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Three
Islands make up the Maltese Archipelago; Malta, Gozo and tiny Comino.
They form a very special diving destination at the heart of the
Mediterranean.
Gozo provides
a tranquil haven for a tempo and scene change. The charm of Gozo
is apparent the moment you arrive there. Greener, more rural and
smaller than the sister island of Malta, life on Gozo moves at a
leisurely pace. The rhythms dictated by the seasons, fishing and
agriculture.
In winter and
spring, the Island is covered with flowering herbs and lush crops.
In summer, it’s awash with oleander, bougainvillea and geranium.
Gozo is
steeped in myth. Thought to be the legendary Calypso’s isle
of Homer’s Odyssey, it’s a peaceful, mystical backwater.
Baroque churches and old stone farmhouses dot the countryside.
Its rugged landscape
and spectacular coastline await exploration. Choose from rocky inlets
to red sand beaches or sail, snorkel, and dive. Gozo has some of
the Mediterranean’s best dive sites.
But there’s
more. Gozo comes complete with historical sites, forts and amazing
panoramas. Plus one of the archipelago’s best-preserved prehistoric
temples, Ggantija. Not to mention a nightlife and cultural calendar
all its own, and some great dining out.
THE
DIVING IN MALTA & GOZO
Sea temperatures
average around 23ºC in summer and drop down to around 13ºC
to 15ºC in December to March. The prospect of an active sun
and sea sport holiday is just as tempting in winter. At this time
of year, you can see some wonderful species; fish such as the John
Dory come closer to shore in winter.
The waters here
are some of the most limpid and clear in the world. Visibility is
excellent down to around 30 metres, so Gozo is a dream destination
for underwater photography.
Marine life
flourishes in a vibrant display of colours. You are likely to come
across groupers, gunards, octopi, red mullet, flying fish, corals,
conger eels, and even the rare sea perch which has all but disappeared
from the Mediterranean.
The combination
of sheer cliffs, caves, wrecks, shelves and sandy and rocky sea
beds, means there is a large variety of fauna and flora to see in
the Maltese waters. It would be too difficult to list them all.
Wrecks, as artificial reef habitats, have provided a home for a
greater number of species in recent years and make excellent dive
sites.
For more excitement,
try a night dive or dive deeper to 30 metres. Colours appear almost
fluorescent by torchlight - these dives offer a unique adventure.
| GENERAL
TRAVEL INFORMATION |
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CLIMATE
Malta’s
climate is strongly influenced by the sea and is typical of the
Mediterranean. The Islands have a very sunny climate with a daily
average of five to six hours sunshine in mid-winter to more than
12 hours in summer.
Winters are
mild, with the occasional short chilly period brought about by the
north and north-easterly winds from central Europe.
Summers are
hot, dry and very sunny. Day-time temperatures in summer are often
mitigated by cooling sea breezes, but in spring and autumn a very
hot wind from Africa occasionally brings unseasonally high temperatures
and humidity. This is known as the Sirocco, or, in Maltese, the
Xlokk – this wind affects Greece and Italy as well; in Malta
the air is generally drier because of the short sea track from the
African coast.
Annual rainfall
is low, averaging 578mm a year, and the length of the dry season
in summer is longer than in neighbouring Italy. Sea bathing is quite
possible well in to the ‘winter’ months, and the peak
beach season can last until mid- to late October.
MONEY
The Maltese Pound (Lm) or Lira is divided into 100 cents. Any amount
of foreign currency may be brought into Malta as long as it is declared
on arrival. The maximum amount of Maltese currency that may be brought
into the country is of Lm 1000 per person. On departure, visitors
can take out again all their foreign currency, but not more than
Lm1000 in Maltese currency.
Most hotels and restaurants, as well as many shops, accept Access,
American Express, Carte Blanche, Diners Club International, Mastercard
and Visa.
ELECTRICITY
Electric supply
is on a 240-volt 50-cycle system.
RELIGION
Most
Maltese are Catholic, but other religious denominations are also
represented. There are small Anglican, Church of Scotland, Greek
Orthodox, Jewish, Methodists and Muslim communities. Church services
held by the various Denominations.
LANGUAGE
The official
languages are Maltese and English. Maltese is a language of Semitic
origin written in the Latin script. Over the centuries, it has incorporated
many words derived from English, Italian and French.
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