A news report was published today stating that a rescue operation was underway this afternoon at the Ċirkewwa Marine Park for two divers who found themselves in difficulties. From information we have obtained, the story is slightly different from that reported and that rather, a precautionary alarm was raised during which a search was ongoing Read More
375 divers were treated at the Hyperbaric chambers in Malta and Gozo over the last five years. Sadly, official statistics list 31 deaths, averaging three a year. Statistics tabled in Parliament related to diving accidents and diving deaths show a grim number which however needs to be put into the context. These islands now receive Read More
Newsbook reports that on 14 October 2024, two divers were hospitalised after facing difficulties at Cirkewwa. “Two divers were transported to Mater Dei Hospital for observation after facing difficulties while diving in Ċirkewwa. A Police spokesperson told Newsbook Malta that authorities were alerted when two divers did not surface at the expected time. Shortly after, the Read More
Local media reports that a British diver aged 66 died after encountering difficulties during a dive at Cirkewwa Marine Park. From information gained on site, just before 11am the diver who was in the company of a small group surfaced mid-way to the wreck of the P29 Patrol Boat. The group called for help and Read More
The Sunday Times of Malta reported that a Hyperbaric Consultant was “to face criminal charges for involuntary homicide” in relation to the death of Krzysztof Białecki’s death at 43 years of age in what was a dark day for diving in the Maltese Islands. Krzysztof was in fact the second victim of a dive gone Read More
Timesofmalta.com reports that Police announced that a 51 year old Polish diver was hospitalised in a serious condition following a dive at Xatt l-Aħmar, a shore dive location in Gozo. The location has four shore accessible artificial reefs, with their maximum depths ranging between 35 to 46m. A diver was hospitalised on Tuesday after finding Read More
The Times of Malta reports today that the Hyperbaric chamber consultant who had been in charge of treating Polish diver Krzysztof Białecki who died in July this year has been suspended pending an internal investigation launched by the Hospital. The claim is made that during the diver’s treatment, the Consultant left had left the Hyperbaric Read More
Local media reports today that a difficult rescue operation was carried out at Wied iż-Żurrieq, limits of the village of Qrendi, a diving site known well as being the entry point for diving the Wreck of the Um-el-Faroud wreck. Images published on local media and accompanying reports and statements indicate that both a helicopter and Read More
An echo of last Saturday’s tragedy, the Times of Malta reports that a diving instructor who died last Saturday the 6 July 2024 following a dive at the Le Polynesien wreck died after attempting to assist the other diver who also succumbed to his injuries. Read the full article here: https://timesofmalta.com/article/zonqor-tragedy-experienced-hero-diver-sacrificed-life-try.1095120 The article includes an Read More
Local media has shared the sad news that two Polish divers, 45 and 48 years old died after finding themselves in difficulty during a dive on the Le Polynesien, a World War 1 Wreck a few kilometres outside of the town of Marsaskala. Press & Police reports Timesofmalta.com initially shared a press release by the Read More
The Malta Police Force announced today that sadly a diver died at Dwejra, Gozo. The cause or reason for the incident was not provided in the press release by the Police. A photo on social media indicated that the diver was brought in at the inland sea dive site, where paramedics attempted to assist the Read More
On the 30th Anniversary of the biggest tragedy for local diving, Raniero Borg has shared the following video. We also add below the front page of the Times of Malta and Sunday Times of Malta on those sad days. The victims were Dr Franklin Polidano, Dr Sandro Caruana and Michael Camilleri, all in their mid-20s Read More
Media announced that following a rescue operation at the Ċirkewwa Marine Park diving site, in the north of Malta, one diver was reported dead on arrival at hospital whilst another 17 were rescued with no critical injuries. Later in the day, news reports were updated with the information that the deceased diver is a 45 Read More
Timesofmalta.com reported on 27/09/2023 that a diver is in a critical condition after finding himself in difficulty at Ras il-Ħobż in Għajnsielem. The 53-year-old German diver was taken to shore by people who were with him. The police said in a statement they were informed a diver needed assistance at 1.45pm. Together with a medical Read More
The Malta Police Force announced in a press release that it was informed at about noon today that a diver needed assistance at Ċirkewwa. Emergency services went on site and assisted the diver who had been brought to shore and was being given assistance by persons accompanying him. The emergency services provided assistance and took Read More
Timesofmalta.com reports that Police announced that A 44-year-old Russian man died after finding himself in difficulties while diving off Gzira. The incident happened at 5.30pm near Manoel Island. The man was pulled to the shore by people who happened to be in the area. He was given first aid but died shortly after being admitted Read More
The Armed Forces of Malta announced on their Facebook Page that this morning, the 25 May 2023 they carried out a rescue of a diver in distress at Ċirkewwa Marine Park, and later in the day they shared information about another incident at Xwejni Bay, Gozo. Earlier this morning, the Malta Rescue Coordination Centre received Read More
In an interview with the Times of Malta published today, Ms Degabriele, widow of the late Chris Degabriele, who is thought to have been hit by a boat whilst spearfishing near St. Paul’s Islands in August 2022, urged people to speak up to bring closure to this case. Just earlier this week, the Malta Police Read More
The Malta Police Force has today renewed its appeal for information about the death of spearfisherman Chris Degabriele who died after possibly being hit by a boat off St. Paul’s Islands in August 2022. You may read all related articles to this accident here. ‘Investigations revealed that the diver may have been hit by a Read More
In an unusual twist to this tragedy, the Equipment Expert in the court process of Christine Gauci’s buddy speaks out. The controversy related to the prosecution of Christine Gauci ‘ buddy gets another media article, this time penned by the Equipment Expert’s opinion. You can visit the opinion piece published on the Times of Malta Read More
A recent court case, related to the accident resulting in the paralysis of a local diver working in the Fish Farming Industry seems to be the trigger of an opinion piece on the Times Of Malta today by Mr Daniel Xerri. The full opinion piece is reproduced below, with permission of the author. A set Read More
A fish farm diver who was left paralysed from the waist down following a deep-sea work dive back in April 2012 has been awarded over €500,000 in damages. Timesofmalta.com reports that Frederick Catania suffered from spinal decompression syndrome in April 2012, following a 71-metre dive to work on cages belonging to Ta’ Mattew Fish Farms Read More
From timesofmalta.com An opinion piece by Daniel Xerri in the Times of Malta discusses how to avoid a wrongful conviction of a diver. It is vital that in future cases, courts appoint experts in the field of diving not simply based on academic qualifications but also on the basis of competence and experience. This is Read More
Timesofmalta.com feature Timesofmalta.com interviewed Mr Arthur Castillo, the diver who has recently been cleared from charges of criminal negligence leading to Christine Gauci’s death during a dive at Mgarr ix-Xini, Gozo in January 2020 Read the article here See other articles related to this tragedy here
From Times of Malta Two men charged with the involuntary homicide of a 25-year-old woman from Żabbar who died tragically in a charity dive at Fra Ben, Qawra in July 2009, have been cleared by the court. Joseph Formosa, a qualified diver, and Ivo Caruana, a diving instructor with 27 years experience, affiliated with Atlam and Read More
From Times of Malta A 24-year-old woman from Zabbar – Tamara Psaila, lost her life this morning after losing consciousness in the water when taking part in a charity dive. The dive was organised by the Atlam Subaqua Club in Qawra. Ms Psaila was rushed to hospital by ambulance but died following a medical intervention. Read More
From Timesofmalta.com 06 Aug 2015 It may be difficult to prove whether the British diver charged with the involuntary homicide of his girlfriend and another diver last year was responsible for their deaths, according to a top criminal lawyer. “It’s not a black or white matter. It really does depend on the evidence and specifics Read More
From Times of Malta.com 04 August 2015 A scuba instructor based in West Sussex, UK has been charged with two involuntary homicides by Maltese authorities and is fighting extradition to Malta. Stephen Martin, 55, an experienced diver, was diving with eight friends from the Brighton branch of the British Sub-Aqua Club on June 18 last Read More
From LovinMalta Authorities hope to determine what exactly led to the death of 20-year-old diving enthusiast Neil Zammit after conducting an autopsy on his body today and analysing the video on the GoPro that was recording while he was diving. The police are continuing their investigations into the death after Zammit’s lifeless body was found Read More
From the Malta Independent Rescue personnel have found the body of a diver who went missing on Monday. The body was found in the water off Bahar ic-Caghaq, during the second day of the search. Neil Zammit, 20, went missing after he separated from his diving colleague on Monday evening. The search started immediately after Read More
From Times of Malta Rescuers who found the body of a diver after he got sucked into a gate valve in a dry dock feared they too would be sucked in when they tried to retrieve the body, a court was told today. Experienced diver Patrick Joseph Vella died in horrible circumstances on February 28, 2015 Read More
From Times of Malta.com The Maltese authorities have dropped all charges against a British scuba diver who had been charged with two involuntary homicides, sources said. Stephen Martin, who is based in West Sussex, UK, was due to go to the high court in London on Wednesday to appeal against a European extradition warrant ordering his Read More
From Newsbook A 78-year old diver has died in Wied iż-Żurrieq as he experienced complications whilst diving. According to the police the accident happened at around noon and the victim is from Poland. The man was provided assistance on-site by members of the Malta Red Cross which are stationed at Wied iz-Zurrieq. Unfortunately, attempts at Read More
From MaltaToday – 10 April 2016 A Polish diver died this morning after he found himself in difficulty while diving off Wied iz-Zurrieq this morning. He was one of four Polish divers who found themselves in difficulty and were rescued by the Armed Forces of Malta in bad weather conditions this morning after bathers noticed Read More
From TVM News 02 November 2018 A Polish diving instructor has been cleared of the involuntary death of the Polish diver who died in an accident two years ago in Wied iż-Żurrieq. The experienced instructor Paulina Kurowska was accused of negligence in the death of Przemyslaw Jan Walkiewicz while he was diving with a group Read More
22/02/2023 14:00 Updated with summary of court of appeal’s conclusions. In a post on social media this morning, the buddy accused of criminal negligence leading to the death of Christine Gauci in January 2020 has announced that the sentence has been overturned on appeal. Immediately, the reactions of friends show how much this case has Read More
The blogpost by Gareth Lock, of thehumandiver.com raises some interesting points about the tragedy of Ms. Christine Gauci’s accident, and the initial judgement. The post was written a few days after the initial which was later overturned on appeal. However it still makes for very interesting reading, with Mr Lock raising a few items to Read More
The Calypso Sub-Aqua Club issued a statement with regard to the Police vs Castillo case. Statement has been reproduced below from the Calypso SAC Website The CSAC Committee has noted that the judgement in the case Police vs Arthur Castillo has been considered by many local and international divers debating in international forums as possibly Read More
Timesofmalta.com has published an opinion piece by Mr Daniel Xerri, a senior lecturer at the University of Malta and a technical diver, with regard to the recent judgement in the case against the buddy of the late Ms. Christine Gauci who passed away following a diving accident in Gozo in January 2020. You may find Read More
Maltatoday reports that a man who died last August while diving near St Paul’s Islands may have been hit by a boat, police said on Monday. Christian Degabriele, a 35-year-old soldier from Għaxaq, was found dead in the area near St Paul’s Islands last August in a suspected diving accident. Three months later, police have Read More
The Professional Diving School Association issued a statement regarding the recent judgement against the buddy of Ms Christine Gauci. The summary of the judgement may be found here. On the 26 November 2022 – a report also appeared on the Times of Malta regarding the below the statement Statement by the Professional Diving Schools Association23/11/2022 Read More
Divinginfo.mt would first of all like to express again condolences to the Family of Ms Christine Gauci who died following a dive in Mgarr ix-Xini, Gozo in January 2020. Unfortunately her relatives and friends may have been brought back the ugly memory of the incident and her unfortunate demise and no person should underestimate how Read More
Timesofmalta.com reports that scuba divers have expressed grave concern over their welfare and that of the diving industry in the future after a diver was found guilty of the involuntary homicide of his dive buddy on Friday. Professional divers told Times of Malta yesterday that the “absurd” court judgment was now prompting some to consider Read More
Times of Malta reports that a man whose negligence was found to have caused the death of his long-time diving buddy was handed a suspended sentence over the tragic incident which occurred at Mġarr ix-Xini in January 2020. You may read more about the case on the Times of Malta Divinginfo.mt wishes our late buddy Read More
From Maltatoday Christian Degabriele, a 35-year-old soldier from Għaxaq lost his life in a diving incident on Thursday. He was reported missing on Thursday at around 5.30pm, whilst he was diving in the area between Buġibba and St Paul’s Islands. A search was conducted by the Armed Forces of Malta and the Civil Protection Department, Read More
As reported by Timesofmalta.com on 10 February 2016 Palumbo shipyard directors are expected to be charged with the involuntary homicide of a diver who drowned while working in a dock, the Times of Malta has learnt. The police yesterday told this newspaper charges would be filed in relation to the death of Patrick Vella, 36, Read More
Report by the Times of Malta Maltese scuba diving clubs Calypso, ATLAM, Amphibians and SWDC joined forces with Caritas to organise a fundraising activity for the family of a former full-time diver who found himself paralysed from his waist down due to a bend. During the activity, attended by well over 160 members from all Read More
As reported by Timesofmalta.com on 01st March 2015 A 36-year-old diver died yesterday morning while carrying out works at the Palumbo shipyards where he was called in to repair a faulty underwater mechanism used to empty a dry dock. Patrick Vella, from Żejtun – the father of triplets – was also a marine biologist with Read More
As reported by Maltatoday A 36-year old diver who was working on a caisson in the Palumbo shipyard of Bormla passed away after allegedly getting stuck in a gate valve. At 11:30am, the diver swam underwater to commence work on the dock gate. After some time had passed and he still hadn’t surfaced, somebody at Read More
A 30-year-old man from Fgura is in hospital suffering from grievous injuries after he encountered problems while on a diving job earlier today. He is not in a critical condition. The police said in a statement they were informed at around 4.30 p.m. that the man, who had been diving in the Marsaxlokk area, needed Read More