MV Xlendi
Gozo's first artificial reef

History & Background

• 1950s
  The MV Xlendi was an 80-metre passenger and vehicle ferry built in the 1950s and operated by the Gozo Channel Company on the Malta-Gozo crossing. After being decommissioned from ferry service, the vessel was acquired for use as a dive wreck site to boost Gozo's diving tourism.
• 1999
  The MV Xlendi was deliberately sunk on 12 November 1999 at Xatt l'Ahmar, southeast Gozo. The vessel came to rest inverted on a sandy seabed, keel uppermost at approximately 32m and the deepest sections at 45m. This upturned orientation gives the wreck a distinctive profile unlike any other Maltese dive site.
• Today
  The MV Xlendi is Gozo's signature wreck dive. The vessel lies on its side in two distinct zones: the upper hull is accessible at 25–35m, while the keel rests at 45m. Multiple penetration routes are established. Boat dive only. Advanced or Technical certification recommended for the deeper sections.

The MV Xlendi's most striking feature is its orientation: lying inverted, the keel faces upward at around 32m while the superstructure and decks rest at the deepest sections near 45m. Divers first encounter the upper hull at around 25m, then descend along the hull side to the keel at 45m. Penetration is possible through multiple open hatches and companionways, revealing the engine room, hold spaces, and passenger areas. All penetration routes allow light entry from each end, minimising disorientation risk. The interior is densely colonised with tubeworms, sponges, and juvenile fish. Mature grouper hold position in the shaded cavities. The flat sandy seabed around the wreck yields stingrays and occasionally Comino's amberjack.