Dive sites (Malta): Rozi (part 1)

The tugboat Rozi was built in Bristol, England in 1958. She was launched as Rossmore and a decade later was sold and renamed Rossgarth. In 1972 she was sold to Mifsud Brothers (Malta Ship Towage) Ltd. She thus sailed from Liverpool to Malta to be registered. In 1981 she was sold to Tug Malta and her name was changed to Rozi. She operated in the Grand Harbour, Valetta.

Bream and damselfish pass in front of the funnel of the Rozi

Looking down the port side of the Rozi towards the bow

Doors and windows have been removed to facilitate penetration of the wheelhouse

In 1992 she was sold to Captain Morgan Cruises, the ubiquitous (at least in Malta) party boat and adventure company, and was scuttled off the northwest of Malta at Cirkewwa, where the car ferries travelling to and from Gozo dock. She was placed there as an attraction for tourists visiting the area in a small tourist submarine (with windows, obviously).

The beautiful Rozi is now lying intact except for her engines and propeller. She lies upright in about 34 metres of water. Nearby lies the wreck of the patrol boat called P29.

The wreck is very intact with railings, winch drums and walkways still present

Near the stern you can drop inside the wreck (big thermocline!) - to the left in this photo — Near the stern you can drop inside the wreck (big thermocline!) – to the left in this photo

The starboard side of the Rozi disappears into the blue

Start of a walkway down the port side of the Rozi

Tony swims away from the wreck (reluctantly)

Black sea bream (Spondylisoma cantharus) in front of two banded sea bream and saddle bream on the Rozi

There is a large car park specially for divers, where many branded vehicles filled with cylinders, wetsuits and other dive gear can be seen on a daily basis. To get in, we walked down a sloping walkway with a handrail. At the bottom of the walkway we donned our fins and stepped into Suzie’s Pool, a shallow (waist deep) area that leads out into the sea.

Entry point for the Rozi and P29 - Susie's Pool — Entry point for the Rozi and P29 – Susie’s Pool

Walkway down to Susie's Pool — Walkway down to Susie’s Pool

Shallow limestone reef outside Susie's Pool — Shallow limestone reef outside Susie’s Pool

This sand spit is the indication to turn offshore when navigating to the wreck

Swimming into Susie's Pool and towards the exit point — Swimming into Susie’s Pool and towards the exit point

Tony climbing out of the water (behind a water droplet)

As with all artificial reefs, the Rozi is rich with fish life. Tony and I always wonder how the fish manage to find the scuttled ships afterwards, but somehow they do!