus, breaks and even small canyons compose it.
Sea life is abundant here. You will find yourself in the company of damselfish and thicklip grey mulets from the start. The rocky areas covered with seaweed attract wrasses in numbers: you will spot groups of several dozens. They might be the most colorful species to spot here: look for male ornate wrasses with gorgeous blue and green scales. In addition to all of the above, you will most probably spot starfishes, sea urchins and jellyfishes. Only freedivers will be able to spot species living on greater depth like morays, small groupers or Mediterranean parrotfish.
This spot is not sheltered from the open sea: don’t enter the water when it swells, even lightly. During October and November underwater visibility is at its best, but you will need a wetsuit to stand cold water.
The gorgeous Blue Hole and its underwater arch are for scuba divers and freedivers only. You might be tempted to skindive here: don’t practice apnea without a specific formation and training.
Gozo Island is calmer and wilder than Malta, and you can enjoy a peaceful stay here. There are numerous rental options on the island, suiting all budgets. You will have no trouble eating on site: several restaurants have settled around the parking lot.
This reference identification guide includes all the 860 marine fish species that may be encountered while snorkeling in coastal Western Europe and the Mediterranean.
These spots are only recommended to good swimmers, in good physical conditions, and with excellent snorkeling skills. These spots can experience currents, moderate waves, important depths, tight or narrow passages, or tricky water entrance, and can be located near hazardous areas (channels, boat traffic, strong currents…). The distance to swim to reach the most interesting snorkeling areas can be important - up to 500 meters. The “advanced” category includes drift snorkeling (transported by currents) and snorkeling off the coast. This level only apply when the spot experiences optimal sea and/or weather conditions. It is not applicable if the sea and/or weather conditions deteriorate, in particular in the presence of rough sea, rain, strong wind, unusual current, large tides, waves and/or swell.You can find more details about the definition of our snorkeling levels on our snorkeling safety page.
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Snorkeling spots are part of a wild environment and their aspect can be significantly altered by weather, seasons, sea conditions, human impact and climate events (storms, hurricanes, seawater-warming episodes…). The consequences can be an alteration of the seabed (coral bleaching, coral destruction, and invasive seagrass), a poor underwater visibility, or a decrease of the sea life present in the area. Snorkeling Report makes every effort to ensure that all the information displayed on this website is accurate and up-to-date, but no guarantee is given that the underwater visibility and seabed aspect will be exactly as described on this page the day you will snorkel the spot. If you recently snorkeled this area and noticed some changes compared to the information contained on this page, please contact us.
The data contained in this website is for general information purposes only, and is not legal advice. It is intended to provide snorkelers with the information that will enable them to engage in safe and enjoyable snorkeling, and it is not meant as a substitute for swim level, physical condition, experience, or local knowledge. Remember that all marine activities, including snorkeling, are potentially dangerous, and that you enter the water at your own risk. You must take an individual weather, sea conditions and hazards assessment before entering the water. If snorkeling conditions are degraded, postpone your snorkeling or select an alternate site. Know and obey local laws and regulations, including regulated areas, protected species, wildlife interaction and dive flag laws.
