|
|
Dive No:
|
2
|
|
Dive Name:
|
L-Ahrax Tal-Mellieha
|
|
Attraction:
|
Drop-Off
|
|
Dive Type:
|
Boat Dive
|
|
Distance:
|
n/a
|
|
Depth:
|
35m
|
|
Sea Bed:
|
Rock & Singles
|
|
Visibility:
|
10m - 15m
|
|
Expertise:
|
3
|
Located at the Northeast tip of the Island, this dive is usually preferred as a boat dive, even though it can also be done as a shore dive - in such case beware of tar on the rocks.
The bottom is covered in posidonia starting with sand and gradually rocks with small holes and overhangs, home to octopus and cray-fish. Continuing on this course, will eventually bring you to the edge of a drop-off, down to a flat sandy bottom with large boulders. At around 35 metres of water, the wall is covered with colourful sponges.
Swimming along to the right takes you along a sheer steep rock wall. About 200 metres along the wall from the Northeastern tip of the Island, is a shallow entrance into an open arena of sheer rock face. Take advantage of this opportunity to surface and enjoy the spectacle around you, before setting back to where you started off.
An alternative route is to dive along the drop-off to the left and enjoy the marine life in crevices and overhangs. Seeing that the drop-off carries on for a good few hundred metres and also that this site is renown for strong currents, be sure to keep your air consumption and your return to the exit point in mind. The drop-off continues for several hundred metres, therefore it is important to leave enough time to navigate back to the entry point.
|
The ompot blenny is a classic resident of dark crevices. Blennis are always in contact with the sea floor and will swim in the open water only rarely and for extremely short distances.
One of the many cavities during the dive runs through the final portion of the route and leads to th emphitheatre. You should only use this passage when visibility is good.
Piles of rocks form tunnels, passageways and openings that make the dive varied and entertaining. The most characteristic passageway leads to a shallow amphitheatre in which you can surface.
|
