Club holiday 2004 to
Malta
The Maltese Adventure 12th to 19th October 2004
Organised by Whitlam Underwater Tours.
Main report by Alex Liddon
There are plenty of pictures of the Malta holiday in the following
galleries
"Wanna go diving in Malta?"
"When?"
"Sounds Good to Me"
If it wasn't for that conversation in the bar at the sports centre one
April Tuesday then this would be a very short report consisting of a blank
page. But Dave made the week sound so inviting, sun, warm water and good
visibility what more could an Ocean Diver need.
Oh yes to be a qualified Sports Diver and once again Dave's organisational
skills came in to play and we all where signed off in time for October.
So the day finally arrived and Gary Knights, Gary Pembroke, Paul Catchpole,
George Shephard, Alex Liddon and the Whitlam family: Dave and Karina and
Kyle Littlejohn all headed off to the Island of Malta.
Day 1. Tuesday 12th
George, Gary P, Paul and myself met at Gary K's house so we could travel
in convoy and we arrived in plenty of time for our long check in at Norwich
Airport.
Following over priced snacks the Whitlams arrived and we all checked
in and headed to the departure lounge. There was only one slight hitch Karina
had not changed her passport to her new married name, however after 10 minutes
everything was sorted and we headed to the bar where as I had never flown
before everyone suddenly had a scare story about flying.
Arriving in Malta at 10pm we collected our things and Dave, Karina and
Kyle headed off the their house and the rest of us met Joe our taxi driver
who would give us our first taste of Maltese driving. I think we all wondered
what we had let ourselves in for before the car finally stopped at the Sands
Apartments in St Paul's Bay.
Day 2. Wednesday 13th.
Paul and myself met the two Gary's and George and headed for a walk
to get our first daylight look at Malta before meeting Dave and Karina at
Maltaqua where after breakfast in the café next door we collected
our weeks transport - 2 jeeps and a van, cylinders and weights.
We then headed off to Cirkewwa for our first dive and here we met Sharky
a professional diving photographer who took our pictures when we finished
our dive.
Dive 1: situated on the northwest of the Island, a good dive to start
our intro into the Mediterranean Sea. Lots to see and do on this dive including
a statue of the Madonna. Max depth 20-25m.
After returning to Maltaqua for a cylinder refill and lunch we headed
to Qawra Point for our second dive.
Dive 2: Short walk over rocks to dive site. Shallow reef dive. Lots
of fish and plant life to look at.
This is the view I had all week of Dave & Paul.
(Picture supplied by Alex Liddon)
After the dive we said goodbye to Dave and Karina and headed home to
wash equipment and hang it up in the Sands drying room before going into
St Paul's where we tried the local brew and food.
Day 3. Thursday 14th
Gary K got up early to fill the cylinders and he continued to do this
for the rest of the week. We then all met up with Dave and party at the
café for breakfast before heading to our fist dive site Anchor Bay
that was built as the set for the 1980's film Popeye.
Dive 3: Reef and Cave dive. Max depth 20m. Lots to see including an
octopus and starfish.
After lunch we headed to Manoel Island for a dive by the old Royal Naval
Hospital
Dive 4: a good rummage dive to see what the sailors chucked overboard
over the years including hospital beds. There is also a torpedoed barge lying
up the sloping wall.
That evening we headed to St Julian's for a meal and a walk through
Paceville. Before heading to the bar across the road from Sands for a
nightcap.
Day 4. Friday 15th
We met Dave and headed to Cirkewwa this time to dive the tugboat
Rozi.
Dive 5: a little bit further out and deeper then our last dive here.
The Rozi is 30m in length and was scuttled in 1992. She sits upright on the
sandy bottom at approximately 34m. A very good dive with lots of fish.
After lunch we headed on what turned out to be a scenic drive to our
second dive site. Dave assured us he was not lost but wanted us to get a
better view of the island. However our dive on the two tugs at Zonqor Point
was aborted as we could enter the water ok but the surface conditions made
a safe exit impossible. We therefore headed back to Cirkewwa a little later
that evening for a night dive.
Dive 6: a repeat of our first dive at Cirkewwa only this time at night.
After this dive Gary P, Paul and myself went back to George and Gary
K's room where Gary had prepared filled baguettes and then over the road
for a pint.
Day 5. Saturday 16th
Today we met Dave, Karina and their friends and headed to the neighbouring
Island of Gozo for two spectacular dives in close proximity. There were a
lot of tourists and divers at this location and many souvenir stalls.
Dive 7: the Blue Hole an excellent dive that takes you out of the Blue
Hole and into open sea. Depth can drop down to 60+ meters. Coming back into
the Blue Hole there is a cave to explore while decompressing.
When we exited the dive we carried our cylinders to the filling station
and returned to the café and stalls before walking to the next dive
site.
Dive 8: Dewjra, Inland Sea. We swam through a cave into open sea. The
view was stunning though we had to be aware of small boats taking tourist
on sightseeing trips.
Good visibility at the Inland Sea.
(Picture supplied by Alex Liddon)
After the dive and when we had all finished packing up, myself, George
and Gary P took a trip on one of the small boats to see what the view was
like on the surface.
That evening we walked into St Paul's for another visit to the restaurant
from Wednesday night.
Day 6. Sunday 17th
Today the diary was blank with leaving the 5 of us to entertain ourselves
so Dave could spend time with his friends. We therefore had a leisurely morning
Gary P, Paul and myself decided to take a day off from diving.
Dive 9: Gary K took George off for a shallow dive at Cirkawwa so he
could get a picture of the Madonna and Gary P and myself went along to act
as surface cover and get in some sunbathing.
That afternoon we headed to Valletta, the capital of Malta for sightseeing.
We visited the Upper Barracca Gardens, which have memorials to the many sailors
lost in these waters over the years and also Albert Einstein and Winston
Churchill. We walked along the sea front and saw Manoel Island on the other
side of Grand Harbour. By then it was early evening so we went for a scenic
drive to St Julian's for a Chinese meal.
Day 7. Monday 18th
Today was Gary P's 40th Birthday.
We met Dave at 9:30 in St. Julian's and headed to the Blue Grotto. To
dive the Um El Faroud which was scuttled in 1998. the wreck sits upright
in 35m of water.
Dive 10: After a surface swim out we submerged and once on the wheelhouse
split into two separate groups. Dave, Paul and Gary P ventured into the wreck
and Gary K, George and myself headed to the stern to feed the fish. We then
all met up again and returned to the shore.
Once we had packed our kit in the cars Gary P, George, Myself and Kyle
took a boat trip out into the Blue Grotto to see all the different coloured
rocks.
Dive 11: A final return to Cirkewwa where Dave and Karina headed off
to do their own dive and the rest of us followed Gary K on a repeat of the
dive he did with George on Sunday.
That evening we headed off to Dave's for a buffet and drinks before
cutting Gary P's birthday cake and heading out into town.
Day 8. Tuesday19th.
Today was the day for handing back the weights and cylinders borrowed
from Maltaqua and buying last minute souvenirs
After packing we left our bags in Gary K's room and headed to the café
one last time for breakfast. Then Joe arrived to take us back to the airport,
only this time he was not in such a rush and the drive was slightly better
then last Tuesday. Then after an uneventful flight we were back in Lowestoft.
From left: Gary Pembroke, Alex Liddon, Paul Catchpole, George Shephard,
Gary Knights, Karina and Dave Whitlam.
(Picture supplied by Alex Liddon)
I thoroughly enjoyed my first overseas diving holiday and would like
to thank Dave for organising it and Karina for looking after my glasses whilst
I was diving. I also must thank Gary Knights for all his knowledge of the
Island. Here's to our next visit!
Alex Liddon
Just like to add many thanks to Dave and Karina for organising the trip
and to all that went. A holiday can only be as good as the people that go
with you. I know we all enjoyed it by some of the comments being made after
the dives. I would also like to mention Maltaqua for superb service they
gave us the apartments were top class refills very efficient and the girls
were only to happy to help us with our upgrades of our tanks (mine a dustbin
18lt) many thanks to you all.
Gary Knights
My first over sea's blue water dive, great bunch of fella's plus Karina,
who kindly hung onto or valuables while we dived. Many thanks to Dave and
Karina for making this possible and Dave's great dive leading. Will definitely
go again, hopefully with some or all of the gang. Thanks to everybody for
making this a memorable success.
George Shephard
There's a first for everybody as Dave will be able to tell you. First
time I saw octopus ink in self-defence and Dave was on the receiving end.
Ha ha. This holiday has seen some of my best dives yet in particular the
Rozi and the Um El Faroud. First of all I would like to start by thanking
Dave for taking us all under his wing and keeping us safe during the dives.
Gary K for his help every morning by making sure our tanks were filled and
ready to go. I'd also like to thank Alex, Gary P and George for keeping us
entertained and making the holiday what it was. * Brilliant*. Finally Karina,
for being patient with us and allowing us access to her husband all week.
I'm sure looking forward to the next adventure.
Paul Catchpole
The whole organizing of the holiday was well worth the effort. To see
the trainees who have spent a whole year taking on the training with such
"enthusiasm" most of the time in very cold dark water with the end result
all made the whole week in Malta a pleasure. All need to be congratulated
on the way they all performed with the skill's they had been taught. A very
big thank you to Big Gaz for bring up the rear and keeping to group all
together.
Dave and Karina Whitlam
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