Marine life

Spotted in the clear Mediterranean waters around Gozo, this bizarre anglerfish isn’t what most people imagine when they think “deep-sea fish”! Unlike its deep-ocean cousins, this species is a coastal ambush predator that hides in sandy or rocky bottoms waiting for food to come close.

Bearded fireworm - a conspicuous and increasingly common polychaete worm found around Gozo on rocky reefs, rubble, and mixed seabeds, from shallow waters down to around 40–50 metres. Large individuals can exceed 30 cm in length. The body is segmented and brightly coloured, typically greyish-green to bluish, with vivid red and white tufts of bristles along the sides.

Brown meagre - a shy and locally common species found around Gozo, particularly along rocky reefs, steep walls, caves, and overhangs. It inhabits coastal waters from shallow depths down to around 100 metres, usually favouring darker, sheltered areas. Medium to large in size, it typically reaches 40–60 cm in length, with larger individuals occasionally exceeding this.

Cerianthus membranaceus - a large tube-dwelling anemone found around Gozo on sandy or muddy seabeds, often at the base of rocky walls or near cave and cavern entrances, typically from 10 to 80 metres depth. When fully extended, it can reach 30–40 cm in diameter, with tentacles stretching far beyond the opening of its tube.

One of the most intelligent and charismatic inhabitants of the Mediterranean, common cuttlefish, commonly encountered around Gozo on sandy and seagrass bottoms, as well as near reefs. A master of camouflage, it can change colour, pattern, and skin texture in a fraction of a second to blend perfectly with its surroundings or to communicate with other cuttlefish.

Common octopus - one of the most intelligent and adaptable animals in the Mediterranean, commonly found around Gozo on rocky reefs, seagrass meadows, and mixed seabeds, typically at depths of 1 to 50 metres. Solitary and highly observant, the common octopus spends much of its time hidden in dens, using rocks, shells, or debris to partially block the entrance.

A bottom-dwelling common stingray commonly found around Gozo on sandy and muddy seabeds, often near rocky reefs and seagrass edges, from shallow coastal waters down to 50 metres and deeper. Medium to large in size, it can reach up to 140 cm in total length, with a disc width of around 70–80 cm in large adults.

Dusky grouper - one of the most iconic and recognisable fish of the Mediterranean, commonly found around Gozo on rocky reefs, drop-offs, and boulder fields, typically at depths of 5 to 50 metres. Slow-moving and powerful, the dusky grouper is a true ambush predator, spending much of its time resting near caves or crevices before striking prey with a short burst of speed.

A very common edible sea urchin found around Gozo on rocky reefs, boulders, and mixed rocky–sandy habitats, from the surface down to around 50 metres. It is one of the most familiar echinoderms in the Mediterranean. The test usually reaches 5–7 cm in diameter, with relatively short, fine spines, often showing pale or whitish tips.

A striking and unmistakable flying gurnard commonly found around Gozo on sandy and mixed seabeds, typically at depths of 5 to 100 metres. It is often seen resting motionless on the bottom, relying on camouflage until disturbed. Despite its name, the flying gurnard does not truly fly — its oversized pectoral fins are used mainly for display and defence, unfolding suddenly to intimidate predators or competitors.

A large and distinctive fried egg jellyfish commonly seen around Gozo during the warmer months, drifting calmly in open water, usually between the surface and 20 metres depth. Despite its size, it moves slowly and peacefully, pulsing gently as it follows currents in bays and along coastal areas.

A common Mediterranean hermit crab frequently seen around Gozo, living on sandy, rocky, and mixed seabeds from shallow waters down to deeper zones. Mostly nocturnal, it spends the night actively searching for food, feeding on detritus, algae, and small organic remains, playing an important role as a natural cleaner of the seabed.

Johnston's sand star is a small sand-dwelling starfish commonly found around Gozo on sandy and muddy seabeds, from shallow waters down to around 100 metres. It prefers open, soft substrates where it can move freely across the surface or partially bury itself. Adults typically reach 8–15 cm in diameter, making it significantly smaller than the Mediterranean sand star (Astropecten aranciacus).

Mauve stinger is one of the most recognisable jellyfish in the Mediterranean, commonly encountered around Gozo drifting freely in the water column, from the surface down to deeper layers. Its pink to violet, spotted bell and long trailing tentacles make it easy to identify, even in low visibility. This species is entirely pelagic, spending its whole life cycle in open water rather than attaching to the seabed.

Mediterranean fan worm is a large and conspicuous tube-dwelling polychaete commonly found around Gozo on rocky reefs, walls, wrecks, and artificial structures. It inhabits shallow coastal waters down to around 50–60 metres. This is one of the largest fan worms in the Mediterranean, with the feather crown reaching 15–30 cm in diameter.

Mediterranean moray - a powerful and secretive predator commonly found around Gozo on rocky reefs, caves, and crevices, typically at depths of 5 to 50 metres. Most of its body remains hidden inside holes during the day, with only the head visible as it surveys its surroundings. The frequent opening and closing of the mouth is not a threat display, but a way of pumping water over the gills.

Mediterranean slipper lobster - a large and powerful crustacean found around Gozo on rocky reefs, inside caves, caverns, and deep crevices, typically at depths of 5 to 100 metres. One of the biggest decapods in the Mediterranean, it commonly reaches 30–40 cm, with large individuals growing even bigger.

A graceful, semi-transparent narval shrimp commonly found around Gozo on rocky reefs, where it is most often encountered inside caves, caverns, and deep overhangs, usually at depths of 15 to 60 metres. Slender in appearance, it typically reaches 6–9 cm in length. Its translucent body and distinctive blue marking on the head make it instantly recognisable in torch light during night dives.

Protula tubularia - a sessile polychaete, commonly referred to as a tubeworm, found around Gozo on rocky reefs, inside crevices and shaded overhangs, from shallow water down to around 50 metres. The rigid calcareous tube can reach up to 10–15 cm in length, while the delicate feather-like crown extends several centimetres beyond the opening.

Ocean sunfish (Mola mola) is a rare but iconic pelagic species occasionally encountered around Gozo, usually near steep drop-offs, offshore reefs, or in blue water close to the coast. It inhabits surface waters down to great depths, often migrating vertically through the water column. The ocean sunfish is the heaviest bony fish in the world, with adults commonly measuring 1.5–2 metres in length and weighing hundreds of kilograms.

Red mullet - a common benthic fish found around Gozo, typically on sandy, muddy, or detritus-covered seabeds, often near rocky reefs and seagrass edges. It inhabits coastal waters from shallow depths down to around 200 metres. Medium-sized, it usually reaches 20–30 cm in length, with a slender, elongated body and a uniform reddish to pinkish coloration.

Red sea star is a striking and easily recognisable starfish commonly found around Gozo on rocky reefs and algae-covered substrates, typically at depths of 1 to 40 metres. Medium-sized, it usually reaches 20–30 cm across, with some individuals growing slightly larger. Its colour can vary from deep red to intense pink or magenta, depending on the individual, habitat, and lighting conditions underwater, which can make some specimens appear distinctly purple-pink in situ.

The salema porgy, also known as the dreamfish, salema, cow bream, karnteen, salpa, saupe, strepie or goldline is a very common and easily recognisable Mediterranean fish, frequently seen around Gozo swimming in schools over rocky reefs, seagrass meadows, and mixed seabeds, typically at depths of 1 to 30 metres. Calm and curious, salema often approach divers closely, especially where food is abundant.

A delicate sea gooseberry - a comb jelly belonging to the order Cydippida, commonly found in the Mediterranean, including the waters around Gozo, where it drifts silently in the water column, most often observed at night. Its transparent, oval body is crossed by rows of shimmering cilia used for locomotion, producing subtle rainbow-like reflections as it moves.

A discreet and slow-moving short-snouted seahorse found around Gozo among algae-covered rocks, seagrass meadows, and other sheltered coastal habitats, typically at depths of 1 to 20 metres. Small in size, it usually reaches 12–15 cm, making it one of the more compact seahorse species in the Mediterranean.

Small red scorpionfish - a perfectly camouflaged ambush predator commonly found around Gozo on rocky reefs, boulder fields, and algae-covered seabeds, typically at depths of 5 to 40 metres. Small and compact, it usually reaches 15–20 cm in length, with exceptional individuals growing up to around 30 cm, making it noticeably smaller than its larger relative Scorpaena scrofa.

A bottom-dwelling streaked gurnard commonly encountered around Gozo on sandy and mixed seabeds, often near rocky reefs and drop-offs. It inhabits coastal waters from shallow depths down to around 150 metres. Medium-sized, it usually grows to 30–40 cm in length, with a broad, armoured head and a tapering body well adapted to life on the seabed.

A very common around Gozo two-banded seabream, frequently encountered on rocky reefs, slopes, and mixed rocky–sandy seabeds. It inhabits shallow coastal waters down to around 90 metres and is often seen schooling just above the seabed. Medium-sized, it typically reaches 20–30 cm in length, with a deep, laterally compressed body.

Tylodina perversa (common name: yellow tylodina) is a striking marine gastropod closely related to sea slugs and often mistaken for a nudibranch at first glance. Despite its appearance, Tylodina perversa is not a true nudibranch but a side-gilled sea slug that retains a small, flattened external shell, visible as the dark oval plate on its back.