MV Karwela

MV Karwela is a popular diving wreck located off the south-eastern coast of Gozo, at Xatt l-Ahmar. This former Captain Morgan Cruises passenger ferry was scuttled in August 2006 to serve as an artificial reef for scuba divers. The wreck is approximately 50 m long and rests upright on a sandy bottom, with a maximum depth of around 40 m. The wreck is safe to explore due to various openings made before scuttling, and divers can explore its three decks, including a photogenic staircase leading to the lower deck. The wreck is approximately 80 m south from the dive’s entry point and about 40 m from the drop-off. It is the middle one of the three wrecks in Xatt l-Ahmar, between Cominoland and Xlendi.

Built in West Germany in 1957, MV Karwela was originally named M/S Frisia II and was designed to carry up to 863 passengers. It was renamed to MV Nordpaloma in 1977 and came to Malta in 1986, where it was renamed to MV Karwela. The ferry was purchased by Captain Morgan Cruises in 1992 and served as a tourist ferry until it was decommissioned in 2002. The Gozo Tourism Association scuttled MV Karwela on 12th August 2006, along with MV Cominoland. The wreck is usually dived from the shore but can also be accessed by boat. The dive site is suitable for beginners, with a light current and maximum visibility of approximately 45 m. Divers can expect to see various marine life at this wreck dive site.