Depth
0m
Advanced · 27m Max · Wied iz-Zurrieq

Zurrieq West Reef
and Caves

The west side of Wied iz-Zurrieq inlet hides two exceptional caves in the cliff face. Bell Tower Cave drops to 27m with a dramatic bell-shaped chamber. Mouse Hole Cave opens through a tight squeeze into a wider room at 25m. A brass diving helmet statue on the seabed, placed in July 2005, marks one of Malta's most personal underwater memorials.

35°49.18'N · 14°27.01'E  |  Wied iz-Zurrieq, South Malta

27m
Max Depth
5m
Min Depth
2
Caves
20–30m
Visibility
Advanced
Min Cert
19–27°
Temp
27m
Max Depth
5m
Min Depth
2
Caves
20–30m
Visibility
Advanced
Min Cert
Shore
Access
Site Profile

Two caves, one inlet, countless dives.

  • Geology
    The caves were formed over millennia by wave erosion into the coralline limestone cliffs on the west wall of Wied iz-Zurrieq. The same geological forces that shaped the inlet above the waterline continue underground, producing a layered reef wall studded with overhangs, crevices, and two named caves accessible only from the water.
  • Bell Tower
    Also known as Church Bell Cave, the entrance sits in the cliff face and widens as you descend. The chamber takes its name from its distinctive bell shape: narrower at the top, opening broadly as it deepens to 27m. An air pocket forms at the ceiling and natural light from the entrance illuminates the upper section beautifully in the morning hours.
  • Mouse Hole
    True to its name, Mouse Hole Cave requires a narrow squeeze entry at 25m before the passage opens into a roomier chamber beyond. The contrast between the tight entry and the space inside makes it one of the more memorable moments in Maltese cave diving. Grouper are regularly encountered inside the main chamber.
  • 3 Jul 2005
    A brass diving helmet statue was placed on the seabed at approximately 28m as a permanent memorial. It is one of the most-photographed underwater subjects on Malta's southern coast. Marine encrustation has begun to colonise the surface, giving it an organic quality that grows more striking each year.

This is the west side of the Wied iz-Zurrieq inlet, the right-hand wall as you enter the water. It is a completely different dive profile to Zurrieq East Reef (Left Wall) across the inlet. Divers who know only one side consistently describe the other as a revelation. diveshack guides both walls and can combine them on a two-dive day for visitors with the time and gas to do both justice.

// Depth Profile · Zurrieq West Reef and Caves
0m 5m 15m 27m Bell Tower Cave · 27m Mouse Hole Cave · 25m Helmet Statue · 28m Reef wall top · 5m Surface Zone Advanced Deep Zone Wied iz-Zurrieq · West Wall · bearing 090°
Marine Life

What You Might See

Species commonly encountered at this site, based on depth and habitat. Click any card to read the full species guide.

Painted Comber underwater Malta 5–150m
Bony Fish

Painted Comber

Serranus scriba
Jewel Anemone underwater Malta 0–50m
Cnidarians

Jewel Anemone

Corynactis viridis
Mediterranean Cardinalfish underwater Malta 0–40m
Bony Fish

Mediterranean Cardinalfish

Apogon imberbis
Common Octopus underwater Malta 0–100m
Molluscs

Common Octopus

Octopus vulgaris
Peacock Worm underwater Malta 0–100m
Worms

Peacock Worm

Sabella pavonina
Greater Hermit Crab underwater Malta 3–80m
Crustaceans

Greater Hermit Crab

Dardanus arrosor
Red Sea Squirt underwater Malta 0–80m
Tunicates

Red Sea Squirt

Halocynthia papillosa
European Fan Worm underwater Malta 0–120m
Worms

European Fan Worm

Sabella spallanzanii
Diving Conditions

When to dive it.

Zurrieq West Reef is diveable year-round. The cave diving is most rewarding in summer when visibility is at its peak and water temperature allows longer, more comfortable bottom time inside the caves.

Season Visibility Temp Rating
Jan – Mar 15–20m 15–17°C Good
Apr – Jun 20–25m 18–22°C Good
Jul – Sep 25–30m 25–27°C Peak
Oct – Dec 20–28m 21–25°C Peak
Average Visibility
Jul – Sep
27m
Oct – Dec
24m
Apr – Jun
22m
Jan – Mar
17m

Visibility

Open Mediterranean water flows into Wied iz-Zurrieq from the south, keeping visibility consistently strong. Summer and autumn regularly produce 25–30m in the open water sections. Inside Bell Tower Cave and Mouse Hole Cave, visibility is largely unaffected by surface conditions and remains clear year-round, provided entry is made carefully without disturbing sediment on the cave floor.

Entry and Access

Shore entry from the Wied iz-Zurrieq inlet. Rock steps on the west side of the inlet provide a straightforward entry and exit point. The surface swim to the start of the reef wall is approximately 30–50 metres. The site is accessible with standard recreational dive gear and no boat is required. A car park is available nearby. The inlet can be busy in summer with snorkellers and day-trippers, so early morning entry is recommended for space on the steps and the best light quality inside the caves.

Swell and Surge

The inlet provides natural shelter from westerly swell. In strong southerly weather a low surge can develop inside the inlet mouth, but the west cliff itself is protected by the headland above it. On most days the site is accessible. In heavy northerly or southerly storms, surface conditions at the entry point should be assessed before committing. diveshack guides assess conditions each morning and will advise if the site is unsuitable on a given day.

Safety & Requirements

Know before you go.

All diveshack Zurrieq West cave dives are guided. Maximum five divers per guide. A full site briefing including cave-specific protocols is given at the entry point before every dive.

27m

Certification Required

Advanced Open Water (or equivalent) is the minimum certification for this site. Both caves are within recreational diving limits, but the cave entries require solid buoyancy control and spatial awareness that come with Advanced-level experience. Divers holding a Cavern or Cave specialty will find the environment particularly rewarding, and diveshack guides can tailor the dive plan to suit that level of experience.

Advanced Open Water minimum
NDL

No-Decompression Limits

At 27m on air, NDL is approximately 20–22 minutes. Planning the deepest point first (Bell Tower Cave at 27m) and working progressively shallower through Mouse Hole Cave at 25m and the helmet statue optimises bottom time. A 3-minute safety stop at 5 metres is mandatory on all diveshack guided dives. Nitrox EAN32 extends NDL significantly at these depths and is recommended for divers who want more time inside the caves.

Safety stop: 5m / 3 min
5

Group Size and Briefing

Maximum five divers per guide on all Zurrieq West cave dives. Mouse Hole Cave entries are managed one diver at a time due to the narrow squeeze at the entrance. Pre-dive briefing covers cave entry protocol, buoyancy requirements inside the chambers, turn-around points, gas management, emergency signals, and the ascent plan. Divers new to cave environments receive additional guidance on sediment avoidance and controlled buoyancy in confined spaces.

Max 5 divers / guide
Torch

Recommended Equipment

A primary torch is essential for both caves. Bell Tower Cave has ambient light from its entrance, but the lower reaches and Mouse Hole Cave require a torch to reveal the full interior. Dive computer mandatory. SMB for ascent. Buoyancy control must be precise for the Mouse Hole entry. A wide-angle camera lens is recommended for the bell chamber where the full sweep of the interior is the main photographic target. All equipment including torches is available for hire from diveshack before departure.

Torches, computers, SMBs for hire
Gas

Gas Planning

Minimum start pressure 200 bar. The rule of thirds applies: one third into the dive, one third back, one third reserve. For divers visiting both caves on a single dive, gas planning must allow reserves sufficient for a controlled exit from the deeper cave if conditions change. Nitrox EAN32 is available at the shop before departure and must be booked in advance. All cylinders are inspected and filled on site each morning.

Nitrox EAN32 available
DAN

Emergency and Insurance

Nearest hyperbaric chamber at Mater Dei Hospital, Msida. DAN dive accident insurance is strongly recommended and available through diveshack. Emergency oxygen is on site at all times. All guides are first-aid trained. Emergency: 112. DAN Europe: +39 06 4211 5685.

DAN insurance available
Book This Dive

Dive Zurrieq West with diveshack

Guided dives to Zurrieq West Reef and Caves run on Wednesday and Sunday mornings. Departure from Wied iz-Zurrieq at 09:00. Transport from Sliema can be arranged on request. Private charters and two-dive days combining Zurrieq West and East Reef are available any day of the week.

Departs 09:00, Wed & Sun, Wied iz-Zurrieq
Duration Approx. 2 hours total
Group Size Max 5 divers per guide
Cert. Required Advanced Open Water minimum
Equipment Hire available including torches, book ahead
Nitrox EAN32 available, book with dive
Two-Dive Day West + East Reef available on request
Email Us WhatsApp Us +356 9999 3483

Send an Enquiry

We respond within 2 hours, 08:00–17:00. Booking confirmed by email.