Unknown Wrecks Of Gozo.

                      

                        XLENDI PROJECT

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. I have tried to get a permit from the local government to dive this site just to take some photos and it has been impossible to get a reply.

        NO ONE CAN DIVE A ROMAN WRECK it is also on the instructors c-card and in the local regulations. MTA have started issuing Fine if you are caught diving in these areas.