Diving tourism

Two more artificial dive sites have now been laid off Gozo. That is good news for the diving industry. The need for more wrecks off the island's coastline had long been felt and now Gozo can start to tap into the diving tourism industry more seriously.

Diving is a sport that attracts a substantial portion of international visitors annually. The Maltese Islands, and Gozo especially, are home to some of Europe's main diving spots with the Blue Hole in Dwejra among the top 10 best sites on the continent.

Although there are 10 diving shops across the island, the diving industry is not yet as popular and sought after as one may wish. Pointing fingers doesn't help, but still the industry could be bursting with activity all year round if tackled properly by both Government and those directly operating within it. Surely, as an industry, it has much more potential for growth and therefore Government's investment in this regard is mostly welcomed.

The sport is a year-round possibility with water temperature descending to 13 to 15°C during the peak of winter. With the clear water and the short distances that Gozo offers so that one can travel from end to end in no time, as well as the professional services of dive centres, the island can indeed become a year-round destination for diving tourism, certainly a niche that will contribute further to the island's tourism industry.

It was with a sigh of relief that Gozitans were told over a year ago by the Minister for Gozo that it was the ministry's plan to boost this industry through the creation of more artificial dive sites and through the introduction of a decompression chamber in Gozo.

While diving practitioners seek attractions, such as wrecks as well as natural reefs, caves and marine life, the safety issue remains a bone of contention, even for the more professional and experienced diver. Until now, divers who face decompression sickness while diving around Gozo are risking their lives as no such facility exists on the island, although a fast helicopter inter-island emergency service transports the patient to St Luke's Hospital in Malta in a matter of minutes.

Still, those few minutes may be tough on divers with decompression sickness and the availability of such a facility on Gozo will surely boost the package. Those who enjoy this sport keep safety issues as a topmost priority.

It is also being said that, besides the scuttling of two ferries and the setting up of a decompression chamber, Government is earmarking EU funds for a master plan for diving. It is indeed commendable that a critical analysis is carried out of the island's present facilities and suggestions made to improve Gozo's assets, especially in view of the ever-increasing competing destinations.

The Gozo diving schools have already contributed to the studies that are being carried out and it is hoped that the findings will be made public soon so that any joint efforts needed to continue improving this industry can be implemented.

The current efforts by the Ministry for Gozo and the Malta Tourism Authority to promote Gozo as a diving destination are also positive moves. Such exercises certainly help to create the much-needed awareness about Gozo as a diving destination.

Word of mouth always remains the best marketing tool, yet promotion in specific international markets - especially where the MTA or a Malta embassy is stationed as well as through specialised fairs - will surely help to obtain even better results for Gozo's diving industry.