MV Xlendi
Type: Wreck
Max Depth: 40m
Average Depth: 30m
Dive time: 45 mins
Minimum certification: advanced
Difficulty: intermediate
The dive
The 80m long wreck is great for experienced divers to explore, what makes this unique is that the weight of the hull caused the ferry to spin upside-down, meaning the two propellers can be seen on top at either end at about 32m. Penetration is not recommended due to unstable condition of the wreck but there’s plenty of sea life around it to discover.
The history
The MV Xlendi was originally built in Denmark in 1955 and later served as a double-ended cargo ferry for the Gozo Channel Line between Malta and Gozo after being bought in 1990. After nearly a decade of service, she was decommissioned in 1997 and, following preparations, deliberately scuttled off Xatt l-Aħmar on 12 November 1999 to create an artificial reef and dive attraction. During the sinking the ship unfortunately flipped upside down on the sandy seabed, making penetration dives unsafe, but the wreck remains a popular deep dive site teeming with marine life.
