The Maltese Islands
This was my personal favourite dive in Malta. Only a diver will appreciate these stats. A 57 minute long, 20m dive, 25m viz with a bottom temp of 25C. A cave and tunnel system to start, reef walls through the dive and a gentle drift back home, this dive has everything!
Ghar Lapsi is located in a small inlet among the high cliffs on the South Western face of Malta. A restaurant, car park, public convenience are located at road level. A charming bay naturally enclosed by an arm of rock is at the bottom of a steep hill but some 80+ steps and hand-rail lead down to the bay. Save some energy for the walk back up the steps with your kit.
A shore dive to a maximum depth of 20 meters, entry is possible by either a walk-in or roll-in off the small jetty into 3 meters of water. Once in the bay, it is possible to move out through the mouth towards the South or through a narrow channel at the North corner. The scenery beyond is mostly white sand with occasional rock outcrops. Taking a South-West course for about 150 meters gets you to a reef running parallel to the shoreline. The reef rises from a depth of 15 meters upto 5 meters. It is rich with overhangs hiding colourful sponges, coral and small fish.
In our dive briefing, Andrew our diveguide allocated our pairs and numbered us for the single-procession through the cave system at the beginning of the dive. I, for some reason was to take up the rear again. Our plan was to check everyone's air on exiting the cave system, depending on air consumption, if we were all over 150bar we would do the full reef before returning to the bay. On the dive we proceeded through the cave system and the rays of sunlight shone brightly through the shallow caves as we penetrated the system at only 4-6metres. I was last to exit the caves and they all had already checked their air and were all eager to see If I too was over 150bar so we could continue the dive. Well, I must have been on form that day as when I glanced down and read my gauge I was able to look-up and signal 190bar to the group. This lead to one of my all-time best dives (so far!!!). The reef was quite prolific in sealife and the time just eased away as we came back to the bay in 10m's on a gentle drift.
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Page last updated 13 Jan 99. Material Copyright © 1999