Gozo gets thumbs up as diving destination

Nearly every foreign diver who explored Gozo’s waters this summer would recommend it to friends and relatives as a diving destination, according to a survey results.

The Gozo Tourism Association’s survey found that 99 per cent of foreigners would recommend the island for diving.

The Blue Hole in Dwejra was ranked as the favourite dive site in Gozo by 30 per cent of tourists.

The next most popular were Reqqa Point off Xwejni, Mġarr ix-Xini, the Double Arches also off Xwejni, the Inland Sea in Dwejra and Comino Caves. Other favourites included Xlendi, San Dimitri and Ix-Xatt l-Aħmar.

This survey found that nearly three quarters of divers booked their trip to Gozo over the internet while a quarter opted to book through a tour operator.

Four in 10 chose Gozo as a destination after it was recommended by someone else while a quarter of them said internet surfing influenced their choice.

The majority of divers were English followed by Germans and French, and most stayed in rental apartments.

As many as one quarter stayed in Gozo for more than 14 nights while more than half spent between nine and 14 nights on the island.

There were very few complaints about dive centres: the vast majority found their service and facilities good or very good.

However, several divers recommended the installation of public toilets, better road access and improved parking facilities on the island.