About Ċirkewwa Bay
Ċirkewwa is the rocky point at Malta's northern tip, where the ferries leave for Gozo. The swimming and diving area is on the low limestone shore beside the terminal and the hotel on the headland, looking out over deep, very clear water towards Comino and Gozo. There is no sand at the point itself: you get in from rock shelves and steps.
It is best known as Malta's busiest shore dive site, with reef walls, an arch, caves, a statue of the Madonna and two scuttled wrecks within a short swim of the shore. Snorkellers and confident swimmers come for the same visibility. If you want a beach with sand, Paradise Bay is just around the corner to the south.
What Ċirkewwa Bay is like
The shore is flat, pitted limestone that drops into deep water within a few metres. Several entry points with steps and railings have been built for divers, and there is a shallow, sheltered rocky plateau, known to divers as Susie's Pool, where courses practise skills. Beyond it the reef wall falls away steeply, with Posidonia seagrass meadows and plenty of fish.
It is not a quiet spot. The ferry terminal, car parks and dive groups are all close by, and on summer weekends you will be sharing the rocks with divers kitting up. The view across to Comino and Gozo is the compensation, as is water clear enough to see the bottom from the surface.
When to go to Ċirkewwa Bay
The point is exposed to the north, so northerly, north-easterly and north-westerly winds make it rough, and westerlies can make it choppy. It is best in easterly, south-easterly, southerly or south-westerly winds. Because the north-westerly is Malta's most common wind, many days are livelier here than the sheltered bays further south.
June to September is the main season for swimmers. Divers use the site all year, and weekends are the busiest days. Weekday mornings are quieter, and the clearest water usually comes after a few days of settled weather.
Swimming and safety at Ċirkewwa Bay
Use the built steps and railings to get in and out rather than climbing down the rock, which is sharp and slippery near the water. The water is deep right off the edge and there is no shallow area, so this is for confident swimmers only. Keep children well back from the edge.
Watch out for divers surfacing near the entry points, and stay clear of the ferry route and the harbour. Boats are not allowed to stop or anchor over the wrecks, but they do pass close by, so a brightly coloured cap or a tow float is sensible if you snorkel any distance from the shore. Don't swim here when waves are breaking over the rocks, as getting back out becomes difficult.
Diving and snorkelling at Ċirkewwa Bay
The area has been managed as a marine park since 2019, with zoning to protect its seagrass and reefs. The main dives are the arch, with a swim-through at about 12 metres; the Madonna statue, set in a small cave along the reef wall; and two wrecks sunk on purpose as artificial reefs, the tug Rozi in 1992 and the patrol boat P29 in 2007, both lying at around 30 to 36 metres.
Snorkellers can follow the reef edge near the entry points and look down the wall, and the shallow plateau is good for a first look. For something calmer, the small rocky inlet near the terminal known as Ċirkewwa Hole is more sheltered, and Paradise Bay, a short walk south, has sand and sunbeds.
Food and facilities at Ċirkewwa Bay
The hotel on the headland runs a lido with sunbeds, umbrellas, food and drinks, and there are dive centres at the shore that can arrange equipment and guided dives. The ferry terminal has toilets and a café. There are no public showers on the rocks, and very little shade, so bring water and sun protection. Boat trips to Comino and Gozo leave from here in summer.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a sandy beach at Ċirkewwa?
Not at the point itself, which is rocky. The nearest sandy beach is Paradise Bay, just south of the Ċirkewwa peninsula, reached by steps.
How do I get to Ċirkewwa by bus?
Routes 41 and 42 from Valletta, 101 from Mġarr, 221 from Buġibba and 222 from Sliema all go to the Ċirkewwa terminus.
Can you snorkel at Ċirkewwa?
Yes, the water is deep and clear with reefs close to shore. It is also a very busy dive site, so watch out for divers coming in and out.
What wrecks are at Ċirkewwa?
Two vessels were sunk on purpose as dive sites: the tug Rozi in 1992 and the patrol boat P29 in 2007. Both lie at around 30 to 36 metres, so they are for qualified divers.
Is Ċirkewwa good for beginner divers?
Yes. There is a shallow, sheltered plateau by the shore used for training, and the entry points have steps and railings. The deeper wrecks and wall are for more experienced divers.
Can you take a boat to Comino from Ċirkewwa?
Yes. In summer, boat trips and ferries to Comino leave from Ċirkewwa, as well as the car ferry to Gozo.
