Diving master plan for Gozo launched

A diving master plan for Gozo and Comino was presented to the island's diving tourism stakeholders at the Ministry for Gozo yesterday.

The plan forms part of the EU co-funded Niche Tourism Project For The Island Of Gozo,

Recommendations include the upgrading of shore dive sites, parking and kitting up facilities, the provision of safety equipment and the improvement of facilities to reduce accidents, and the provision of more wrecks and artificial reefs.

Other proposals include the provision of secure mooring buoys at boat diving locations, steps to attract more fish, and the organisation of proper data collection exercises to assist in better product-analysis and monitoring.

Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono said The Niche Tourism Project For The Island Of Gozo, with an investment of €1.3 million, involved the scuttling of mv Karwela and mv Cominoland last August, the setting up of a decompression chamber last month, a marketing campaign through international magazines, a new website and a DVD, and the master plan itself.

The ministry will set up a task force to follow up on the measures identified and come up with a plan to implement short-term, medium-term and long-term targets. According to the plan the best overall underwater experience was the Blue Hole in Dwejra, followed by Reqqa Point and the Inland Sea. The most popular site for novice divers was Mgarr ix-Xini followed by Crystal Lagoon, Xwejni Bay, Anchor Reef, Cominotto and Hondoq ir-Rummien.

Following the scuttling of the two vessels at Ix-Xatt l-Ahmar last August, the site has become one of the top three in Gozo.