Diving related accidents
Unfortunately, a reality of diving, like everything else in life, is that it carries an amount of risk, irrespective of whether you are SCUBA or Freediving / Spearfishing. Our islands are not immune to this and for this purpose, this page will have sections diving to media and articles related to several local accidents in the recent past. The aim of this page is not to further victimise the departed, nor to take the place of judges and juries, nor to play experts.
We’d rather not have this page at all, but we also considered that “hiding” these articles could also lead to divers or other individuals in the future to repeat mistakes, not be aware of certain types of risk or become complacent. Hence, when reading these articles don’t approach these with morbid curiosity, but rather with the aim to self-assess our actions prior to, during and after diving and consider whether we may be putting ourselves, or others, at unnecessary risk.
Divinginfo.mt wishes all victims of fatalities to rest in peace and expresses its deepest condolences to their families and friends. For the survivors of such accidents, both directly or indirectly involved, we encourage them to make the best out of their life, seek help if needed at any time for both physical and mental ailments. For Maltese residents, we also recommend using the services of the NGO Richmond Foundation, who may be contacted via Olli.chat, a free online chat service or Helpline 1770 both run by same organisation.
News articles related to rescues / non-fatal accidents / missing divers
- 2024.09.24 – 51 year old Polish diver hospitalised following a dive at Xatt l-Aħmar, Gozo
- 2024.09.10 – Five divers rescued at Wied iż-Żurrieq
- 2023.09.27 – 52 year old German diver critically ill after dive at Ras il-Hobz, Gozo
- 2023.05.25 – Diver rescued at Ċirkewwa, and another at Xwejni Bay, Gozo by the Armed Forces of Malta
- 2021.09.01 – 62 year old British diver suffers serious injuries off Ċirkewwa
- 2021.07.13 – Diver critically hurt after concrete block hits him underwater (Commercial diving)
- 2018.10.02 – Five divers rescued off Gozo
- 2015.10.24 – AFM rescues Portuguese diver in Dwejra
- 2015.04.01 – Three divers winched to safety from Blue Grotto
- 2013.07.31 – Diver rescued from the sea at Ras ir-Reqqa, Xwejni, Gozo
- 2013.03.01 – Diver missing in Dwejra / Link 2
- 2013.02.06 – Two divers saved in Dwejra / Link 2
- 2012.09.05 – Diver rescued at Xwejni, Gozo
- 2012.08.04 – Missing diver found
- 2012.04.06 – Diver Paralysed after accident at Tuna Farms
- 2012.02.17 – Two divers rescued at Wied iz-Zurrieq
- 2012.01.03 – Polish diver rescued by the AFM
- 2011.07.25 – Diver rescued from rough seas off Dwejra
Fatalities based from news reports
Chronological list of fatalities known to divinginfo.mt (latest first, ordered by accident date). Click on link to visit page with relevant news items and information about the accident. Please note that the list includes SCUBA , Freediving / Spearfishing and Commercial Diving related accidents.
2024
- 2024.07.06 – Two Polish nationals die after a dive at the Le Polynesien (Technical dive)
- 2024.05.11 – Swiss 44 year old diver dies at Dwejra, Gozo
- 2024.03.26 – Dutch 45 year old diver dies at Ċirkewwa Diving Site, another 17 rescued
2023
- 2023.07.05 – 50-year old diver dies at Ċirkewwa diving site
- 2023.06.16 – 67-year-old diver dies in Gozo at Xatt l-Ahmar
- 2023.06.04 – 44 year old Russian man dies after diving off Manoel Island
2022
- 2022.09.02 – 66 year old German man
- 2022.08.11 – Mr C. Degabriele (Spearfishing)
2021
2020
- 2020.08.02 – J. [Surname unknown] (Freediving)
- 2020.07.26 – 53 year old Austrian man
- 2020.07.06 – 78 year old Polish man
- 2020.01.18 – Ms C Gauci
2019
2018
- 2018.09.29 – 43 year old British woman
- 2018.09.03 – Mr N Zammit (Freediving)
- 2018.05.08 – 50 year old British man
2017
2016
- 2016.10.22 – Victim name unreleased – 48-year-old German woman
- 2016.10.19 – Mr L Casha (Freediving)
- 2016.09.08 – C.Cassar (Spearfishing)
- 2016.04.10 – Mr P.J.Walkiewicz
2015
- 2015.11.15 – 52 year old British man
- 2015.05.03 – 27 year old Polish man
- 2015.03.10 – P. Matthews / Link 2
- 2015.02.28 – Mr P.J. Vella (Commercial Diving)
2014
- 2014.10.20 – 30 year old man
- 2014.06.17 – L.Hooley and N. Haines
- 2014.06.17 – Victim name unreleased – 64 year old man
2013 – 2004
- 2013.05.23 – 55 year old German man
- 2012.08.06 – C. Brignone / Link 2 (Spearfishing)
- 2012.06.13 – 61 year old German diver dies at Xwejni, Gozo
- 2012.05.25 – 39-year-old Swedish diver at Xattl-Ahmar, Gozo, 65 year old at Wied iz-Zurrieq
- 2012.04.21 – 73-year old British diver dies after difficulties off Cirkewwa
- 2012.04.07 – 62 year old British diver dies after difficulties in Mistra / Link 2
- 2009.07.12 – T. Psaila
- 2009.04.11 – 50 year old German woman at Mgarr ix-Xini, Gozo
- 2008.11.17 – P. Swain
- 2006.08.04 – R. Avent and R Avent.
- 2004.07.12 – R.v.Beek (Commercial Diving)