We lost the review copy of this slim booklet after photographing the cover, and when the author Richard Salter sent us a replacement copy he wrote: “That’s what’s happening here in Gozo – they’re disappearing!”
I like to think he was referring to rapid sales, rather than implying that anyone here had half-inched a copy, because we’re really not that desperate.
But I can well imagine that 20 Shore Diving Maps Of Gozo would go down well with the British clubs and groups that enjoy hiring 4x4s to go self-diving around this Maltese island.
The booklet is A5 landscape format, and has 52 pages. The writing style is haphazard, as if the author was given a too-tight deadline to do the job. However, you won’t be paying your seven quid for fine prose, but for sound navigation advice from a well-informed local diving instructor.
If he does the job for you here, of course, you won’t need his personal guiding services.
The slightly amateurish graphic style of the maps is very attractive, and the important thing is that they appear meticulous in their detail. Highlighting depths and landmarks, when used alongside the descriptions they should serve visiting divers well.
I’ve dived many of these sites, and despite once being in a party that managed to lose its way on a night dive in slot-shaped Mgarr Ix-Xini – a feat you’d think virtually impossible when looking at the map – I recognised many familiar features as I looked through the book.
All the popular dive-sites are here – Xlendi Bay, the Inland Sea, the Blue Hole and Chimney, Reqqa Point, Xwejni Bay, the wrecks at Xatt L-Marr and other Scrabble-score locations. There is also some useful supplementary information at the back.
Review by Steve Weinman
Rich Publications
www.facebook.com/ GozoShoreDiveGuide
Softback, 52pp, £6.95
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