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Blue Hole Malta (Gozo): Complete Guide

Blue Hole Malta (Gozo): Complete Guide

Olly Gaspar

By Olly Gaspar, full-time traveler for 6 years. I visit every place I write about & share real tips, photos, & advice from my trips.

Find out how to visit, swim, or dive at the magnificent natural rock formation and dive site on Gozo’s west coast.

The magical islands of Malta are well-renowned for their unique blue geological formations including the famous Blue Lagoon and Blue Grotto. But perhaps one of the most famous of these is Gozo’s iconic Blue Hole.

Just off the shores of San Lawrenz, visitors can discover this large underwater hole, which results in a sudden drop into a wide, upright tube of crystal clear water.

Due to the beautiful surrounding coral gardens and iconic underwater archway leading into the open sea, this formation has also earned its fame as Malta’s most famous scuba dive site.

Malta blue hole on the west coast of gozo island

What You Need to Know About the Gozo Blue Hole in Malta

The Blue Hole is a deep rock formation just meters from the shore near Dwejra Bay. It drops to a depth of 15 meters right from the shore and it's great for swimming and diving! Here's what you need to know.

  • The Gozo Blue Hole is an upright underwater tunnel carved out over thousands of years by the powerful natural sea and wind forces.
  • This site offers a sheltered entry directly from the shallow water shelf, passing some surrounding rocks and large boulders.
  • Descending 6 meters of depth, there is a large archway acting as an underwater doorway to the open sea. Additionally, the bottom of the hole contains a large cave that is popular with scuba divers.

While not as deep as some of the other famous blue hole dive sites like in Egypt or Belize, Gozo's Blue Hole is arguably a better dive site since unlike the others, which are essentially bottomless, you can explore the Maltese Blue Hole caves and swim through the archway as well.

Blue hole in malta

Where is Malta's Blue Hole?

You'll find the Blue Hole on Gozo's west coast in an area known as Dwejra Bay in San Lawrenz. This is a famous spot as it sits directly beneath the former Azure Window, which has now fallen to the sea. Just nearby, however, there is also another natural formation called the Inland Sea, also great for diving!

Below I've pinned the exact location to help you find it.

Map of the blue hole in malta

How to Get to the Blue Hole on Gozo

The best way to get around Malta and explore all the epic attractions is to rent your own car. This is exactly what we did and was the reason why we could explore so many of Gozo's attractions in a short amount of time.

If you're staying in the popular tourist hubs on the main island, then I recommend you rent a car there. I found that DiscoverCars has the largest range and best deals across car dealerships in Malta.

Of course, you'll need to get your car across to the island of Gozo. This is easy via the affordable and reliable Gozo Channel Ferry, with scheduled crossings every 45 minutes or so.

There is a large Public Parking area just near the Blue Hole, and getting here from the main ferry terminal in Mġarr Harbor will take roughly 20 minutes.

Alternatively, it's possible to reach this site via the frequent bus service on the 311 line bus, stopping at the Dwejra stop.

If you're planning on scuba diving in the Blue Hole, then the shop will likely arrange transport for you.

Dwejra bay malta
A nearby cove in the hamlet of Dwejra

Scuba Diving in the Malta Blue Hole

I was fortunate to dive in the Blue Hole with St Andrew's Divers Cove, who arranged all my gear and a guided dive with transport from the nearby Xlendi Bay.

After gearing up in the car park, we walked out onto the shallow-water shelf and hopped into the sheltered entry natural pool of the Blue Hole.

Immediately looking down, we were ecstatic to see the bottom sharply through the crystal clear waters. Descending down, we dropped all the way to the bottom of the hole, where we explored all the way to the back of the cave (15 meters). With a sandy bottom, the cave featured only some small marine life including sea urchins and colorful coral tubeworms.

Scuba diving at the remains of the azure window in malta

After this, we swam back out towards the beautiful archway, a window that leads to the open sea. Here, we continued to descend and explore the surrounding coral gardens and underwater rock debris from the former Azure Window.

We managed to spot some small groupers and other Mediterranean fish species before ascending and entering through the archway again into the walls of the hole. The exit point for the dive was back at the surface of the gorgeous Blue Hole where we had descended.

Tip: the edges of the above-water rock have sharp edges, so try not to scrape your arms or legs on them.

Scuba diving in the blue hole, gozo
Underwater arch at the Blue Hole dive site

Is the Blue Hole Worth it If I'm not Diving?

In my opinion, this natural underwater rock formation is best enjoyed below the surface! This means that you can also enjoy it if you are snorkeling or freediving.

However, due to the easy accessibility, I believe that everybody should go and check out the Blue Hole if you're planning to explore other attractions on Gozo's west coast, including the nearby inland sea.

In saying that, the Blue Hole is quite a spectacular site from above the water too! I highly recommend walking up the rocky coastal cliffs adjacent to the hole and admiring it from a birds-eye perspective.

The Gozo Blue Hole somewhat resembles an eye from above, a little like Croatia's famous Eye of the Earth. The surrounding scenery of small canyons, large boulders, and sharp rocks makes it a great place for photography as well.

Gozo blue hole in malta

Where to Stay on Gozo Island

Due to its small size and well-connected network of buses and roads, choosing the ideal location to stay in Gozo is less crucial than on the main island of Malta.

However, if you ask, locals will always tell you that to get the complete Gozitan experience, what's more important is picking a traditional boutique hotel over a luxury resort or modern hotel. You'll find many boutique hotels in Gozo dotted all over the island, from Nadur to Xlendi. Below are the 3 top picks.

Quaint boutique hotel nadur accommodation gozo

1. Quaint Boutique Hotel Boutique

Accommodation on Malta’s quieter sister island should reflect its more peaceful and traditional ambiance. This beautifully renovated boutique hotel is situated directly beside the Nadur Parish Church, with spacious balcony terraces looking over the town square.

Viewpoint boutique living hotel gozo

2. Viewpoint Boutique Living - Xlendi

This family-run boutique hotel dates back 300 years and is situated on a beautiful cliff overlooking the Xlendi Valley and the Mediterranean Sea. The location is ideal for couples looking to get away, with convenient access to the beach and just a short 2 km drive to the Citadella.

Quaint boutique hotel nadur accommodation gozo

3. Kempinski Hotel - San Lawrenz

For travelers preferring modern, 5-star luxury, the Kempinski Hotel is your best bet. This amazing hotel is located in San Lawrenz, on a 30,000m² tropical oasis. An excellent choice for larger groups and families as there are self-catering apartment options as well!

FAQs About the Blue Hole in Malta

How was the Blue Hole formed?

The Blue Hole is a natural feature formed by centuries of wave power, and years of wind energy. As wave surge and current pushes through the archway, it funnels up the upright shaft, slowly weathering through the softer rock to form this amazing natural phenomenon.

Is the Blue Hole worth it?

The Blue Hole in Malta is certainly worth exploring, especially if you are a scuba diver as this is one of the most beautiful dive sites of the Maltese Islands.

How deep is the Blue Hole?

The Blue Hole has an official depth of 15 meters but some sources claim 16 meters, likely due to tidal fluctuations.

Is this a dangerous dive site?

No, this is an entry-level dive site suitable for beginner divers and Open Water students. The hole and archway are both very large and the depths are quite shallow.

When is the best time to dive?

The best time to dive in the Maltese Islands is during the summertime, from June to September. This period has calmer seas, warmer sea temperatures, and less wind.

Is the Blue Hole the best dive site in Malta?

While it is undoubtedly spectacular, I believe that there are much better sites in Malta, including the El Faroud Oil Tanker and the accessible P31 Wreck.

Blue hole in malta

I hope that you've found this detailed guide to Malta's Blue Hole helpful in planning your adventures on the archipelago.

Check out the list below for more inspiration and travel guides to this beautiful slice of the Mediterranean.

Blue hole malta blog size
Thanks for Reading

I'm Olly Gaspar, adventure traveler from Australia. I’ve spent the last six years traveling the world full-time, sharing my first-hand experiences & photography in over 700 travel guides on We Seek Travel. I visit every destination I write about to bring you unique travel itineraries, epic hiking routes, fun tour ideas, travel & photography gear ideas, & interesting places to stay.

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