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Ras il-Hobz · Gozo

West Reef

The deeper, moodier flank of Ras il-Hobz, looking out towards Fessej Rock. The ground tips over into a proper slope past 30 metres, which is why technical classes queue up for it.

Advanced🧱 Wall20 to 30 mShore access: easyPopularity: mediumAlso called Ras il-Hobz west side, Tal-Fessej, West, Ras il-Hobz
Plan this dive

Sea conditions

93

Excellent right now

Flat, sheltered and calm

Forecast for the site, updated 01:45 AM

Waves
0.3 m
from SE
Wind
n/a
Swell
0.2 m
5 s period
Sea temp
29 °C

Next 7 days

Today🌤️71 0.5 m
0 N
Sat🌤️79 0.4 m
0 N
Sun🌤️84 0.3 m
0 N
Mon🌤️96 0.2 m
0 N
Tue🌤️88 0.4 m
0 N
Wed🌤️100 0.6 m
0 N
Thu🌤️100 0.6 m
0 N

Exposed to wind and swell from: S (180°), SW (225°), W (270°). Tucked out of the prevailing north westerly, so it is diveable on most summer days. A southerly or south westerly puts swell onto the entry rocks and should be taken seriously here because the ground drops away quickly just offshore. Best season: June to October for warmth and visibility, though calm winter days can give the sharpest water of the year..

The dive

Turn right instead of left at the bottom of the headland and the character of the dive changes completely. The western side of Ras il-Hobz does not mess about: a shallow shelf for the first stone's throw, then a shoulder, then a slope that keeps tilting until it is running away from you into the dark. Recreational divers get a fine 25 to 30 metre wall dive out of it. Everybody else gets a shore accessible training ground that goes as deep as anyone sensibly needs.

The name Tal-Fessej comes from the view. Out to the south west, a couple of hundred metres offshore, the black tooth of Fessej Rock breaks the surface, and this is the side of the headland that faces it. Boat groups occasionally link the two, though for shore divers the rock is a long way to swim and not worth the effort.

On the reef itself, look for the overhangs. The steeper the rock, the better the crevices, and this side has plenty: moray, octopus, the odd grouper sulking under a ledge, and enough sponge and false coral to keep the colours going once the light starts to thin out past 25 metres. There is also a handy shallow reef at around 5 metres on this side of the point, which most guides use as a deco and safety stop garden.

As with the east reef, be aware there is not much written specifically about this flank. Most published material treats it as part of the wider Ras il-Hobz plan.

  • Deep water from the shore without a long swim
  • Overhangs and ledges that hold grouper and moray
  • Shallow 5 m reef right at the exit for unhurried stops
  • Views out to Fessej Rock on the surface swim

Typical plan

Enter on the western rock, drop straight down the shoulder and follow the slope out to your planned depth, 25 to 30 metres for a recreational dive. Work back along the contour rather than straight up, hunting the ledges on the way, then finish on the 5 metre reef beside the exit for a generous safety stop. Thirty five to forty five minutes on a 12 litre; nitrox 32 is the sensible default and anything past 35 metres wants twin cylinders and a proper decompression plan.

What the bottom looks like

0224460m🤿12345220 m from entry
  1. 1Shallow reef used for safety and deco stops5 m deep · 20 m out
  2. 2Boulder field with overhangs13 m deep · 60 m out
  3. 3Steep section of the western flank25 m deep · 105 m out
  4. 4Slope tipping over towards technical depths34 m deep · 150 m out
  5. 5Deep sand and rubble below the wall60 m deep · 220 m out
Cartoon cross-section along the usual route from Rock shelf on the western side of the Ras il-Hobz headland. Depths are approximate.

Steep coralline limestone with boulder debris and overhangs, giving way to coarse sand well below sport depths.

Who you might meet

Getting in and staying safe

Park on the Ras il-Hobz headland and walk down to the western side of the point. Entry is off flat rock, generally a controlled step or slide rather than a giant stride, and you come out the same way. No ladder and no facilities, so bring water and wear boots. The shallow reef at 5 metres just off this entry is the natural place to run a long safety stop before the climb out.

  • Slope runs well past recreational limits with no natural stopping point
  • Narcosis and gas planning on the deeper section
  • Sharp rock entry and exit without a ladder
  • Reduced light and cooler water below 25 m
  • Open water ascent, carry an SMB
  • Boat traffic between the headland and Fessej Rock

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Further reading: Atlantis Gozo Diving site guide · New Dimension Scuba dive site notes · Calypso Sub Aqua Club site notes · Divers Guide site data