A Diving Master Plan for Gozo and Comino was presented to diving tourism stakeholders for consultation during a meeting today at the Ministry for Gozo.

Minister for Gozo Giovanna Debono said the Master Plan aims to give a holistic approach to diving, with room for potential growth for the benefit of Gozo's tourism industry.

A total of 57 dive sites have been identified through the Master Plan, 45 in Gozo and 12 in Comino. Of these, 21 can be accessed from shore. The Master Plan forms part of the European Union co-funded Niche Tourism Project for the island of Gozo.

The Niche Tourism Project for the Island of Gozo, with an investment of Lm 550.000 involved the scuttling of the vessels MV Karwela and MV Cominoland in August last year, as well as the setting up of a decompression chamber at the Gozo General Hospital.

Following the scuttling of the two vessels at ix-Xatt l-Ahmar in August 2006, the dive site has become one of the top three dive sites in Gozo. A marketing campaign through international magazines, a new website and a DVD, and the actual Master Plan also form part of the Niche Tourism Project.

Minister Debono announced that in the coming days the Ministry for Gozo will set up a Task Force to follow up on the measures identified and come up with an Action Plan to implement short-term, medium-term and long-term targets.

Following Minister Debono's introduction, Mr Adrian Mallia, who conducted the research and drew up the Master Plan on behalf of Adi Associates Environmental Consultants Ltd, gave a presentation about the study findings and recommendations.

There are presently 11 diving schools on Gozo and one diving school on Comino, from a total of 44 in the Maltese Islands.