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Inland Sea, small lake size inland sea

Malta

Connected to the Mediterranean only by a cave

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Inland Sea page Contents

The Inland Sea Description

The Inland Sea Location

Boat Trips from the Inland Sea

Diving and Snorkelling - Inland Sea

The Inland Sea Description

The Inland Sea is a small sea lake connected to the open Mediterranian Sea by a natural cave that forms narrow straight tunnel through the cliffs. The tunnel is wide enough to allow the passage of small boats. It is thought that the Inland Sea started life as a tunnel leading to a colossal sea cave and then the roof of the cave collapsed.

Most of the buildings are boat houses with a few fishermens dwellings.  There is also a small bar that sells snacks drinks and ice cream.

Photograph Inland sea 1713

Photograph Inland sea, boat houses watch tower, taken from a returning boat exiting the cave

The Inland Sea Location

Near Dwejra Point & Bay, Gozo's West Coast

 Dwejra Point area and Inland sea

View from the road as you descend towards Dwejra Point area and Inland sea. Photo centre between the green vegetation circle &coast.

You can see the top of the Azure Window, and just make out the small section of the blue of the Inland Sea near the buildings. The Azure Window has collaped into the sea

Inland sea

View from the road as you descend towards the Inland sea and the cave leading to the open Mediterranean Sea.

  • The Inland Sea is located near Dwejra Point and Dwejra bay, Gozo
  • Take the San Lawrenz road out of  Victoria.  Pass through San Lawrenz and continue to the coast.
  • As the road descend towards the coast good views of, from left to right, Fungus rock, the Inland Sea and the Azure Window are visible.
  • The road ends in a large car park.
  • There are several attractions that can be visited from this Car park, all within a few minutes walk. As you face the sea in the car park the Inland Sea is located on the righ, slighty behind you.

Photograph Inland sea, divers, Dwejra Watch Tower top left & small cafe extreme right.

Boat Trips from the Inland Sea

In calm weather the local fishermen take boat trips through the tunnel to view:

  • The caves and dramatic cliffs on the open sea side
  • The Azur Window now in ruins
  • Fungus rock

Boat Trips More Information

Boat Trips from the Inland Sea

Diving and Snorkelling - Inland Sea

This is considered the best dive site in Malta by the majority of divers and some say the best in the world.

Video of Diving the Cave between Inland Sea & the Open Sea


Photograph of Inland sea, and a group of divers on the jetty. The dark cave in the photo centre boat houses.

Divers near the surface must keep the side wall, away from the frequent Boat trips that go through this 105 metre long cave.

The water in the inland sea is shallow and many small fish can be seen. This site is very popular with scuba divers because they can easily swim through the cave to the sea. The cave has shear walls that are undercut most of the way, ie. the cave becomes wider as you descend.

Scuba Divers about to enter the water. 

They will normally snorkle across the Inland Sea the either Snorkle through the cave or submerge at the inner entrace to the cave, 6 metres dropping quickly to 15 metres, deepening to 25 metres half way through where the water rapidly increases in depth to around 50 metres under the cliffs on the open sea side.

Divers Wet suits drying on 2 vechiles. Wet suits provide insolation and are needed because the water temperature at depth is far colder than on the surface.

Photographs Inland sea and 4 divers finishing there kitting up against a jetty. Boat houses can be seen in the left background. One of the boat houses, just off the photo has been converted into a bar and cafe

Enter the water to the left of the jetties, snorkel across the inland sea keeping left of the boat traffic, Dive at the at cave entrance and enter the tunnel, torches are an asset, the light adding colour, but your eyes soon become accustomed to the dark.  As you approach the open sea end, you will see the absolutly amazing blue colour of the water, the colour is hightened by the light of the open sea and the darkness of the cave.The depth of the cave at the open sea side is about 25-30 metres and the sea bed 50 metres. You eventually gain access to the rock cliff walls on the Mediterranian Sea side.  Because of the rocky naure of the area the sea is crystal clear and the surface can easyly be seen from the sea bed at the foot of the vertical cliffs at a depth of arround 50 metres. It is essencial to frequently look at your depth meter as some areas are 60 metres or deeper, the flat sandy sea bed slowly get deeper as you leave the base of the cliffs.

I have seen large rays cruising along the coast in this area.  The large bolders at the foot of the cliffs are home to large groupers but they quickly disappear at the sight of divers.

For divers the main area of interest is in the piles of rocks at the base of the cliffs.  Decompression can be carried out swimming back to the cave and through the cave maintaining the correct depth on the cliff face, a good time to examine all the nooks and crannies.

You can either

  • Dive from and return to the Inland Sea
  • Dive from the Inland Sea turn left at the outer side of the tunnel and continue round to the Blue hole around 440 metres from the outer side of the cave.Obtain advice from the local dive schools for recommended depths and the time for this dive.

The shallow waters of the Inland Sea with a rock and pebble bottom is ideal for snorkelling, of course snorkellers and swimmers should stay clear of the area between the jetties and the cave, because of the constant flow of boats

The visibility in the inland Sea normally excellent drops to zero after heavy rain and the fine silt is carred out into the cave.

Dwejra Point and Dwejra Bay Attractions

Because the rocks are very uneven and have sharp edges we recommend strong shoes or boots if you wish to walk on the rocks

Attractions on or near Route to Dwejra Point and Dwejra Bay

  • San Lawrenz  Bus 311 & 312
  • Gharb Bus 312
  • Ta'Pinu  Bus 312

Transport - Buses

Buses to Dwejra


  • 311 Victoria to Dwejra

Buses go to the Car Park that serves Dwejra Point, Dwejra Bay, views of Fungus Rock, Inland Sea, Boat trips from Inland Sea

City Hop on Sightseeing bus

More information Gozo Sightseeing bus

Dwejra is on the Purple route

Other top spots to visit on this route Xlendi resort  Ta' Pinu Basilica near, Gharb, Victoria Attractions,