Rozi is smaller than P29 and tiny compared with Um El Faroud, but that is exactly why I like her. You can understand the whole wreck quickly, then slow down and start noticing details.
Site at a glance
From working tug to diving landmark
The tug was built in Bristol in 1958 and originally sailed as Rossmore. She later became Rossgarth, came to Malta in the 1970s and eventually took the name Rozi. After a working life in and around Grand Harbour, she was acquired for a very different purpose.
Rozi was deliberately sunk at Ċirkewwa in September 1992 as an attraction for tourist submarine excursions. The submarine operation disappeared; the tugboat stayed and became one of Malta's best-known wreck dives.
Access and navigation
The normal Ċirkewwa entries make Rozi a straightforward shore-based wreck in logistical terms, but the wreck is still offshore and deep enough that navigation and gas planning matter. The stern sits relatively close to the reef, which makes the reef a natural part of many return routes.
For a first dive, I prefer knowing exactly where I expect to meet the wreck rather than swimming into the blue hoping a tugboat appears. A good briefing saves gas and makes the dive more relaxed.
Why I like the wreck
Rozi has a recognisable tugboat shape, a strong wheelhouse silhouette and enough open structure to make photography interesting from many angles. Because she is compact, you can circle her without turning the dive into a marathon.
The best view is often slightly away from the wreck. Move back, let the entire tug sit in the blue and use another diver for scale. That is when Rozi looks much bigger than the numbers suggest.
Wreck plus reef
One of the pleasures of Rozi is what happens after leaving the wreck. The Ċirkewwa reef is not merely the corridor back to shore. It has walls, gullies and routes that can turn the ascent into a second phase of the dive rather than dead travel time.
When profile, gas and conditions allow, the area offers many combinations. I still prefer to decide on the main objective before entering the water instead of collecting dive sites like stamps.
Watch my P29 and Rozi DPV dive
This is one of my own YouBusaBoy videos from the site.
Where it is
GPS reference: 35.98980, 14.32690. Coordinates identify the site area; they do not replace underwater navigation, a current local briefing or an assessment of access on the day.