Readers’ favourite Anchorages of the World. Showcasing your favourite anchorages.
Dwejra Bay
From Jeremy, Ocean Sailor reader from the UK
Location: Dwejra Bay, Gozo, Malta
Coordinates: 36°2.81’N 14°11.48’E
Seabed: Good holding in sand
Protection: Very well protected anchorage from all sides
Even if you have not heard of Dwejra Bay before, I am certain you have seen pictures of it or seen it in movies. This picturesque and safe anchorage is located on the western coastline of Gozo, a small island northwest of Malta. Although there are many famous anchorages in and around Malta such as the Blue Lagoon, Dwejra Bay is far quieter and offers a perfect spot to drop the hook overnight. There is no beach in the bay but the impressive rock formations such as Fungus Rock are a sight to behold.
The anchorage itself is within a very well protected horseshoe bay with only two small entrances on either side of Fungus Rock. The depths are fairly consistent at around 10m (32ft) and there is good holding. For me, it is one of the most memorable anchorages in the whole of the Mediterranean.
Just to the north of the bay is the famous, but unfortunately now collapsed Azure Window. It was a magnificent natural arch that collapsed during storms in 2017 after years of erosion. For those that love to dive, Dwejra Bay is a great staging point for some noteworthy dive sites such as the Blue Hole, one of the most famous on the island. This naturally circular limestone sinkhole is protected by a small ridge of rocks, allowing divers to enter the water safely even when the wind picks up. The maximum depth of the site is 15m (49 feet) and a stunning underwater window leads to open water.
Divers can also visit the Azure Reef and Coral Garden dives nearby but one of the most memorable is diving the inland sea. This semi-shallow lagoon is connected to the sea by an 80m (260ft) long tunnel. The depth of the tunnel at the inland sea end is about 3m (10ft) but descends down to 26m (85ft) at the sea end. A very unique dive and another where the rock formations make up for the lack of sea life.
To find out more about sailing in Malta,
click here to check out this extensive article by Dini Martinez
