Scuba Dive

Blue Hole, Gozo

Unlike the cold European waters to the north, the Mediterranean Sea is frequently thought of as a scuba diver’s dream destination.  Many places in the Med offer great diving with the added bonus of some very interesting topside cultural experiences.  Some interesting sites in the Eastern Mediterranean include:

Cypress

The Zenobia is a 178 meter long ferry that went down in 1980 with over 100 large vehicles onboard, giving this dive plenty of exploration possibility and making multiple dives here a must.  It lies on its port side which starts at a depth of 15m and descends to 42m.  Visibility is usually quite good; some days it stretches to 35m.  Experienced divers can penetrate the wreck to see the interior, including two trucks still hanging upside down from their chains, but visibility can drop drastically in the confined spaces.  Though the wreck is the main attraction, triggerfish, barracuda and enormous grouper can also be spotted here.

Manijin Island is a very scenic dive with a wall, a spectacular algae covered cave and a swim-through with a blowhole to keep a diver continuously engaged through the dive.  This dive is ideal for beginners as well as experienced divers with dive depths ranging from 5m to 24m.   Marine life highlights include slipper lobsters, big grouper and large shoals of saddle bream.  Also, octopi are relatively common around Cyprus, so taking the time to peer into the nooks and crannies on this dive is frequently rewarded with at least one good critter sighting.

Egypt

Alexandria boasts no significant reefs or colorful tropical fish, but rather a wealth of archeological treasures such as sunken cities, palaces and numerous wrecks.  Experts estimate that some 7000 monuments belonging to the Pharaonic and Roman dynasties are preserved under Alexandria’s waves.  The Underwater city of Cleopatra and her Palace, located just inside the Eastern Harbor, dates back to 300 BC, and was built by Alexander the Great.  The city collapsed and fell into the sea after several earthquakes. Divers can see Cleopatra’s royal districts, the statue of Mark Anthony, Cleopatra’s sun boat and the wreckage of a 2nd World War plane that exists inside the ruins. Various monuments, carvings and building ruins can be seen throughout the site.

Crete, Greece

Navagio Wreck, the wreck of a German WWII Messerschmitt 109 fighter, lies 20km West of Agia Pelagiaat at depth of 24m. The wings and fuselage are intact and you can see inside the cockpit. One of the machine guns is clearly visible with one of the ammunition belts lying on the sea bed nearby.  Though the plane’s parts are still identifiable, they are covered in a wide variety of coral and sea life, with groupers and moray eels calling the place home.  A healthy reef covered with anemones and small colorful fish schools sits nearby in shallower water, offering the diver an interesting way to work off some of the nitrogen after the deeper wreck portion of the dive.

Malta

Cirkewwa offers 7 different dive sites amongst crystal clear blue waters. One in particular, the Rozi tugboat wreck, offers more to see than a diver can possibly accomplish on one dive.  The boat was sunk in 1991 as an underwater attraction by a company offering submarine trips.  Lying in a depth of almost 40m, the wreck can be seen completly due to the exceptional visibility which is frequently over 30m.  This wreck can be dived from shore or by boat.  The abundant sea life in the area includes: barracuda, morays, octopus, cuttlefish, wrasse, bream, nudibranchs, scorpion fish, morays and even dolphins.  Some parts of the wreck can be penetrated, but with so much going on around it, you may forget to do so once you get down there.

Blue Hole, Gozo is a hike to get to in your gear, but worth the trip.  Divers drop over the lip into the calm blue waters, surrounded by fascinating underwater topography of rocks worn down by the tides of time.  At about 5m deep, an opening leads to the sea.  Outside the opening divers can see coral gardens, small caves and plenty of sea life, but the star of this show is most certainly the natural formation.