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Silhouette of two scuba divers sharing a moment underwater in a bright blue ocean scene.
📷 Markos Torpillas · Pexels

Big Bear-Little Bear

3.8 — based on 15 community signals
4.4 12 species 44 contributors

Big Bear-Little Bear offers year-round diving near Fungus Rock in Gozo, Malta, with 12 recorded species and accessible conditions.

⭐ Best for beginners.

updated 4 months ago
Difficulty
Beginner
Family-friendlyPhotoFriendly

At a glance

Activity
dive
Difficulty
beginner
Best months
Year-round

Top operators here

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Map

This spot Operators Airport Nearby spots
Big Bear-Little Bear location map © Google · Map data © Google, contributors
Open in Google Maps

Conditions today

Conditions

Open-Meteo
Wind
3.5 kn
Wave
0.32 m
Water
28.3°C
N E S W
Wind direction (7d)
Primary: ESE (25%)
Now: SSW (199°)
Tide (7 days)
range: 0.25m

Next: High at 02:00 (-0.38m)

+-0.3 m-0.6 m
▲ 02:00 · -0.38m ▼ 11:00 · -0.39m ▼ 19:00 · -0.43m ▲ 00:00 · -0.41m
Sat 19Sun 20Mon 21Tue 22Wed 23Thu 24Fri 25
UV3.35 · mod Air PM2.56 · good 06:48 19:04
Day Wind Wave UV Rain
09-19 6.7 0.34 3 3mm
09-20 4.7 0.38 5 7mm
09-21 5.9 0.34 7 0mm
09-22 7.1 0.22 7 0mm
09-23 9.3 0.26 7 4mm
09-24 9.1 0.4 6 4mm
09-25 10.4 0.4 6 1mm

About this spot

Big Bear-Little Bear sits near Fungus Rock, a distinctive small islet off Gozo in Malta. The site draws divers seeking variety throughout the year, with stable conditions that make it accessible to different skill levels. The area supports diverse marine life documented across 12 species observations, giving you reliable opportunities to encounter local fauna. Community videos from the site show what to expect when you descend. Malta's position in the central Mediterranean makes this region a natural hub for diving year-round. Big Bear-Little Bear benefits from Gozo's reputation as a dive destination, with relatively easy logistics for reaching the site. The waters around Fungus Rock hold historical and geological interest alongside their marine value. While specific depth and visibility data aren't standardized for this spot, the site's popularity suggests manageable conditions. Local knowledge matters here—checking recent diver reports and connecting with regional dive operators before your trip ensures you get current water conditions and the best seasonal windows. The 12 species records available give you a baseline for what inhabits the area.

📖 Guide: Diving in Malta: 40 Sites, Wrecks & Caves Year-Round

Best months

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Dive types

ReefShore

Trip essentials

Everything you need before you pack — checklist, sun, logistics.

Trip checklist

  • 🛂 Visa-free or visa-on-arrival
  • 📜 C-card + dive insurance (DAN)
  • 📔 Dive logbook
  • 🧴 Reef-safe sunscreen SPF 50+
  • 🔌 Plug type G · 230V adapter
  • 💊 Seasickness meds + ear drops
  • 📱 Offline maps + emergency contact

Quick facts

  • 🌓 Moon First quarter · 47%
  • GPS
Sustainability disclosures
🌍 CO2 footprint LHR ↔ 2071km · ~476kg · €9

From your departure country

United States
Origin score: 77/100
  • Visa: Visa-free · 90 days max
  • Flight: 7h · direct
  • Jet-lag: 6h east · 4 days recovery

FAQ

When is the best time to dive Big Bear-Little Bear?

The site is diveable year-round, so you can plan a trip based on your schedule and other factors like weather and swell. Checking recent community reports before you go helps you hit peak conditions.

What marine life will I see?

Twelve species have been documented at the site. Community videos and recent diver logs give the most current info on what's active during your visit.

Do I need permits or special access?

The site is not within a Marine Protected Area, which generally means straightforward access. Check local regulations in Gozo and Malta before diving.

What's the depth and visibility?

Depth and average visibility data aren't available in standard records for this spot. Contact local dive operators in Gozo or review recent diver reports for current conditions.

Operators near this spot

Dive centres, kite & surf schools within 10 km, sourced from OpenStreetMap.

Dwejra Divers

0.3 km
Dive centre

Ritual Dive

3.5 km
Dive centre
Hours: Mo-Su 08:00-18:00

Nautic Team Gozo

6.7 km
Dive centre

Utina Diving College

3.5 km
Dive centre
Hours: Mo-Su 08:00-17:00

Saint Andrew's Divers Cove

3.6 km
Dive centre

Recently spotted by divers

iNaturalist →

See this spot in action

YouTube videos — click to play.

Scuba Diving: Friendly Remora in Malta - Aug 2019

Rachel

100 dive below White Bear Lake in world record attempt

WCCO - CBS Minnesota

Great white shark swims into cage

smackme1

Local knowledge

OpenStreetMap Notes
  • "This is the staring point of the stairs. The are discussed on the POI on the other (wrong) side of the bay."

    Stephan Lengauer · 2026-03-15
  • "Extremely steep and dangerous descent towards the beach here coming from the Gozo coastal trail. There is no path and the indicated stairs are at the wrong location. Please revise."

    HenrydeVries · 2023-11-11
  • "Dieser Weg existiert nicht. Es sieht nach einer aufgelassenen Baustelle aus, der der Weg zum Opfer gefallen ist."

    Stephan Lengauer · 2026-03-12
  • "Ta’ Marżiena temple ruins quite hidden away amongst carob and prickly pear trees. The remaining slabs suggest that it would have had a five-apse structure within the enclosing wall. It is thought that this temple dates to the Ggantija and Tarxien temples."

    Luka_P · 2025-07-01
  • "Forwarding anonymous report from #Mapycz user, please verify: Theres Klettern Wied ta M´garr"

    Pan Perníček · 2024-01-19
wind peaks Jan-Mar-Dec, calmest Aug-Jun-Jul, dry Jan-Dec.

5-year monthly climate

60 samples
0 5 10 15 20 25 JFMAMJJASOND
p25–p75 range Median Wind (kn) Air (°C)
Visibility (month-by-month)
Best: Aug (100/100) Worst: Jan (0/100) Now: Sep (100/100) NOAA MODIS Aqua · 5y mean

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