Utina Diving

Utina Diving is situated in Xlendi Bay on the southern coast of Gozo, Malta. The centre is positioned directly at the water's edge, making it a convenient base for exploring the Mediterranean's diverse underwater topography, from deep wrecks to intricate cave systems.

The centre focuses on a personalised approach to diving, prioritising small group sizes and allowing divers to stay down for as long as they are comfortable. Whether you are looking to complete your first certification or are an experienced diver seeking wreck penetration, the service is built around the specific needs of the individual.

Owned and operated by Aaron and Marion, the team consists of experienced divers who live on the island and provide local knowledge of the Gozo coastline. The centre is multilingual, with instruction and guidance available in English, French, German, Spanish, and Bulgarian.

Safety is the primary operational focus, with a strict ratio of no more than four divers per guide. This ensures that instructors can closely monitor buoyancy and gas management, particularly during more technical dives or when navigating through swim-throughs and tunnels.

Utina Diving offers a comprehensive range of PADI courses for every level of experience. Beginners can start with the Try Dive, Bubblemaker, or Scuba Diver programmes, progressing through to Open Water Diver and Advanced Open Water Diver.

For those looking to specialise, the curriculum includes Deep Diver, Wreck Diver, Enriched Air (Nitrox) Diver, and Peak Performance Buoyancy. More advanced training is available through the Divemaster programme, as well as specific skills courses like Diver Propulsion Vehicle (DPV) and Search and Recovery.

The centre provides a full range of professional equipment for hire, including modern BCDs from Aqualung and xDeep wings. Divers can kit up with high-quality regulators and wetsuits maintained to high standards.

Nitrox is available on-site for divers looking to extend their bottom time. For those visiting from further afield, the centre can also assist with organising local accommodation and airport transfers.

The rocky reefs and walls of Gozo are home to a variety of large pelagics and predatory fish. You may encounter schools of fish, including Jack (Carangidae), Amberjack (Seriola), and Tuna (Thunnus), alongside Great barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda) and Common dentex (Dentex dentex).

In the crevices of the reefs and around the wrecks, look for Groupers (Epinephelus), much larger Conger eel (Congridae), and various species of Moray eel (Muraenidae). Scorpionfish and weaverfish often hide amongst the rocks, while John Dory (Zeus faber) and much larger predators like dentex patrol the deeper sections.

Macro life and smaller creatures are abundant for those with an eye for detail. You can find Octopus (Octopus vulgaris), Cuttlefish (Sepiidae), and various species of Shrimp (Caridea) and Crab (Brachyura). Nudibranch (Chromodoris willani) and sea hares add splashes of colour to the seabed.

The underwater landscape is beautifully decorated with star coral, sponges (Porifera), and various corals. You will also see many small creatures such as Seahorse (Hippocampus kuda), sea squirts, and different types of crustaceans including Spiny lobster (Palinuridae) and slipper lobsters.

Diving in Gozo is best experienced between April and November, with the warmest conditions occurring from June to October. The local topography provides a variety of environments, from shallow bays to deep offshore wrecks.

While much of the diving is conducted around reefs and walls, divers should be aware of the different environments, such as the tunnels in the Inland Sea or the cave systems in the Blue Hole area.