Gozo diving - Family friendly?

Keelworm <trash@REMOVETHECAPSgoldingweb.co.uk> wrote in message news:<cd84hv$psb$1@hercules.btinternet.com>...
> Eddie wrote:
>
> > Looking to going to Gozo next Easter with my family. Wife x 1, daughters
> > x 2, sons in law x 2, grandsons x 4 (all under 4. Grandsons that is!) I
> > will be the only diver all the rest are looking for a friendly hotel where
> > they can chill out.
> >
> > Anyone know of such a hotel which is reasonably cheap with dive shop
> > nearby
> > or attached???? Any info on the transfer from airport to Gozo as well???
> >
> > Eddie
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
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> <fx: de-lurks>
>
> Marsalforn was pretty nice, but personally I preferred Xlendi as a place to
> stay. As others have said, jeep is essential, (infact most car-hire places
> wont hire divers regular cars). Also, there are plenty of private villas
> with pools (ideal for rinsing out your kit... but dont tell the land-lords)
> at reasonable prices.
>
> We used Moby-Dives out there for re-fills/weights etc, and they were a
> pretty professional bunch. (except dive cards took an age to arrive back in
> the UK...)
>
> Found that you also needed to pay a local doctor to issue a dive medical
> certificate, since they didn't accept my Padi self cert, or the in-laws
> BSAC self cert. Think it was 5 maltese pounds for the medical.
>
> Excellent diving though, some good wrecks etc.
>
> dont miss Mgarr ix-Xini, San Blas and Dwejra. Which are wonderful dives and
> generally less visited by the dive centre busloads, remaining quiet even in
> high season. By the same token, avoid inland sea and blue hole (except
> early mornings) in high season as the vast numbers of other divers there
> totally spoils what would be a magnificent dive.

The blue hole *IS* a great dive (I've done it in the morning when
there are fewer divers). At easter it isn't too bad - although a
little chilly. If I could find a buddy instead of relying on a dive
centre (who don't always know the skill level of their divers), I'd
love to do it at night. (That's not to say I have a great level of
skill - I've done more than 5 dives though!).

A medical is no longer required for most people (they recently changed
the law). (You can also get Nitrox which was previously restricted for
legal reasons).

Mgarr ix-Xini is great. LOADS of life and shallow enough that you can
stay there all day if you want to.

Xlendi is OK, but for a family I'd go with Marsalforn (without one
then Nadur is spectacular).

If you have a buddy, you'll need a jeep to get to dive sites.
Otherwise, a dive centre has to deal with that chaos. Other than that,
I'd suggest you use buses and taxis as driving in Gozo can be a
little... ... ... different.
And the buses are great.

Apartments are insanely well priced in Gozo. They tend to be of
excellent quality - two bedroom apartments right on the sea front with
a wonderful view - very well equipped etc cost about 15 maltese /
night.
Without the view you can get them for about 4
Totally nuts!
3 appartments on the same floor of the same place and you're sorted.

In Easter, you'll sometimes be limited in the diving you can do by
what the weather is doing - you can almost always get a dive in, but
you won't be able to dive on a specific site on a specific day. And if
you're doing it on your own be sure to check with a dive centre where
abouts you can dive (and even then you've sometimes got to be a little
cautious).

Alun Harford