For the attention of divers & especially diving schools – the development application for Manoel Island seems to preclude vehicle access to the X127 Wreck entry point. Representations are only open up till the 29 September 2023.
This is what we sent to representations@pa.org.mt. We suggest that you join in fast (only 2 days left!)
“Reference is made to Document 71k of PA/01053/23, titled “PA-MI-iAS-XX-XXX-XX-002-0001 – Pedestrian and Vehicular Circulation”, and hereby attached.
The Plan indicated does not indicate any vehicular access for general public, including divers beyond the ring road to access the quay entry point for the WW2 Wreck (http://www.calypsosac.org/x131-lighter-carolita-barge/) located just a few metres in front of the former Lazzaretto hospital.
This diving site is included within the list of primary dive sites for both the diving industry and the general local diving community due to its year-round availability, including in inclement weather periods during winter. Reference to dive site MS15 as included with the Masterplan for the Diving Industry 2022 document issued by the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA), the Ministry for Tourism (MTF), and the Ministry for Gozo (MGOZ).
Furthermore, the historic significance of the wreck as one of only two shore-accessible WW2 wrecks still at the original site of sinking, and the only one to be in a reasonable state of preservation, together with its WW1 history, makes this dive site an important one for wreck history enthusiasts and professionals.
Finally, the layout of the wreck on the sloping reef also makes this an ideal shallow water training site which allows multiple types of diving courses to be carried out around the wreck area from basic diving skills training to completing advanced open water diving training. The site itself could also in future be used for training in underwater archaeology and related skills, a sector which in the future could further diversify and improve the Maltese diving industry product.
The PA is kindly solicited to ensure that suitable foreshore vehicle access and parking within a reasonable walking distance when considering the need of carrying easily 20+kilograms of diving equipment is kept. In order to prevent abuse, the system of displaying diving qualifications behind the windscreen may be retained, as is done at other diving sites.
Equipment setting up benches and retention of the current stepped entry that was installed at a steep cost by the PDSA/MTA should also be retained, and maintained in the long term.”
Representation sent by divinginfo.mt
