Dive Review of Atlantis Diving in
Mediterranean/Malta - Gozo

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Atlantis Diving: "First time diving in Med", Oct, 2021, by Garry Wade Klein, GA, US ( Reviewer 3 reports with 1 Helpful vote). Report 11673 has 1 Helpful vote.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations	N/A	Food	N/A
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity
Dive Operation		Shore Diving
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	This was my first dive trip to the Mediterranean and before going I knew that it was not going to be like my other tropical diving trips in terms of fish life and coral. Comparing Malta, Gozo specifically, with other tropical diving destinations is like comparing apples to oranges. You do not go to Malta for fish and coral. The dives are oriented to geological sites, caverns, and wreck sites. Although there are corals, they are very small and of limited types. Fish life also is very limited. The largest groups of fish are chromis (damsels), blennies, and sculpins. Butterfly fish, parrots, eels, and jacks are also seen but not in great numbers. However, multiple octopus are seen on every dive and cuttlefish are regularly seen. I did see one seahorse and one electric ray but no other rays or sharks. Because of the strong north and west winds, diving was limited to the south side of Gozo during this trip. The dives, except one dive, were shore dives. Gozo is still worth diving for the topography and the wrecks. I was extremely happy with Atlantis Diving. They are a large, well run and very professional shop. The staff are very competent and helpful. However, the way diving is done in Gozo is very different than where I have been elsewhere in the world. Generally, if going on guided dives, only two dives are done a day. You meet at the shop around 8:15 a.m. Pack you gear in a milk crate, check the posted list for what trunk to put you gear on and then load you gear on the truck. The list also tells you who your DM/Instructor will be. Assignments to groups are based upon skill level, language spoken, and guests’ requests. When everybody’s gear is loaded, you are then transported to the dive site in the trucks or mini vans. OW students and Intro divers are sent to appropriate sites and other experienced divers go to other sites. At the sites, you gear up and then make the trek for the shore entry. This may be a short walk to the water or the entry may be down many steps or over rocky terrain. The Atlantis Diving staff were very accommodating to me. Because arthritic feet, I often needed help with the shore entries involving algae covered rocks. I much preferred the entries where you jump off the ledge into deep water. Dives were generally 60-70 minutes. In the groups I was assigned, the dives were planned for going deep and often involved going into deco for 5-10 minutes before shallowing up to clear the deco. I was asked if this was acceptable to me before being assigned to a group. After the first dive, you change into dry clothes before being transported back to the shop for a lunch break. Be aware that dive sites may not have bathrooms and changing into dry clothes involves using a towel for modesty. Then back to the shop at 12: 50 p.m. to reload for the second dive. After the second dive, you clean you gear in the available rinse bins and then hang up you gear in the organized shop space so it is ready for the next day. Even with just two dives, you dive day is not over until 4:00 p.m. As indicated, I was very impressed with the Atlantis Diving staff and the shop’s organization. It should be noted that I was the only American and only person diving psi, imperial, and with a yoke regulator during my stay. I brought my own gear but the shop’s gear looked to be in very good shape. Their regs are DIN and instead of integrated weights, belts are used. You have an option of three tank sizes including a 15 liter. All tanks are steel and weights are in kilos. Nitrox is available for an extra fee. Atlantis Diving also arranged for my transfer in the airport on Malta, to the ferry, and then to my hotel on Gozo. I also used them for my room arrangements and a tour of the island. I was pleased with everything. None]
Websites	Atlantis Diving
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	Over 1000 dives
Where else diving	Caribbean, Florida, Fiji, Philippines, Indonesia, Micronesia, Egypt, Maldives, Cocos Island, Azores
Closest Airport	Malta	Getting There	Traveled thru Rome from Atlanta
Dive Conditions
Weather		Seas
Water Temp	70-78°F / 21-26°C	Wetsuit Thickness
Water Visibility	50-60 Ft/ 15-18 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	?
Enforced diving restrictions	You had the option of selecting guides or unguided dives
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	yes
What I Saw
Sharks	None	Mantas	None
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	None	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter	N/A	Boat Facilities	N/A
Overall rating for UWP's	N/A	Shore Facilities	N/A
UW Photo Comments	[None]

Report currently has 1 Helpful vote

Subscriber's Comments

By Gareth Richards in Loveland, FR at May 09, 2023 16:37 EST

Very helpful with all the detail. Thanks! Wetsuit thickness? looked chilly :)

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Dive Review of Atlantis Diving in Mediterranean/Malta - Gozo

Atlantis Diving: "First time diving in Med", Oct, 2021,

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subscriber's Comments

Dive Review of Atlantis Diving in
Mediterranean/Malta - Gozo