Accidents

50-year old diver dies at Ċirkewwa diving site

50-year old diver dies at Ċirkewwa diving site

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

44 year old Russian man dies after diving off Manoel Island

44 year old Russian man dies after diving off Manoel Island

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

Two rescues in one day – Diver rescued by AFM at Ċirkewwa Marine Park, another at Xwejni Bay, Gozo

Two rescues in one day – Diver rescued by AFM at Ċirkewwa Marine Park, another at Xwejni Bay, Gozo

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

AFM Soldier death investigation – Police still on the hunt for clues

AFM Soldier death investigation – Police still on the hunt for clues

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

Diving Equipment Expert’s opinion out in the media – Further revelations.

Diving Equipment Expert’s opinion out in the media – Further revelations.

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

Fish farm diver who ended up paralysed wins over €500,000 in damages

Fish farm diver who ended up paralysed wins over €500,000 in damages

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

Avoiding a diver conviction – Opinion Piece on Timesofmalta.com

Avoiding a diver conviction – Opinion Piece on Timesofmalta.com

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

Diver cleared of causing diving buddy’s death recalls the trauma – Times of Malta

Diver cleared of causing diving buddy’s death recalls the trauma – Times of Malta

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

Organisers cleared over death of diver in charity event

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

Woman dies after diving incident

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

Difficult to prove diver responsible for deaths

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

UK scuba instructor fighting extradition to Malta

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

As Autopsy Begins On Young Maltese Diver Today, Authorities Expect His GoPro To Reveal Cause Of Death

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

Search comes to an end as rescuers find missing diver’s body

Search comes to an end as rescuers find missing diver’s body

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

Dockyard tragedy: Rescue divers feared being sucked into drydock gate valve

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

Maltese authorities drop all charges against British scuba diver

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

78-year-old diver dies in Wied iż-Żurrieq

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

Diver dies, six rescued by AFM in Wied iz-Zurrieq

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

Diving instructor found not guilty of involuntary death of Polish diver at Wied iż-Żurrieq

Diving instructor found not guilty of involuntary death of Polish diver at Wied iż-Żurrieq

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

Judgement in the case of the Maltese buddy overturned on appeal.

Judgement in the case of the Maltese buddy overturned on appeal.

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

Human Factors analysis by Gareth Lock

Human Factors analysis by Gareth Lock

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

CSAC Committee Statement re: Police vs Castillo case

CSAC Committee Statement re: Police vs Castillo case

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

Diving has been damaged by this court verdict – Daniel Xerri

Diving has been damaged by this court verdict – Daniel Xerri

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

Diver who died last August may have been hit by boat, police say

Diver who died last August may have been hit by boat, police say

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

Updated:PDSA’s statement regarding recent judgement

Updated:PDSA’s statement regarding recent judgement

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

Summary of the Judgement – Christine Gauci’s fatal accident and initial outcome of the prosecution of her buddy.

Summary of the Judgement – Christine Gauci’s fatal accident and initial outcome of the prosecution of her buddy.

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

Scuba divers outraged at ‘absurd’ ruling that will discourage buddy diving

Scuba divers outraged at ‘absurd’ ruling that will discourage buddy diving

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

Diving buddy found guilty of AFM soldier’s death in 2020 Gozo tragedy

Diving buddy found guilty of AFM soldier’s death in 2020 Gozo tragedy

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

Body of missing diver recovered off St Paul’s Islands

Body of missing diver recovered off St Paul’s Islands

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

Shipyard directors to be charged on diver’s death

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

Scuba diving clubs support Caritas event to raise €2,000 for paralysed full-time diver

Scuba diving clubs support Caritas event to raise €2,000 for paralysed full-time diver

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

Father of triplets dies in diving accident at dock

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

Shipyard worker passes away after getting stuck in gate valve

Shipyard worker passes away after getting stuck in gate valve

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

Diver hospitalised

Diver hospitalised

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