36°01.062' N 014°17.310' E
36°01'4" N 014°17'19" E
Hephaestus is an oil tanker that was scuttled to Xatt l-Ahmar on 29.8.2022 as an underwater attraction. This is a a shore/boat dive for experienced divers. Togo-registered Hephaestus is about 60 m in length with a beam of 8 m.
Hephaestus was wrecked at Qawra Point on 10th February 2018. The ship was anchored near the area known as Is-Sikka l-Bajda approximately 3 km from the coast when she started dragging anchor in a heavy storm and drifted directly towards the shore. An hour later at around 6:15 in the morning Hephaestus run into the rocks. The oil tanker was carrying no cargo, and the crew of seven was unharmed.
Six months later on 15th August 2018, after necessary temporary repairs, Hephaestus was pulled off the rocks by two tugboats and towed to Marsa shipyard. The severely damaged ship is too costly to repair, and will therefore be either scuttled as a diving wreck or sold as scrap.
There are already three popular diving wrecks in Gozo located in Xatt l-Ahmar on the south east coast: Karwela, Cominoland and Xlendi.
More info about Hephaestus dive site
Wrecksite.eu - M/S Hephaestus
Times of Malta: Tanker wrecked in Qawra could become Gozo diving attraction (17th October 2019)
Safety investigation into the grounding of the Togo registered oil tanker Hephaestus
Comments and Ratings
★★★★★ It is possible to reach the buoy and the lifeline by swimming - The wreck does not present any particular difficulty - It is in good condition - The visit to the holds is done in complete darkness, a light is necessary
★★★☆☆ Nice wreck worth diving. Especially nice dive if combined with other attractions in the area. A bit too far from shore if diving OC with no scooters - plan for a boat dive.
Short url here: https://maltadives.com/7921