Drift Dive · Advanced · NW Gozo

Reqqa Point

One of the Maltese islands' defining drift dives. A vertical limestone wall drops into deep water on the northwest tip of Gozo, where strong current sweeps divers past caves, overhangs, and some of the densest fish life in the archipelago.

36°04'54"N · 14°14'11"E | NW Coast, Gozo

40m+

Max Depth

20–35m

Visibility

AOW

Min Cert

Depth Profile

History & Background

Geological

Reqqa Point is a dramatic headland on Gozo's north coast, where the limestone plateau ends abruptly in a sheer underwater cliff. The wall begins at approximately 5m and drops to beyond 40m. The point faces north into the open Mediterranean, creating exceptional water circulation and visibility.
1980s

Reqqa Point was identified in the 1980s as one of Gozo's premier wall dives. Its northern exposure means the site is weather-dependent, diveable primarily in summer months when the sea is calm. The remote location on Gozo's north coast requires a boat trip from Marsalforn or another north Gozo harbour.
Today

Reqqa Point is considered one of the finest wall dives in the Mediterranean. The combination of wall depth, water clarity, and large pelagic fish encounters puts it alongside Cirkewwa as a top Maltese experience. Advanced certification required. Boat only. Exposed site: check conditions before diving.

The dive begins from the boat with a descent along the wall, which starts at approximately 5m and falls vertically to beyond 40m. The wall is textured with caves, overhangs, and alcoves cut into the limestone face. The upper section at 10–18m is densely colonised with encrusting sponges, sea anemones, and tunicates. At 20–30m, large barrel sponges appear, and the first gorgonian sea fans of significance. At 30m and below, the wall becomes more austere: darker, with barrel sponges reaching 1m in diameter and encrusting sponge colonies in the deeper sections. The water clarity at Reqqa Point is consistently Malta's best: 30–50m visibility is not unusual on good days. The open sea off the point is a hunting ground for amberjack and barracuda, and large tuna are seen in summer. Divers should plan carefully for depth and gas on this site, with the 40m hard limit strictly observed.

Points of Interest

Reqqa Point: what to look for

5m to 40m+

The Wall

Reqqa's main feature. A sheer limestone face runs the full length of the point, dropping vertically from 5 metres to well beyond sport diving limits. Sponges, sea fans, and nudibranchs colonise every ledge. The current accelerates here, making passive drift along the wall the standard technique.

14m

Billinghurst Cave

The largest of Reqqa's cave system, accessible to divers with a torch. The entrance opens at 14 metres and the passage extends back into the cliff. Shrimp cluster near the ceiling in red patches that glow under a dive light, and moray eels use the deeper recesses as resting stations.

18–28m

Anchor Reef

A rocky reef plateau extending from the base of the point, named for the historic anchor that lies embedded in the rock. Grouper hold position here in the current, using the reef as a windbreak. The reef top sits at 18 metres and is the standard navigation reference for managing depth on a drift profile.

10m

Shrimp's Cave

A smaller cavern at 10 metres, notable for the density of cleaner shrimp across its ceiling. The cave provides a natural break from the current and is a useful reference point for divers planning a safety stop. Octopus shelter in the cracks at the cave entrance year-round.

Dive Conditions

When to dive Reqqa Point

Season	Water Temp	Visibility	Conditions
Jan–Mar	14–16°C	25–35m	Good
Apr–Jun	17–22°C	20–30m	Peak
Jul–Sep	25–28°C	20–30m	Peak
Oct–Dec	18–24°C	20–35m	Good

Summer

30m

Winter

35m

Current

Reqqa is defined by its current. On a good day it runs at 1–2 knots along the wall, carrying divers effortlessly over the point. On a strong day it can exceed 3 knots and is not suitable for less experienced divers. Always check conditions before entering. Current direction reverses with weather patterns; a westerly swell can reverse flow unpredictably.

Entry and Exit

Shore entry via a concrete platform and ladder system on the northwest tip of Gozo, accessible by road from Marsalforn. The entry involves a short descent over rock. Ladder condition varies seasonally and is sometimes removed in winter. Exit on a drift dive typically occurs in the bay to the east of the point. A surface marker buoy is required.

Equipment Notes

5mm wetsuit for summer; 7mm or drysuit from October to April. An SMB is mandatory for every diver as drift exits are open-water pickups. Carry a torch for cave passages. A dive computer capable of NDL management is essential given the depth range. Reef hooks are not used here as they cause damage to the limestone.

Dive Briefing

Safety and planning

Advanced Required

Certification Level

Advanced Open Water or equivalent minimum. The combination of current, depth beyond 30 metres, and an open-water drift exit places this site outside the scope of Open Water training. Divers without drift experience should complete a guided dive with diveshack before attempting independently.

Critical

SMB is Mandatory

Every diver must carry and be able to deploy an SMB independently. Drift exits are open-water pickups in a boat channel. Failure to deploy an SMB at the end of the dive significantly increases the risk of not being located by the surface support vessel. Practise deployment before this dive if you are not confident.

Required

Pre-dive Current Check

Current at Reqqa is not predictable from conditions at harbour. Check the point in person by entering to the surface and assessing before committing to a full dive. If current exceeds your training or experience level, abort. The site is not suitable in northwesterly swells above 1 metre.

Briefing

Depth Management

The wall at Reqqa drops without a natural floor. Without active depth management, divers can exceed 40 metres quickly and silently, particularly when focused on current and marine life. Set a depth limit before the dive, monitor your computer throughout, and ascend well before NDL limits are reached. Narcosis becomes significant below 30 metres in cold water.

Briefing

Torch Required

A primary torch is required for Billinghurst Cave and Shrimp's Cave. Do not enter the caves without a light source. Both caves have low ambient light at depth and the passages narrow toward the rear. If your torch fails, exit immediately and do not proceed further into the cave. Overhead environments require specific training beyond Open Water.

Guidance

Entry and Exit Timing

Co-ordinate entry and exit times precisely with your boat or surface support before entering the water. Drift exit points vary with current strength and direction. Agree on a primary and secondary exit location. The boat must follow the divers' bubbles throughout the drift. Do not dive Reqqa without confirmed surface support.

Book This Dive

Dive Reqqa Point with diveshack

diveshack runs guided drift dives at Reqqa Point with a dedicated surface support boat. Groups are a maximum of five divers per guide, keeping the drift organised and exits safe. We depart from Sliema with road transfer included to the Gozo ferry and the dive site.

Min Cert Advanced Open Water

Equipment Full rental available

Group Size Max 5 divers per guide

Includes Guide, tanks, weights, surface support

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Reqqa Point

History & Background

What You Might See

Greater Amberjack

Common Dentex

Yellowmouth Barracuda

Mediterranean Fairy Basslet

Yellow Gorgonian

Violescent Sea Whip

Mediterranean Feather Star

Conger Eel