MT Hephaestus
MT Hephaestus, Xatt l-Ahmar, Gozo, Malta
Depth: 32m (avg), 42m (max)
Level: Technical
Overview:
MT Hephaestus is an oil tanker scuttled on 29 August 2022 to serve as a new underwater attraction off Xatt l-Ahmar. Registered in Togo and measuring around 60m in length with an 8m beam, this wreck offers an exciting shore or boat dive experience tailored for seasoned divers.
History & Background:
- Service History: Hephaestus met her fate on the 10th February 2018 at Qawra Point. While anchored near the area known as Is-Sikka l-Bajda, approximately 3km from the coast, the tanker began dragging anchor during a heavy storm. About an hour later, at around 6:15 in the morning, she ran into the rocks. The ship was empty at the time and, fortunately, her crew of seven was unharmed. After temporary repairs, Hephaestus was pulled off the rocks on 15 August 2018 by two tugboats and towed to Marsa Shipyard. Due to the extensive damage and high repair costs, the decision was eventually made to scuttle her as a diving wreck rather than attempt full restoration.
- Scuttling: The MT Hephaestus, a 60-meter oil tanker, was intentionally sunk off Gozo’s Xatt l-Ahmar coast on August 29, 2022, to create an artificial reef and diving site.
Wreck Details:
- Dimensions: Approximately 60m long with a beam of 8m.
- Depth: The wreck’s depth ranges from approximately 35 meters at the shallowest point to 47 meters at the deepest.
- Position: Hephaestus now rests upright on the seabed. Situated off Xatt l-Ahmar, she joins other popular wrecks in the area, complementing the underwater attractions at Gozo.
Dive Highlights:
- Accessibility: Accessible via shore or boat, without DPVs, it can take approximately 20 minutes to reach it from shore and navigating less than 10 meters deep.
- Wreck Features: The wreck remains largely intact, featuring an accessible engine room, main deck, superstructure, bridge, and crew quarters.
- Marine Life: Schools of damselfish, cardinalfish, and rainbow wrasse are commonly seen around the wreck, while moray eels, scorpionfish, and octopuses find shelter in its crevices. The deck and superstructure are gradually being colonized by soft corals, red sponges, and fireworms, adding color to the wreck. Larger species such as barracudas, amberjacks, and groupers occasionally pass by, particularly in deeper sections. The sandy seabed surrounding the wreck may also reveal stingrays, sea urchins, and starfish.
Why Visit?
Adding a modern twist to the historic wrecks at Xatt l-Ahmar such as MV Karwela, MV Cominoland, and MV Xlendi MT Hephaestus provides divers with a fresh and dramatic site. Her unique history, marked by a heavy storm and subsequent scuttling, ensures that each dive is both an adventure and an exploration of Malta’s evolving maritime landscape.
