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Scuba diver navigating through a colorful coral reef in deep ocean waters.
📷 Francesco Ungaro · Pexels

Xatt l-Aħmar Reef

3.9 — based on 16 community signals
4.3 12 species 37 contributors

Xatt l-Aħmar Reef is a year-round Maltese dive site with active species observations and community video documentation.

⭐ Best for beginners.

updated 4 months ago
Difficulty
Beginner
Shore entryFamily-friendlyBeginner

At a glance

Activity
dive
Difficulty
beginner
Best months
Year-round
Marine life
Great barracuda

Top operators here

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Map

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Xatt l-Aħmar Reef location map © Google · Map data © Google, contributors
Open in Google Maps

Conditions today

Conditions

Open-Meteo
Wind
2.2 kn
Wave
0.38 m
Water
28.3°C
N E S W
Wind direction (7d)
Primary: ESE (25%)
Now: SSE (153°)
Tide (7 days)
range: 0.25m

Today: High 02:00 (-0.38m), Low 06:00 (-0.39m)

+-0.3 m-0.6 m
▲ 02:00 · -0.38m ▼ 06:00 · -0.39m ▲ 07:00 · -0.38m ▼ 12:00 · -0.39m Now -0.4m
Sat 19Sun 20Mon 21Tue 22Wed 23Thu 24Fri 25
UV5.8 · mod Air PM2.56 · good 06:48 19:04
Day Wind Wave UV Rain
09-19 7 0.42 6 5mm
09-20 6.4 0.42 6 6mm
09-21 5.9 0.2 7 0mm
09-22 8.5 0.42 7 0mm
09-23 10.7 0.92 7 0mm
09-24 9.1 0.62 5 4mm
09-25 10.4 0.34 4 1mm

About this spot

Xatt l-Aħmar Reef sits off Malta's coast as an accessible year-round dive destination. The site draws divers looking to explore a reef environment with documented marine life activity. With 12 recorded species observations and 3 community videos available, you'll find current firsthand accounts from other divers who've explored this location. The reef offers a straightforward dive experience suitable for explorers interested in Mediterranean reef ecology. Malta's position in the central Mediterranean makes it a logical base for reef diving, and Xatt l-Aħmar fits into a broader network of accessible sites. The presence of community-generated content means you can preview conditions and wildlife before you dive. Access to this site is straightforward—it's not located within a marine protected area, which simplifies logistics. Year-round divability means you aren't locked into seasonal windows. Before you go, check the latest species observations and video updates from the diving community to confirm current conditions and what marine life is active.

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

Best months

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

Marine life

Great barracuda

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 · 48%
  • GPS
Sustainability disclosures
🌍 CO2 footprint LHR ↔ 2078km · ~478kg · €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

Can I dive Xatt l-Aħmar Reef year-round?

Yes. Xatt l-Aħmar Reef is diveable throughout the year, so seasonal timing isn't a constraint on your trip planning.

What marine life can I expect to see?

The site has 12 recorded species observations. Check the latest community videos and species logs before your dive to see what's currently active.

Is this site in a marine protected area?

No, Xatt l-Aħmar Reef is not inside an MPA, which means fewer access restrictions.

How do I plan a dive here?

Review the 3 available community videos and species observations to understand conditions. Then arrange access through a local operator based in Malta.

Operators near this spot

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

Blue Waters Dive Cove

3.6 km
Dive centre

Nautic Team Gozo

6.4 km
Dive centre

Ritual Dive

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

Dwejra Divers

9.5 km
Dive centre

Scuba Life Malta

9.7 km
Dive centre

Extra Divers Gozo

1.3 km
Dive centre

Recently spotted by divers

iNaturalist →

See this spot in action

YouTube videos — click to play.

Diving the wreck of the MV Cominoland, Xatt l-Ahmar, Gozo, Malta

robert o'connor

Malta Diving: Xatt l-Ahmar (MV Cominoland & MV Karwela)

JulianDocumentary

Diving in Malta - MV Karwela - Xatt l-Ahmar

Diving in Malta

Local knowledge

OpenStreetMap Notes
  • "Is this path still accessible by bike? We have some reports from the RouteYou community that it is not accessible anymore."

    Kevin@RouteYou · 2026-04-22
  • "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
wind peaks Jan-Mar-Dec, calmest Aug-Jul-Jun, dry Jan-Dec.

5-year monthly climate

60 samples
0 5 10 15 20 25 JFMAMJJASOND
p25–p75 range Median Wind (kn) Air (°C)

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