Updated 23/11/2025: with divers’ complaints and AFM rebuttal
The Armed Forces of Malta today (21/11/2025) announced that they had carried out a search and rescue operation for three divers at Dwejra, Gozo.
Earlier this afternoon, the Malta Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC) was notified that three divers went missing in Gozo.
An Armed Forces of Malta rescue vessel was immediately dispatched to the area in order to search for the missing individuals.
Through a coordinated effort by the Armed Forces of Malta and Civil Protection Department, the divers were rescued, brought to shore, and handed over to Gozo General Hospital medical personnel.
Update: Complaints raised on post-rescue actions
On Saturday 22/11/2025 an article was published on the portal theshiftnews.com titled: “Divers Accuse AFM of heavy-handed rescue after ordeal off Gozo“.
In summary, the three French divers rescued off Gozo accused the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) of heavy-handed treatment, saying their equipment was thrown overboard and they were not offered basic care expected for persons who had been in the sea for a long time. The article also included a video of the rescue whereby it was shown that fins & BCDs were thrown overboard during the rescue.
On the same day, the AFM defended its actions via a press release, stressing that life preservation takes precedence over property and that clearing the deck was necessary for safety in rough seas.
divinginfo.mt noted on social media the comments of many local but also various prominent members of the local diving community which were critical of the diving group citing previous weather forecasts. The Maltese Islands had a windy weekend with winds having been expected for some days to be mainly Westerly F5 to F6, which normally would result in divers avoiding these areas.
Some comments also questioned as to whether the divers were guided or unguided, and also touched on critique that they should have been charged for the rescue, something which is not normally done in the Maltese Islands. A small minority of comments however were sceptical of the need to throw over the divers’ equipment.
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.