MV KARWELA GOZO. -43 meters.

The MV Karwela started her career in 1957 as M/S Frisia II.. In 1977 she was named the “Nordpaloma” and came to Malta in 1986. She did her duty for Comino Marina LTD till about 2002 under the present name MV Karwela.She was scuttled on 12th August 2006, together with the MV Cominoland, in ix Xatt L-Ahmar, Gozo to serve as an artificial reef for the visiting divers.

.. In order to drive to the site one must come off the ferry in Gozo and drive up the hill for about 3 km or so. Look for a school on the right of the road opposite a small bakers shop - you'll probably drive past it before you realize and have to turn round again. You should be able to see a small signpost pointing off the main road to the left marking the way to the wrecks so you will turn into a residential side street opposite the rehabilitation center. Once off the main road take the first right then second left onto a steep concrete road down towards the sea. BEWARE - this concrete road appears to go hard left down to the sea but if you get it wrong at this point you will end up bouncing into  a ploughed field with no way out so take care!!! At the bottom of the hill is the car park where you should find an information plate which details the wreck's history and the bearing to swim along with the same info for the other two wrecks at this site sunk only very recently.

 She is lying in 44 meters, hull uppermost, sideways on to shore at the bottom of a steep undersea cliff. From the steel ladder set in the rocks on the shore immediately below the car park from here follow the underwater reef till you find the edge of the cliff keep your depth around 15 meters to give you better bottom time on the wreck she sits approx 55-60 meters from the entry point and on this bearing reaching her side on to explore her mass ,the wreck is diver safe with extra hole’s  cut into the hull she has some great corners that are just great for photograph, The strangest attraction of this wreck is the VW Beetle parked on the stern deck of the Karwela, which makes for a great photo opportunity. As the story goes, after the ship was scuttled, some local divers swam it out on floating on barrels that they let air out of to sink it directly onto the deck where it now rests.

   When time is up head back on northerly direction  over the cliff, take your time once here to do safety stops photos and just drain that tank, a vast range of nudibranch/groupers/barracuda and if you are lucky passing tuna,
Slight warning to this dive site not to dive if the ladders are not their if it is rough as exit points are not easy, as all ways with new dive site get some local orientation on the dive site first.

 

For more information on diving in Gozo e-mail us techdivingmalta@gmail.com