Between 11 and 18 September 2024, members of the Club ventured to Malta on a trip organized through Dive Worldwide by the Training Officer, Simon Jackson.  Diving was arranged in Malta with Maltaqua who provided all transfers, cylinders, and weight/weight belts.

Accommodation with Half Board was taken at the Gillieru Harbour Hotel in St Paul's Bay in preference for the self-catering accommodation offered by Maltaqua.  The Gillieru proved very adequate, and the divers could breakfast at 7am before being collected.

On arrival there were strong North Westerly winds, and diving was restricted to the Southeast.  Fortunately, there are plenty of sites in Malta on which to dive Later, the weather moderated and the divers were able to dive Comino and Gozo as planned.

In total, 13 dives were made, all of which were shore dives, except for the two dives on Comino.  Details of the dives are shown below.  There is probably little doubt that diving the Um El Faroud was a highlight.  The dive was a shore dive to 36m and included the swim out through midwater from the shore.

The three wrecks off Marsaskala was delightful site, especially the third in line, the St Michael Tugboat, which was probably the least visited and contained the most fish life.

Divers had hoped to dive HMS Maori in Valletta Harbour, but the prevailing wind made a dive on the Lighter, the X127 more sensible.  This lighter had been used in Gallipoli, the First Word War and the Second World War, so it was not without its own history.

The two boat dives off Comino, were spectacular, partly due to the crystal clear water and partly because the P31 is a fantastic wreck dive in 22m of water.  The Caves of Santa Naria were also spectacular with divers returning through one cave and swimming over an opening into a cave below through which divers were starting their dive.

The last two dives on Malta were remarkable too. Some photographs from the trip can be found here.