Ask any diver who knows Malta to name one dive site, and the answer is almost always the same: Cirkewwa. Tucked into the island’s north-west tip beside the Gozo ferry terminal, the Cirkewwa dive site packs two purpose-sunk wrecks, a photogenic natural arch, sheltered training pools, swim-throughs, caves and a dramatic reef wall into a single stretch of protected coastline — all accessible from shore.

At Watercolours Dive Centre, Cirkewwa Reef is one of the sites we return to week after week, in every season. Whether you’re logging your first open water dives or planning a deep wreck adventure, here’s everything you need to know before you take that giant stride.

Where Is Cirkewwa and Why Is It So Popular?

Cirkewwa sits at Malta’s northern tip, around 45 minutes from Sliema and St Julian’s and just a short drive from St Paul’s Bay and Mellieħa. The area is now formally protected as the Ċirkewwa Marine Park, and its popularity comes down to variety: very few Mediterranean shore dives offer beginner-friendly shallows, two major wrecks, natural rock formations and technical-depth walls within a few hundred metres of each other.

Practicalities are excellent too. There are multiple entry and exit points with steps and railings, dedicated diver parking, and calm, clear water for most of the year, with visibility regularly reaching 20–30 metres. It’s the kind of site where a mixed group of divers — from open water students to seasoned wreck enthusiasts — can all have a memorable day in the water.

The Dives at Cirkewwa Reef

Tugboat Rozi

The Rozi is a 35-metre tugboat built in Bristol in 1958 that worked Valletta’s Grand Harbour before being scuttled in 1992 as an artificial reef. She sits perfectly upright on the sand at around 34 metres, remarkably intact apart from her engine and propeller. Her upper structure starts at roughly 20 metres, so Open Water divers can enjoy her from above while Advanced divers explore the deck, wheelhouse and hull. Three decades underwater have turned the Rozi into a living reef, wrapped in shoals of bream and patrolled by moray eels and the occasional grouper.

Patrol Boat P29

A short surface or mid-water swim from the entry point brings you to the P29, a 52-metre former East German minesweeper that served with the Armed Forces of Malta before being scuttled in 2007. She rests upright at around 34 metres, with her bridge, crow’s nest and famous deck gun making superb photo subjects. The P29 is a favourite for Advanced Open Water and wreck speciality training, and experienced divers can explore accessible interior sections. Keep an eye on the crow’s nest in spring — it’s often decorated with strings of squid eggs.

The Cirkewwa Arch

The Arch is what remains of an ancient cavern whose roof collapsed long ago, leaving a majestic natural archway standing around 12 metres below the surface and rising some 8 metres off the seabed. Draped in colourful algae and sponges and lit by shafts of Mediterranean sunlight, it’s one of the most photographed underwater landmarks in Malta. The route to the Arch follows the reef wall past tunnels and swim-throughs, making the journey as rewarding as the destination.

Susie’s Pool and the Madonna Statue

Susie’s Pool is a sheltered, shallow natural pool that serves as the perfect confined-water training area and an easy, relaxed entry point. From here, the reef wall leads to one of Cirkewwa’s most loved features: a statue of the Madonna resting in a small cavern at around 18 metres, placed as a memorial and now a traditional stop on almost every reef dive at the site.

Marine Life at Cirkewwa

Cirkewwa’s protected status means the reef and wrecks are alive with typical Mediterranean species. Expect shoals of saddled seabream and damselfish over the seagrass meadows, moray eels and octopus tucked into the reef, nudibranchs on the wrecks, and dusky groupers along the deeper walls. Barracuda make regular appearances around the P29, stingrays glide over the sandy patches between the wrecks, and in the shallows you’ll often find cuttlefish hunting at dusk — one more reason to ask us about a night dive here.

Who Can Dive Cirkewwa?

• Beginners (Open Water) — Susie’s Pool, the reef top and the Madonna statue suit newly certified divers and training dives.
• Open Water with experience — The Cirkewwa Arch and the upper sections of the Rozi sit comfortably within the 18–20 metre range.
• Advanced Open Water — Full tours of the Rozi and P29 at 30–34 metres, including interior sections of the P29 for suitably trained divers.
• Deep and technical divers — The reef beyond the Rozi drops past 40 metres, offering deeper profiles for technical training and exploration.

Conditions are generally calm with minimal current, but like all north-facing sites Cirkewwa is exposed to north-westerly winds. Our team checks conditions daily and will always have a plan B ready on the rare days the site isn’t diveable.

When to Dive Cirkewwa

Cirkewwa is a genuine year-round dive site. Sea temperatures range from around 15°C in late winter to 26°C or more at the end of summer, and visibility is often at its best outside the peak season. Summer brings warm, easy diving; spring and autumn combine great conditions with quieter entry points; and winter diving in a dry suit or thick wetsuit rewards you with the site almost to yourself.

Dive Cirkewwa with Watercolours Dive Centre

Watercolours Dive Centre runs guided dives, courses and speciality training at Cirkewwa throughout the year. Our instructors know every swim-through, wreck route and marine life hotspot on the reef, and we handle logistics end to end — equipment, transport, tanks and briefings — so all you have to do is enjoy the dive. From your very first breaths underwater in Susie’s Pool to a deep double-wreck day on the Rozi and P29, we’ll match the dive plan to your certification, experience and ambitions.

Ready to experience Malta’s most famous dive site? Get in touch with Watercolours Dive Centre to book your Cirkewwa dives or ask about our PADI courses. [CONFIRM CTA link/booking URL]

Cirkewwa Dive Site FAQs

How deep is the Cirkewwa dive site?

Depths range from 5 metres in Susie’s Pool to around 34–36 metres at the P29 and Rozi wrecks, with the reef beyond dropping past 40 metres – so there’s a suitable profile for every certification level.

Can beginners dive at Cirkewwa?

Yes. The sheltered shallows, reef top, Madonna statue and Cirkewwa Arch are all well within Open Water limits, which is why Cirkewwa is one of Malta’s favourite training sites.

Is Cirkewwa a shore dive or a boat dive?

All the main Cirkewwa dives — including both wrecks — are shore dives, with easy entry points, steps and railings along the coastline.

What wrecks can you dive at Cirkewwa?

Two purpose-sunk wrecks: the tugboat Rozi (scuttled 1992) and the patrol boat P29 (scuttled 2007), both sitting upright at around 34 metres and among the most dived wrecks in the Mediterranean.

How far is Cirkewwa from St Paul’s Bay and Sliema?

Cirkewwa is roughly 15–20 minutes by car from St Paul’s Bay and about 45 minutes from Sliema, at the very northern tip of Malta beside the Gozo ferry terminal.