Planning a trip?
Hotels, dive operators, gear, and how to get here are on the Gozo location page.
Overview
The HMS Southwold, a Type II Hunt-class destroyer, lies in two main sections off the coast of Malta, a victim of a German mine in March 1942. This WWII naval wreck provides a dramatic historical dive, offering a glimpse into the past. Advanced divers can explore the remains of this significant vessel, now home to a variety of Mediterranean marine life.
Briefing note
Due to depth, this site is suitable for advanced or technical divers. Standard diving permits and regulations apply.
What you'll see
3 species curated- year-roundDusky GrouperPeak: May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct
- year-roundMediterranean Moray EelPeak: May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct
- seasonalBarracudaPeak: Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep
Sightings evidence
3 records on file- high confidenceDusky Grouper
- Last confirmed
- Jun 2024
- Recent records
- 15 within 10 km
- Cluster months
- May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Commonly observed on Mediterranean wrecks and reefs.
- high confidenceMediterranean Moray Eel
- Last confirmed
- Jun 2024
- Recent records
- 10 within 10 km
- Cluster months
- May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Often found sheltering in crevices of wrecks and rocky reefs.
- medium confidenceBarracuda
- Last confirmed
- May 2024
- Recent records
- 8 within 10 km
- Cluster months
- Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Schools of barracuda are occasionally sighted around wrecks during warmer months.
Sources & methodology
How we summarise this
We aggregate confirmed occurrence records from GBIF and OBIS within a fixed radius of each dive site. Occurrence records confirm presence and reveal seasonality clustering, but they DO NOT measure per-dive probability — there is no eligible-effort denominator. We deliberately do not publish a numeric '% chance of sighting' from this data.
Sources
- Global Biodiversity Information Facility — GBIF Secretariat
- Ocean Biodiversity Information System — IOC-UNESCO
- OBIS-SEAMAP — Duke University Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab / OBIS
- iNaturalist — California Academy of Sciences & National Geographic Society
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species — International Union for Conservation of Nature
- WoRMS — World Register of Marine Species — Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ)
- FishBase — FishBase Consortium
- Atlas of Living Australia — CSIRO / GBIF Australia
- REEF Volunteer Fish Survey — Reef Environmental Education Foundation
Conditions
| Month | Water | Visibility | Current |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 14–15 °C | 20–30 m | mild |
| Feb | 14–15 °C | 20–30 m | mild |
| Mar | 14–16 °C | 20–30 m | mild |
| Apr | 16–17 °C | 20–30 m | mild |
| May | 17–19 °C | 20–30 m | mild |
| Jun | 21–24 °C | 20–30 m | mild |
| Jul | 24–26 °C | 20–30 m | mild |
| Aug | 25–27 °C | 15–25 m | mild |
| Sep | 24–26 °C | 20–30 m | mild |
| Oct | 20–23 °C | 20–30 m | mild |
| Nov | 17–19 °C | 20–30 m | mild |
| Dec | 15–17 °C | 20–30 m | mild |
Season calendar
Peak season highlighted · current month outlined
Next step
Book your trip to Gozo
Hotels, liveaboards, dive operators, gear recommendations, and travel logistics for the whole region.
Plan your trip →Some links earn us a commission. Learn more