Updated 03/06/2025 at 11:30
The Armed Forces of Malta provided an update today on the search effort conducted for the missing diver.
…the Rescue Coordination Centre Malta (RCC Malta) has been conducting extensive search and rescue (SAR) efforts since Tuesday, 27 May 2025. The search effort was initiated immediately upon receipt of the report regarding the missing individual, in full accordance with national and international SAR protocols.
The coordinated response has involved both aerial and maritime assets, with crews searching more than ninety (90) hours, covering more than one thousand seven hundred (1,700) square Nm.
Unfortunately, despite the thorough and sustained nature of these efforts, no positive results have been achieved thus far. RCC Malta remains in close coordination with all relevant stakeholders and will continue to monitor developments in line with established procedures.
RCC Malta trusts that this summary helps to reassure the diving community that every possible measure and effort has been taken to locate the missing diver. The search has been comprehensive, sustained, and guided by best practices, modern SAR drift program and expert input.
We thank the AFM for their feedback and work.
Updated 02/06/2025 23:00
No new information has reached us from the Armed Forces of Malta, with emails not returning any further update, and no further information after calling the number they had provided to us. A week having passed since the diver went missing, we cannot but conclude that any chance of a rescue is now beyond any possible realistic outcome.
A recovery may still be possible, as happened a few decades ago with the case of a spearfisherman that was found under a ledge in near vicinity of this area of the Maltese Islands more than two years after his disappearance. We pray a miracle such as this might reoccur to give closure to family and friends.
Updated 31/05/2025
No new information has yet been officially communicated regarding the diver who went missing following a dive off Marsascala on Monday the 26 May 2025 (updated date from new information provided to us).
The Armed Forces of Malta advised on Wednesday 27 May that searches were still ongoing. On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in fact it was noted that searches were being carried out using a spotter plane which carried out at least 6 sorties out at sea in the general area south of the wreck which sources told us the diver was diving at.
However, update requests and questions sent to the AFM have so far not been replied. The Police have also referred us to AFM regarding the searches but advised that at this stage, these are ongoing. The local Embassy of the diver’s nationality has been informed of the case. The Civil Protection Department who might have been involved in the search as well have been approached for comment.
Via the grapevine and in posts on a divers’ forum, some unconfirmed information claims that the diver was a foreign national diving independently using a local diving boat on the wreck of the SS Polynesien (Link 2), and that the diver did not re-surface after the dive even though the divers’ DSMB was recovered. The unconfirmed information states that the diver was claimed to be diving with a rebreather and last seen being washed off the shot line by a strong current but the DSMB was followed by the diving boat, but after waiting for planned deco time, no diver was found under the DSMB.
Currents at the SS Polynesien are not unheard of, and considered as part of standard diving procedures at this historic wreck sunk in 1918, access to which is controlled by the Underwater Cultural Heritage Unit within Heritage Malta. Access to this site is limited and restricted to suitably qualified divers via a booking system accessible to authorised diving centres.
If you have any additional information to share, contact us via our Contact form or Facebook messenger
Posted earlier on Thursday 28/05/2025
Yesterday afternoon the Armed Forces of Malta were reported by the Times of Malta to be carrying out a search for a missing off Marsascala’s Munxar Reef. The search was conducted via maritime and air assets. Civil Protection marine assets may also have joined the search.
The search apparently was also continued at daybreak this morning using a spotter airplane from the same Armed Forces of Malta which was visibly scouring an area south of the village of Marsascala for almost three hours, as seen via the Flightradar24 App.
At 10:29 we also received this message from their public relations office: “The AFM resumed the search for the missing diver this morning using a patrol boat. A team of divers will be deployed once sea conditions improve.”
We will bring you official updates as soon as we get them. Whilst we have other information in hand from our sources, since the data is not confirmed we will not be sharing this information in order to let due process occur. We urge others to be cautious in their opinions & share only confirmed facts. Today so far, no mainstream media updates have yet been noticed.
We augur well for the health & safety of both the missing diver, as well as for those carrying out rescue efforts.
We wish to remind those who might have been exposed to this event or that may have otherwise suffered shock or mental anxiety following this or similar events to use services such as Olli chat, run by the Richmond Foundation or Helpline 1770.