- Accessible with: Shore
- Depth: 25-35 Metres
Billinghurst Cave is located in a tight corner of Gozo’s north coast, past the Xwejni salt pans and west of Reqqa Point beneath the village of Żebbuġ. Stretching nearly 100 meters, it is one of Gozo’s longest caverns and not suitable for novice divers. The cave is round, dips in the middle, bends slightly left, and has an airlock at the far end. With minimal light penetration, the inner part is dark. Divers can admire the cave’s immense size and stunning silhouette view of the exit without venturing all the way in. The sides of Billinghurst Cave are adorned with colorful sponges and corallites
The Billinghurst Cave Dive
Billinghurst Cave, situated near Reqqa Point, is a challenging dive site for those with advanced diver training or higher, renowned for its impressive 35-meter deep cavern. The entrance, nestled at the base of a reef wall at 24 meters, leads into a 50-meter-long cave with the option to surface at the end. Known by various names like Booming Cave, Railway Tunnel, and Ghar ix-Xih, this site boasts high popularity among experienced divers. Accessible through a giant stride entry, the cave’s unique features, including curves and boulders, create an immersive cave dive experience. The cave’s popularity lies in its initial 20/25 meters, where divers may lose sight of the entrance due to the intricate underwater terrain. Full-length exploration requires consideration of a stage cylinder and careful management of underwater time.Dive Highlights
After swimming for about 60 m into the cave over a bottom of fine sand and shingle, several loose boulders form an upward slope leading to the second massive cave where we can surface in a large air pocket enclosed in rock. The ceiling of this cave is about 5 m above the water level while the furthest walls are approximately 35 m away. The sight of the blue open water with the sun shining through from the outer reef on the way out of this cavern is very impressive. Exiting the cave can be done through a ladder or via Reqqa Point, with the entrance presenting a stunning ‘Blue Window’ view from within the cavern. Billinghurst Cave is not for the faint-hearted, suitable only for very experienced divers. Accessible via a rocky and sharp path, this site demands caution during entry.Billinghurst Cave Aquatic Life
The underwater world within Billinghurst Cave reveals lots of the best marine life in Gozo, including Mahi Mahi fish, majestic Eagle Rays and the Slipper Lobster. You’ll also encounter dusky grouper, Tube anemones, Mediterranean Morays, Diaphorodoris papillata Nudibranch, yellow cluster anemone, and the majestic noble pen shell. For those seeking a challenging dive in Malta’s crystal-clear waters, Billinghurst Cave promises an unforgettable underwater adventure.
