MV Xlendi Gozo Diving | Xatt l-Ahmar Wreck

Access to MV Xlendi

MV Xlendi can be reached from the shore or by boat. The detailed shore-dive guide shows entry and exit points at Xatt l-Ahmar, while another guide notes that the site can be treated as a boat dive and that experienced divers may reach it from Xatt l-Ahmar in good conditions, potentially using a diver propulsion vehicle.

The wreck is the westernmost of the main Xatt l-Ahmar wrecks. It can be combined with the surrounding reef as a multilevel dive, but the depth of the wreck means that it should not be approached as a routine shallow shore dive.

The History of MV Xlendi

The detailed guide records that the ferry was built in 1955 at Helsingør Værft in Elsinore, Denmark. It began its ferry career as the Helsingør, was renamed Royal Sheeba in 1987 and Borgshorn in 1988. She was bought by the Gozo Channel Company in 1990 and renamed MV Xlendi.

The ferry was a roll-on/roll-off vessel with propellers at both ends. One of the guides gives her dimensions as approximately 80 metres long, 12 metres beam and 23 metres high, with a gross tonnage of 1,123 tonnes. Another guide gives a length of about 77 metres, so the published guide figures are not completely consistent.

After the ferry stopped operating in 1997, it was handed over for use as a diving attraction and artificial reef. She was scuttled off Xatt l-Ahmar in November 1999. During the sinking, wind pushed her away from the selected position and she struck the reef before landing upside down on sand at approximately 42 metres.

The Upside-Down Wreck

The unusual position of MV Xlendi is what makes the site immediately recognisable. The ferry lies inverted, with the hull uppermost and the former deck and superstructure crushed beneath it. The guide notes that the upper structure collapsed after the sinking and that the hull has continued to deteriorate under the weight of the engines and other structure.

The two propellers are particularly useful reference points. The shore-dive route places one at approximately 35 metres and the other at around 36 metres. The route then continues along the length of the hull towards the cargo doors at around 40 metres.

Suggested Shore Dive Route

The detailed guide gives two possible entry points. From entry A, divers head on a bearing of approximately 200° towards the edge of the reef. From entry C, the recommended heading is approximately 180°; C is described as preferable because it is closer to the wreck and can conserve some air.

After entering, the route remains shallow while following the reef for approximately 3–4 minutes. On the sand below, divers encounter a large concrete block with a rope. The guide places the first Xlendi propeller roughly 15 metres from this block, at around 35 metres.

From the first propeller, follow the hull to the second propeller at about 36 metres, then continue towards the cargo doors at approximately 40 metres. The guide says that doubling back with the reef on the left and passing the nearby car takes approximately 15–20 minutes.

When leaving the wreck, the guide recommends doing so from the western end, where the sandy slope leading back towards the reef is closer. Ascend the reef to the required depth and then follow it eastwards. As the plateau narrows, the reef drops away on the right and the route approaches the headland and a broad area of shallower water around 6 metres or less. Exit points E2 and E3 are nearby.

The Reef Around MV Xlendi

MV Xlendi should not be viewed as a wreck-only dive. The route is built around the reef and its shallow plateau, allowing the dive to become progressively shallower after the deep wreck section. The guide map shows the wreck surrounded by sandy seabed, rocky reef, Posidonia and scattered boulders.

This multilevel character is one reason the site can provide a substantial dive even after the deep portion is completed. The surrounding reef also provides an opportunity to observe marine life away from the hull while ascending.

Marine Life

The wreck has become an artificial reef and supports abundant marine life. The guides show and mention damselfish, red mullet, moray eels, barracuda and amberjacks, with marine life surrounding the hull and reef. The wreck's rough, encrusted surfaces provide shelter and feeding habitat.

The nearby reef, boulders and seagrass add further habitats to the dive. The guide specifically notes amberjacks and barracuda hunting around the rocks on the ascent from the wreck.

Depth and Dive Profile

Modern references list MV Xlendi at approximately 30 metres average depth and 45 metres maximum, with the wreck resting around 42 metres. The guide's detailed route reaches approximately 40 metres at the cargo doors, with the two propellers around 35–36 metres.

The shore-dive guide states a minimum dive time of 45 minutes. Actual time depends heavily on the planned depth, gas supply, decompression requirements, current, experience and the amount of time spent on the wreck and surrounding reef.

This is an experienced/deep wreck dive. The depth alone makes appropriate deep-diving training and planning essential, and the unstable upside-down wreck must not be entered.

Why the MV Xlendi Is Different

Photography at MV Xlendi

The wreck's unusual upside-down position, large propellers, long hull and surrounding marine life make it a strong wide-angle photography site. The guide photographs show divers alongside the propellers and hull, while the reef provides shallower subjects during the ascent.