Malta is a
small independent country about 6o miles south of Sicily and has been a centre
of civilization for more than 5,500 years as exemplified by its early Neolithic
temples which date back to circa 2,000 years before the Egyptian pyramids. It
has been a major trading port since Phoenician times and home to the Knights of
St John between 1510 and 1800.
Adjacent to
the main island of Malta is the island of Gozo, a small and quiet place which is
off the beaten path. Xlendi Bay is a beautiful inlet with a sandy beach ideal
as a swimming spot for both young and old. For many years this bay used to be a
fishing village, but recently it has been transformed into a tourist
attraction. As a tourist resort it is equipped with several tourist-oriented
amenities, such as, bars, restaurants, holiday flats and hotels. Xlendi Bay is
one of the prettiest places on the island. Its inky blue sea, the cloudless
turquoise sky and majestic cliffs makes this place a must for tourists to visit.
In the middle of the approach to this bay, about one foot below the surface of
the water lies a hidden rock. This rock while being somewhat dangerous to
navigation, is at the same time providential, since, in rough seas the heavy
waves loose much of their force against it before continuing their course
towards the beach. However, in ancient times it was an active trading centre
used first by the Carthaginians and then by the Romans. Goods were stored in
warehouses for re-transport and redistribution throughout North Africa, Italy
and beyond.
The ancient
port of Xlendi was larger than it is today. Situated at the mouth of a dry
river valley, much of the original port has been silted over. Its approaches
are bordered by high sheer cliffs that measure over 150 meters with a very
shallow reef in the center of the narrow harbour entrance. Consequently, over
the years numerous ships never made it into the harbour for this reason, ships
abandoned anchors and jettisoned cargo to avoid wrecking. It seems that the amphoras
and anchors around the reefs were all recovered by amateur divers in the 1960s.
Some of these amphoras were brought to the archaeological museum in Gozo by
divers from the British Navy who recovered this material from 20 meters of
depth at the mouth of the Xlendi Bay. Interviews with the diving schools in
Gozo suggest that further material was collected by divers in the last decades
to clear all the remains in the areas up to a depth of 70 meters and their
cargos of amphorae lie on the seabed across hundreds of meters in front of the
cliffs. The underwater site which was explored in 2007 is situated in depths
varying between 115 to 150 meters. It consists mainly of a sandy seabed
punctuated by numerous rocky outcrops. The area is exposed to the prevailing
north-westerly wind which, combined with the peculiar currents present created
an environment of difficult sailing conditions and potential disaster.
Over the
past five decades, many objects have been brought up from the shallower areas
off the coast of Xlendi. Amphorae, anchors, urns and numerous other artefacts were
raised by various diving expeditions and are now housed in the Gozo museum of archaeology.
A quick glance at the objects visible on the seafloor suggests the presence of
multiple shipwrecks. These vary in date from circa 300 BC to approximately 500
AD.
Most of the intact pieces that were
once at the base of Xlendi reef have been retrieved & most are in the
Archaeology Museum in Rabat Gozo.
NO ONE CAN DIVE A ROMAN WRECK and in
the local regulations. MTA have started issuing Fine if you are caught diving
in these areas.
