Cirkewwa
Encyclopedia
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
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It is the site of the Ċirkewwa Ferry Terminal, where regular car ferries operate to the port of Mġarr
Mġarr (Gozo)
Mġarr is town and harbour at the east end of Gozo, Malta.-History:The town of Mġarr grew up around the shallow harbour which shares its name. Ferry services to Malta were in operation by 1241, and fishing was already established...
on Gozo
Gozo
Gozo is a small island of the Maltese archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea. The island is part of the Southern European country of Malta; after the island of Malta itself, it is the second-largest island in the archipelago...
. In the summer, boat trips to Comino
Comino
Comino is an island of the Maltese archipelago between the islands of Malta and Gozo in the Mediterranean Sea, measuring in area. Named after the cumin seed that once flourished in the Maltese islands, Comino is noted for its tranquility and isolation. It has a permanent population of only four...
also operate, as well as organised diving excursions. As Ċirkewwa is a point on the northernmost end of the island, and not a town, there is no infrastructure besides the terminal. Construction of a new terminal at the site, costing around €12 million, was announced in May 2010.
Visitors travelling to Gozo can reach Ċirkewwa by car by following road signs to Gozo, and by bus from Valletta
Valletta
Valletta is the capital of Malta, colloquially known as Il-Belt in Maltese. It is located in the central-eastern portion of the island of Malta, and the historical city has a population of 6,098. The name "Valletta" is traditionally reserved for the historic walled citadel that serves as Malta's...
, Sliema
Sliema
Tas-Sliema is a city located on the northeast coast of Malta. It is a centre for shopping, restaurants and café life. Tas-Sliema is also a major commercial and residential area and houses several of Malta's most modern hotels. Tas-Sliema, which means 'peace, comfort', was once a quiet fishing...
, Buġibba
Bugibba
Buġibba [pronounced bu-jibb-buh] is a small town in Malta, situated adjacent to Qawra and forming part of the local council of St. Paul's Bay. With numerous hotels, restaurants, pubs, clubs, and a casino, it is a popular resort among tourists....
and St. Paul's Bay
St. Paul's Bay
Saint Paul's Bay is a town in Malta, situated in the north east of the island of Malta, sixteen kilometres from the capital city Valletta.Its name refers to the shipwreck of Saint Paul, as documented in the Acts of the Apostles, due to the tradition that Saint Paul was shipwrecked on the isles,...
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Near the harbour there is a hotel and a sandy beach, Paradise Bay.
Diving in Ċirkewwa
Ċirkewwa is one of the most visited scuba divingRecreational diving
Recreational diving or sport diving is a type of diving that uses SCUBA equipment for the purpose of leisure and enjoyment. In some diving circles, the term "recreational diving" is used in contradistinction to "technical diving", a more demanding aspect of the sport which requires greater levels...
sites on the Maltese Islands. It has underwater cliffs, caves, tunnels and an arch down to the seabed at 27 m. A short swim away is the wreck of the MV Rozi
MV Rozi
MV Rozi was a Bristol built tugboat launched in 1958 as the Rossmore by Charles Hill & Sons Ltd. In 1969 she was sold to Rea Towing Company and renamed Rossgarth...
, an old tugboat
Tugboat
A tugboat is a boat that maneuvers vessels by pushing or towing them. Tugs move vessels that either should not move themselves, such as ships in a crowded harbor or a narrow canal,or those that cannot move by themselves, such as barges, disabled ships, or oil platforms. Tugboats are powerful for...
sunk intentionally as an attraction for tourists aboard a tourist submarine that worked the area in early 1992. Out towards Marfa Point is a statue of the Madonna which was placed in a natural cavern by the Amphibians Diving Club.
The P29 Patrol Boat
P29 Patrol Boat
P29 Patrol Boat was a Kondor I Class former Minesweeper and Patrol Boat scuttled in August 2007 off Ċirkewwa. Built by Peenewerft shipyard as a Minesweeper for the East German Navy under the name Boltenhagen. She served with the Armed Forces of Malta as an offshore patrol boat for almost 10 years....
was scuttled off the coast at Ċirkewwa in 2007 as a diving attraction.
From the middle of 2010 divers have been cooperating to implement Cirkewwa as a Voluntary Marine Reserve. The site now has the support of the diving community which is working to gain the support of the fishing, angling and boating communities to implement a Ccod of Conduct to preserve and protect the site.