Karwela Wreck: Dive sites of Gozo
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One of the main reasons Malta is such a popular place to dive is because of its abundant wrecks: of course, there is interesting wildlife, and the rock formations are a sight to behold, but the real gem of the dives in Malta is definitely its historical wrecks. There are many popular wrecks in Malta, but the Karwela, also called the MV Karwela is arguably one of the most popular (if not the most popular).
It is situated in Xatt L-Ahmar, on the southern coast of the Island of Gozo (one of the three islands of Malta). Xatt L-Ahmar is also called the Three Wrecks Because there are two other wrecks alongside the Karwela (the MV Cominoland and MV Xlendi). Although a fourth wreck was scuttled in 2022 a few hundred meters away from the three other wrecks, it is still called the three wrecks by the local divers.
Depth & requirements
All the wrecks in Gozo are quite deep and unsuitable for only Open Water certified divers.
The MV Karwela itself sits at a maximum depth of 42 meters, but going around or even peeking inside the wreck doesn't require anyone to go deeper than 39 meters, it is therefore required to be at least advanced, with a deep specialty allowing you to go down to 40 meters. If you want to stay on the wreck for more than 5 minutes, a Nitrox specialty is also strongly advised. Of course, Tec divers will also find their happiness, being able to stay and explore the wreck substantially longer.
Although the Wreck has multiple frequent clearly visible entry and exit points, you will still need to hold a wreck specialty to penetrate it, especially for the lower level, which is a bit more confined.
The Dive
The wreck itself is a wonder of diving, although you won't have a lot of time to explore it due to its depth if you are a recreational diver, that will only leave you wanting more. It is very photogenic, from the inside and the outside. Approaching it, you may notice a particularity: it is a partially wooden wreck, compared to the more "metallic" wrecks generally found in Malta.
Staircase
The Karwela is probably most famous for its photogenic stairs. It isn't unusual to find divers coming to Gozo for a single picture of them swimming down the stairs. Continuing, you will find another set of stairs behind the first one bringing you a level lower into the wreck. Opposite the second pair of stairs, you will also find the engine room. But to go inside this room, you will absolutely need a torch as it is pitch black. Expect a dive time of 45 minutes to 1 hour.
Wildlife
Although on the Wreck the amount of wildlife is quite limited, if you spend some time diving on the reef, you will be able to hover above fields of seagrass among schools of damselfish with the occasional grouper passing by. Other interesting wildlife include tunas and barracudas swimming out in the blue.
Hidden in the cracks and between the rocks of the reef and the reef's drop-off, you may find morays or even octopi. But the real reason to look for wildlife on the reef is seahorses: Yes! Xatt-l-Ahmar is one of the spots in Gozo and in Malta where you can find sea horses. However, you'll have to look carefully as they are quite small and shy, hiding among the moss and the grass.
Dive site
The dive can be done from a boat or shore. If you do it by boat, you will moor close to the wreck: although there is a buoy right on top of the Karwela during high season, its purpose is to show the location of the wreck, and boats are not allowed to anchor directly on the buoy or above the wreck (for safety purposes). However, you will then be able to simply surface swim to the buoy and descent, directly starting your dive on the wreck.
If you decide to dive from shore, you will need to take a car to Xatt-l-Ahmar, gear up, and then walk to some ladders to help you get down from the rocky shore to the water. Starting from shore will also allow you to see and explore the reef, giving you more time to search for seahorses.
How to find the MV Karwela from the shore
There is a sign in Xatt-l-Ahmar conveniently placed on the right side of the parking that shows the approximate position of each wreck, along with the bearing to follow on your compass to find each wreck. To find the Karwela, from the entry point, you should follow a bearing of 160° for approximately 4 minutes.
A good underwater landmark you can use to help yourself navigate is when the reef drops off: there is a crack in the wall commonly called the finger which you should encounter after swimming for 2 minutes. If you position yourself above the crack, you can swim straight into the blue (perpendicular to the reef) for another 2 minutes and you will encounter the wreck.
The Karwela
The MV Karwela was built in Germany in 1957 by the German shipbuilding company Meyer Werft, situated in Papenburg. She weighed around 495 tons (990,000 lbs!) and measured approximately 50 meters (164 feet). At that time, she sailed the sea under the name MV Frisia II as a leisure boat.
In 1981, she was sold to another German private entity and was renamed to MV Nordpaloma. We would have to wait until 1987 for Malta to acquire it: Bought by Mira Towage Ltd, a towing/boat company based in Malta, Nordpaloma was finally renamed to what we know her today: MV Karwela.
She would then undergo one last owner change in 1992, being sold to Comino Marine Ltd, operating for Captain Morgan Cruises as a ferry and leisure boat. In 2006, she was finally Scuttled at the same time as the MV Cominoland (alongside the MV Xlendi, which had already been there since 1999) in Xatt-l-Ahmar.
Today, the MV Karwela sits at a depth of 42 meters, one of the most famous wrecks of Malta, it waits for divers to come and explore it.