The Newbie

Hephaestus is an oil tanker that was scuttled in Xatt l-Ahmar on August 29, 2022, to serve as an underwater attraction. This dive site is accessible from both the shore and by boat, but it is recommended for experienced divers. The Togo-registered Hephaestus measures approximately 60 meters in length and has a beam of 8 meters.

On February 10, 2018, the Hephaestus ship ran aground at Qawra Point. It had been anchored near Is-Sikka l-Bajda, around 3 kilometers from the coast. In the early morning, during a severe storm, the ship started to drag anchor and drifted towards the shore. About an hour later, the Hephaestus collided with the rocks. Thankfully, the oil tanker was empty, and all seven crew members remained unharmed.

After undergoing the required repairs, approximately six months later, the Hephaestus was successfully pulled off the rocks by two tugboats and towed to the Marsa shipyard. However, due to the extensive damage, repairing the vessel proved to be prohibitively expensive. Consequently, the decision was made to scuttle it as a diving wreck, adding to the existing wrecks in Gozo, namely Karwela, Cominoland, and Xlendi.

Difficulty level: min Deep

Max depth: 42 m