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maltatoday, SUNDAY, 16 AUGUST 2015 39 TRAVEL Exploring Gozo's waters Diving is a hugely popular activity on our islands and for good reason. St Andrew's Divers Cove offers experienced and novice divers alike the chance for adventure in Gozo's beautiful waters GOZO has made a name for itself as a top diving destination, draw- ing enthusiasts from all over the world with its crystal clear waters and variety of dive sites. Above the waves, the island remains an idyllic getaway with plenty to do on dry land, making it a perfect holiday destination for the whole family. For those looking to spend some time underwater, St Andrew's Divers Cove offers a range of programs and packages for expe- rienced divers and landlubbers alike. We caught up with owner Mark Busuttil, in the brief time he spends on dry land, to find out what prospective divers can look forward to. St Andrew's offers three main diving services – beginner dives, accompanied dives and diving courses – as well as other services such as airport transfers and ac- commodation arrangements. Beginner dives, as the name im- plies, are for the complete novice, interested in having a go at div- ing without committing to a full course. Anyone 10 years and above can join. The experience includes a detailed explanation of the div- ing protocols, followed by a gentle introduction to the gear. "First, clients will experience breathing through scuba on surface, before going down to a depth of one me- tre, until they are comfortable," Mark explains. "Once they are ac- climated, we proceed slowly to a maximum depth of five metres." A short, 30-minute dive follows, in a sheltered bay such as Xlendi or Mgarr ix-Xini. A quick taster of the full diving experience. Accompanied dives group to- gether divers of similar experience levels, at several sites. "Gozo has earned a reputation for its deeper dives but we have sever- al dives that are relatively shallow and could be enjoyed by first level divers, at a maximum depth of 18 metres," Mark explains. "The famous Blue Hole at Dwejra is one of these dives. Beneath the Azure Window, the water is barely 12 metres deep and the famous picturesque and extremely photo- genic chimney is only 16 metres at its deepest." St Andrew's offers courses lead- ing to first level qualifications, all the way up to third level, with each course taking between three and five days. Almost anyone can take a dive course, though some medical con- ditions can be limiting. "Before diving, a medical screening state- ment has to be filled in and signed because there are some conditions with which one cannot dive or will have restrictions, including asth- ma, epilepsy and lung diseases. It is always better if people have a medical examination done by a hyperbaric specialist," Mark says. Once the doc has given you the go-ahead, there are plenty of fas- cinating dive sites to explore with your instructors. EU initiatives have seen two vessels scuttled at Xatt l-Ahmar in 2006, along with the construction of the Ras il-Hobz drainage purification site, creat- ing an excellent dive site where the environmentally safe effluent reaches the sea. Wied il-Mielah, on the island's north coast, also makes for an exciting visit, boast- ing several caves, a resident shoal of barracuda, a submarine wall that drops off beyond 40 metres and the wreck of an old motorcy- cle in the deeper areas. Mark an- ticipates the scuttling of another vessel near the Xwejni saltpans in the coming months, which will offer the repeat customers some- thing new to look forward to. It's not all fun and games though. Mark expressed his concern about the fragility of the ecosystems divers so enjoy visiting. Overfishing has dimin- ished the number of large fish at several sites and he believes the enforcement of more Marine Protected Areas will help to keep the underwater biodiversity in tact. "Fish have diminished over the years because of the rampant fishing that has been going on for generations mainly by enthusi- asts, not professional fishermen," he says. In the meantime however, there is still plenty to see under the sea and Mark and his team are com- mitted to showing off Gozo's beautiful underwater landscapes to new and experienced divers, while highlighting the need to protect these fragile ecosystems for future generations to enjoy. Visit St Andrew's Divers Cove at St. Simon Street, Xlendi Bay XLN1302, Gozo, call on 2155 1301, fax 156 1548, e-mail on standrew@gozodive.com or visit www.gozodive.com Wreck and fish. Photo by Denis Glehen Divers in Xlendi Outside the dive centre Diving off Comino