Dive Atlas of the World. Jack Jackson

wall has created a sheltered entry site for divers, who drop down and exit under a huge archway. There is a cave at the bottom left-hand corner near the archway which is home to some interesting tubeworms and anthias. The wall leading to the western headland is vertical and sea horses are found here. Further towards the corner, a thin fissure leads up to a colourful, narrow chimney.

      21 CORAL CAVE

      Entry is by taking a giant stride off the fossilized rocky shoreline, directly over this semicircular cavern, which has a sandy bottom 30m (100ft) below. Breathtaking in scale, the walls are covered in delicate hydroids and bryozoans that resemble true corals. Framed by fish, the vertical wall to the right (or north) eventually leads you around to the top side of the Chimney, then on to the Blue Hole, where the best exit is.

      22 CROCODILE ROCK

      A shallow platform of ancient seabed separates Crocodile Rock from Dwejra Point, and this is where a dive boat can anchor safely in 7m (23ft). Reminiscent of Shark Reef in the Red Sea, it is a natural amphitheatre with near-vertical sides. It drops away below you and the dive is conducted around the outer wall, where large shoals of Salema or Saupe are always encountered. This site is also known for its grouper, but then you must dive fairly deep to see them.

      Streaked Gurnard (Trigloporus lastoviza) occur on most sandy areas, often coming close to shore in search of food.

      23 DAWRA TAS-SANAP

      Just around the corner from Xlendi Bay, and only done as a boat dive, this site features a huge natural arch with encrusted boulders at its base. On the southern wall there is a large cavern in 18m (60ft). Follow the vertical wall on your left to a sheltered bay where nudibranchs and spiny lobsters are to be found.

      24 MGARR IX-XINI

      This is another safe and easy shore dive, with access directly from the shore in front of the car park. The sandy seabed is popular with photographers seeking Flying Gurnards, flounders and cuttlefish. The wall on the right leads to the entry point at Ta’ Cenc, and there are a number of caves on the way.

      COMINO

      Once a pirate’s haven, Comino is dominated by a square tower built in 1618 to protect the Comino channel from raiders. The smallest inhabited island in the archipelago at 3 sq km (1 sq mile), it lies midway between Malta and Gozo. The Blue Lagoon here gets hundreds of snorkelling and diving visitors whenever sea conditions allow the crossing.

      26 ELEPHANT ROCK (SANTA MARIA CAVE)

      This is a large cave and cavern system that runs more than 30m (100ft) through the headland to connect with another cave. At this junction a shaft opens to the sky, increasing the pleasure of the dive. The site is popular with fish-feeders and the fish are friendly.

      27 COMINOTTO CAVE

      Often blown out due to the surge, which has created an interesting cavern with a chimney at the far end, this cave has walls pockmarked by small sea urchins, snails and corals. There is a lot of sea grass at the entrance, and cuttlefish are common.

      28 LIGHTHOUSE REEF

      To the southwest of the island, a small navigational light marks one of its best dive sites. A chimney drops through the reef from 6m (20ft) to 18m (60ft) and big boulders have created numerous swim-throughs. The dive boat anchors on the old limestone shelf next to the chimney entrance. The sides are rather rough, because of the ancient skeletons of tubeworms and corals, so care should be taken. On exiting the cave at the bottom of the reef, groupers and numerous wrasse can be seen among the boulders. Large sea stars are everywhere and sea horses have also been found here.

      Known as the Sea Rose, the colourful algae Peyssonnelia squamaria prefers low light and is found at cave entrances.

      It is only in the female stage that the Mediterranean Parrotfish (Sparisoma cretense) displays such colourful markings.