As part of our Green Traveller's Guide to Gozo, Yvonne Gordon picks out a selection of local activities to try out.
There is lots to do on the island of Gozo. With its warm, crystal-clear waters and an abundance of limestone cliffs, sea arches and caves, plus wrecks and reefs, it’s no surprise that diving is one of the main activities and there are plenty of dive specialists who will provide all levels of training and guided dives.
The island is ideal for walking, with everything from coastal to hill walks and there are a number of set routes passing cultural, natural and historical sites. For the more adventurous, climbing is also popular, with more than 300 sport climbs over 12 locations. You can also try bouldering, abseiling, kayaking, coasteering and mountain biking.
Cycling on one of the island’s marked trails is a more gentle way to see the island, or try a Segway tour to do some sightseeing without exerting too much energy.
Calypso Divers
Started in 1985, Calypso was one of the founders of professional diving services on the island of Gozo. A PADI and BSAC Centre, training covers all levels from beginner up. Diving holiday packages include accommodation, car hire and airport transfers from Malta. Contact: George Vella, 00356 21561757, info@calypsodivers.com calypsodivers.com
Bubbles
Bubbles is a PADI five-star dive resort with everything from beginners to technical and professional diving, from both shore and a Rayliner 175 dive boat. A percentage of profits goes to PADI’s marine conservation programme, Project Aware. Contact: David & Donna Hayler, 00356 27028299, info@diving-gozo.com diving-gozo.com
Atlantis Lodge
Atlantis is a family-run business and has full EUF accreditation. Courses include PADI, CMAS and VDST, BSAC and divers can explore caverns, walls, wrecks, reefs and the Blue Hole. Atlantis can also arrange accommodation, excursions and car hire. Contact: Brian Azzopardi at 00356 21554685, email diving@atlantisgozo.com atlantisgozo.com
Blue Waters Dive Cove
Blue Waters is a young team with a variety of packages for diving, plus training courses and accompanied dives. There are also night dives and boat dives and they can arrange airport transfers from Malta, accommodation and car hire. Contact:Antoine Portelli, 00356 2156562, info@divebluewaters.com divebluewaters.com
Extra Divers
Extra Divers is connected to the Grand Hotel in Mgarr and offers a selection of SSI, CMAS and PADI training from Open Water to Dive control specialist level. Contact: Juergen Schneyer, 00356 21563840, extradivers@grandhotelmalta.com
Frankies Gozo Diving
Gozo Diving has 25 years’ experience teaching and training all levels of diving including PADI, CMAS, SDI and SSI certification. They also offer recreational Sidemount diving and Techinal Diving, plus guided or unguided shore and boat dives. Contact: Frank Magro , 00356 21551315, info@gozodiving.com gozodiving.com
Nautic Team
Nautic offers everything from Technical Diving and diving courses to dives for children, dives for the handicapped and instructor training. Nautic Team, Heike Merz, 00356 21558507, nautic@go.net.mt nauticteam.com
Photos: Gozo Adventures
Gozo Adventures
Gozo Adventures offer everything from sea kayaking and underwater safari to climbing, abseiling and biking, with day tours led by experienced guides. It can arrange a variety of climbs across inland crags or sea cliffs on the island which has more than 300 sports climbs over 12 locations. It caters for everyone from beginner to advanced climber, and also include abseiling, aerial runways and rope bridges. The Gozo Adventures Eco Tour offers a glimpse into Gozitan culture with a selection of activities with the locals – no two tours are the same. The tour includes lunch. gozoadventures.com/
Diveshack
Diveshack is a PADI five-star IDC Dive Centre and TecRec facility with dives on all three Maltese islands: Gozo, Comino and Malta. There’s a wide range of PADI courses, plus photography, deep dives and Sidemount. They also offer a beginners try-dive. Contact: Course Director, Rita Vella, 00356 21338558, info@divemalta.com divemalta.com
Gozo Aquasport
This is a PADI five-star IDC and TECREC Dive Centre and BSAC Dive Resort based in Marsalforn, with 33 years’ experience. There are PADI diving courses to suit all levels, and they also offer diving holiday packages including transport and accommodation. Contact: Patrick Bugeja, 00356 21563037, dive@gozoaquasports.com gozoaquasports.com
Moby Dives
Moby Dives is a PADI five-star IDC dive school based in the scenic Xlendi Bay, with a range of courses on offer from Open Water to Instructor Development. Contact: Mark Cassar, 00356 21564429, info@mobydivesgozo.com mobydivesgozo.com
Scuba Kings
This is a British-owned PADI, BSAC, SSI, PDSA and MTA approved dive centre based in Marsalforn, with dives to caves, caverns and wrecks as well as boat trips. They also help with activities for non-divers. Contact: Richard King, 00356 21561221, Gozodiveschool@hotmail.com scuba-kings.com
Mġarr Tourist Services
Various vehicles for hire here including bicyles – they will deliver bikes to anywhere in Gozo free of charge. gozomgarrtouristservice.com
Victoria Garage
A selection of bicycles with free delivery to anywhere on the island. Tel: +356 21556314 gozo.com/victoriagaragegozo
Xlendi Water Sports
Xlendi Water Sports provides cruises, water sports, private charters and self-drive boats and there are pick-up points in Marsalforn and Xlendi. For groups, they also have private charters for fishing, leisure or diving on Delfino (9m long, takes max 10 passengers), Barkun (8.5m, 12 passengers) or Xlendi III (a 14.5m boat that will take 28 passengers). Email info@xlendicruises.com xlendicruises.com/
Merill Eco Tours
For a rural tour of Gozo, which includes a glimpse into the traditions of the people of the island, take an Eco tour of Gozo. You can learn how salt is panned, or how to make the traditional cheese. You might also get a go at the ball game bocci, and the tour is designed around interaction with locals. Merill Eco Tours is based on Malta: Merill Eco Tours, 75, St. Bartholomew Street, Qormi, QRM2188 merillecotours.com/
Connect2Gozo
Activities include one or two day courses sculpturing with local clay, painting with natural pigments, abstract painting, making jewellery from ceramic and metal and silversmithing.
Gozo Segway
A Segway guided tour is an efficient and eco-friendly way of seeing parts of the island – especially those not accessible by car or public transport – without getting tired feed. There’s a short lesson on how to operate the Segway at the start of the tour and then off you go (helmets are provided). Gozo Segway has six different tours:
Ta Cenc Sannat (1hr)
Sanap cliffs, Munxar (1hr15min)
Ghadira ta’ San Raflu (1hr30min)
Qala, north-east coast (1hr45 min)
Gharb, San Dimitri area (2hrs)
Salt Pans to Ta’ Pinu (up to 3 hours).
Prices range from €15 to €35. To book, contact Kevin Grech, 00 356 9944 8901, 00 356 7977 8901, info@gozosegway.com gozosegway.com/
For information on local food and drink, nearby visitor attractions and activities, see our
