Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1545950
10 gozotoday | FRIDAY • 24 JULY 2026 CULTURE Answering Gozo's dive call BRIAN, a family man and father of two, has been a professional diver since 1996, having begun his diving career right after com- pleting a Bachelor of Commerce degree. Brian's story into the diving world is intertwined with his personal life. Now, just past his fiftieth birthday, Brian ex- plains that his girlfriend's family (now wife) ran a dive centre, and this was the hinge on which the story unfolded. "I was already a diver," Brian recalls. When the dive centre manager decided to leave, they needed someone to take over, and Brian was ready to embrace a new job and ad- venture. This was nothing short of surprising to his family, who were not yet aware that he was into diving, and he quietly in- formed them that he was spend- ing 10 days in Malta to acquire the necessary diving instructor certifications. Brian's first diving experi- ence is a memory that sticks with him to this day. His first dive at Xwejni Bay at 18 was an impressive and beautiful mo- ment, and he reminisces, "The underwater world was just so different from anything I had known". The echoes of this dive still live on, as Xwejni Bay is still one of his favourite plac- es to take students for train- ing dives. The cove at Xwejni provides easy entry and en- chanting crystal-clear waters, making it the ideal location for novice divers. The shallow waters gradually deepen, per- fect for practising buoyancy control and other fundamental diving skills. Brian is, however, keen on emphasising the expe- rience, saying that beyond the mechanics of diving, it's also about giving the students their first magical experience of the underwater world. Clearly, for Brian, diving is not just a job but a lifelong passion, and when asked what made him fall in love with div- ing, he is quick to mention that it was not just the thrill of the underwater world but the en- vironment it created for him to escape the daily stress of life. Diving, for Brian, offers a much-needed release. "When I dive, it's my personal getaway. It's where I can disconnect from the mobile phone, the calls, and the world's noise. It's the one place where I can truly relax," he explains. "Even after all these years, I'm never bored of it. Every dive is unique. Even if I have dived in the same spot, like Double Arch Reef, a hun- dred times, I see something dif- ferent every time. For Brian, it's not just about exploring new places but also about recon- necting with the deep silence of the ocean. "Underwater, you're in a completely different world. No horns, traffic, or stress— just pure silence and serenity." When diving in Gozo, Brian quickly points out the island's unparalleled underwater land- scape. As an avid diver, he has had his fair share of diving stints in the Indian Ocean, the Red Sea, the Pacific, and the Caribbean, but Gozo remains his favourite place to dive. "The underwater topography here is unique. We have cav- erns, tunnels, swim-throughs, and arches like the Double Arch Reef and Triple Arch Reef," he explains. "This land- scape, with its various features, is unlike anything I've found elsewhere." Gozo's topography allows divers to explore stun- ning natural features, including the famous Blue Hole and the Inland Sea. In Gozo, the underwater to- pography is second to none, and Brian goes to explain that the Mediterranean marine fauna is unique because it has a range of interesting species. His diving philosophy embrac- es the concept of exploration. Whether searching for nudi- branchs in the crevices or ledg- es of steep reef walls or being on the lookout to spot an elu- sive octopus, diving in Gozo is about appreciating the small, unique details of the underwa- ter world. Brian also highlights how ac- cessible these dive sites are. "What makes Gozo special is that you can reach some of the best dive spots within minutes. From the north coast to the south of Gozo, it only takes 5 to 20 minutes to get to these sites, and you're diving into an area with so much variety." This dif- fers significantly from abroad, where reaching some diving lo- cations involves lengthy jour- neys. While recreational diving re- mains the most popular, tech- nical diving could be a bonus or an essential in Gozo. Tack- ling some of the island's dive sites found at greater depths can necessitate longer under- water stays, thus requiring technical diving. Brian delves into the detail of what is tech- nical diving as this involves more equipment and special- ized knowledge. One needs multiple tanks and gases and careful management of depth, time and decompression stops. Technical divers have the op- portunity to explore the wrecks and archaeological sites found at certain depths. It is clear that when it comes to wrecks, this is like opening yet another spellbinding fac- et of diving in Gozo. Beyond the artificially created wrecks, Brian is fascinated by the au- thentic historical wrecks dat- ing back to the First and Sec- ond World Wars as wrecks that have a story behind them. "Div- ing on a wreck from the First or Second World War is like diving into history," he says. On the other hand, the wrecks off the southern coast of Gozo, such as the wrecks of MV Xlen- di, the Karwela and the MV Cominoland, provide excellent opportunities for technical di- vers. These wrecks, which have been scuttled in the past years, serve as artificial reefs and in- triguing dive sites. Asked about his T-shirt em- blazoned with "Phoenician Shipwreck: Dive into History", Brian effortlessly dives into an explanation of yet another kind of wreck. He describes that possibly the Phoenician Shipwreck Project is one of the most interesting things he has been involved in. This project is an ongoing archaeological effort to explore and protect an ancient Phoenician shipwreck off Gozo's coast. The wreck, lying at a depth of around 110 meters, has been remarkably well-preserved because of the profound depth where it lies. This site is off-limit to public diving, but Brian has had the privilege of joining the diving expeditions to the site with Heritage Malta. In addition to the Phoeni- cian shipwreck, Brian explains there's also the Tower Wreck Project, which focuses on the remains of ancient shipwrecks near the Xlendi Tower. "The Tower Wreck Project is possi- bly a mix of Roman and Phoe- nician wrecks," Brian explains. Thousands of amphorae and other artefacts are scattered across the site, which spans around 67,000 square metres, and this site might be one of the most significant archaeologi- cal sites in the Mediterranean. While studies and photogram- metry (the 3D mapping of the bottom) are ongoing, Heritage Malta, Malta's national agency responsible for historical and cultural sites, opened the Tow- er Wreck site as a protected site to the public in 2024. Two diving chartered routes were created for technical divers, and diving in this protected ar- ea requires a permit from Her- itage Malta. While daytime dives offer their unique experience, Bri- an also highlights the thrill of night diving. Nighttime diving is not highly requested because while on holiday, many di- vers might prefer to enjoy the balmy Mediterranean evenings unwinding after a day at sea. However, night diving is when the underwater world truly comes alive. Many creatures, like octopuses and moray eels, are more active at night. "If you want to see marine life in its most natural form, night div- ing is the way to go," he says. Brian's favourite location for night diving is Mġarr ix-Xini, known for its abundance of nocturnal marine life. He con- siders it a five-star diving spot and encounters with various creatures, such as sand eels, oc- topuses, and tun shells (Tonna galea), are the norm. The latter is a Mediterranean shell that can grow up to 30 centimetres and spends its day hidden in the sand, coming out to eat at night. If you're considering a diving holiday, Gozo awaits. Wheth- er you're a curious novice or a seasoned technical diver, Gozo's underwater spell is ready to enchant you. With its rich history, fascinating to- pography, marine life, and ac- cessible dive sites, Gozo keeps calling all those who desire to explore its hidden wonders. Diving instructors like Brian, for whom diving is second na- ture, are key to opening Gozo's underwater realm for those yet to experience it. Gozo is home to many diving instructors. Getting in touch with a diving instructor in Gozo is easy. "The underwater world was just so different from anything I had known"