Missing Diver

EmicMalta · January 16, 2009, 21:43:40 CET

hi guys,

today me, markcam and giovanni went for a dive, where we was freediving in the area. Had 2 pints where to go from Simon AGius. It was very difficult, 1st was full of jellyfish, 2nd a bit rough and 3rd visibility was nt on our side.

The area is quite big and its really hard to be in small group to find something. We covered the shellow area from 0-15mtr and all the rocks in touch with the sea.

Hard to say where to try.

Tommorrow there will be Giovanni, Leli, Toni is salvagg and anotehr guy Leli who are going to do some scuba in the area.

As for sunday, the Malta Skin Diving club is going to meet at Mriehel Bypass at 7.30am. There we go to the nearest slip to forward to Golden sands and do searches from there.

Aslo we arranged with Dive Systems to rent the cylinders from them and arranged to get them for half price and even some more divers. WIll have extra tanks nearby so we can arrange for more then 1 dive.

That guys who do not practice scuba like me will be helping by freediving.

Our phones are 79317244, 99593775, 79001831

Guys we know that this is a very hard job, but pls lets help each other. This situation could had been for one of us. I don t know Herbert or his family but if it was me I would like that others do this for my family.

EmicMalta · January 17, 2009, 20:58:03 CET

Today, they where diving Giovanni, Leli (tal hrapen), Toni (is salvagg) and Leli went and covered a big area. They done a lot of freediving and even 3 cylinders each and went till 42mtr +, but no sign.

Hope tommorrow we get some results

baghira · January 18, 2009, 20:03:06 CET

Today we took another chance to find Herbert.
There were about 30 divers from Calypso divers who volunteered in the search. They came with the luzzu. Then there were 3 divers from rabat (who work at tuna pens dario, kwakka, karfusu) on a rib, there was me and simon (tal-beauchat), and my friend drinu on another rib, this as regards divers, then there were a lot of dinghi's from malta skindiving club, I could recognise, emic, markam, simon, dunstan and his buddy, ian (tal-elios), and many others, who were covering a large area shore freediving, from gnejna to qammieh.
I was diving with adrian in an area I knew was full of crevices, down at 30 metres. The sea was freezing cold, and the visibility was not that good, but I went into all the caves and cracks I could find to no avail. Pitty.

I knew both him and also his family, who were onto different ribs, and you could see the sadness in their faces, and i tried to do my best to at least put their heart at rest. I can still see the face of his brother jesmond thanking us for the help.

May poor herbert rest in peace, wherever he lies.

EmicMalta · January 18, 2009, 21:17:18 CET

As baghira said, yes there was a very good response. We where really a good number of diverers from both sides, apnea and scuba. Wish to thank for the guys who where present and also who those who tried to help as they can.

This had showed up that out in the water we know on who are the real friends. Everyone was giving his best.

thanks to all

dunstan · January 19, 2009, 18:22:14 CET

Hello Guys,
A very shocking day was Sunday 11th for my self and for Herbert family.
We did not lost only a diver or a friend but a very professional person with a great respect for the sea. After all human possibilities we nearly gave up to find his body. Around 90 divers, patrol boats, rescue teams and army team, a helicopter and three times with an airplane we cannot do more than what we did. Bad weather and very strong winds made it a nightmare for all of us to search for him. He was a very good spear fisher and he loved the sea . We have to be more careful while spearfishing as no fish is worth our life but in my opinion we should honor him with our sports and keep on going. From the bottom of my heart and on behalf of his family we would like to thank everyone who was involved in the searches.

Regards
Dunstan

A very nice photo from the first days with me as a buddy and as a friend

skip · January 19, 2009, 20:30:51 CET

Whilst it's no consolation to Herbert's family nor his friends, he left this world doing something that he loved and gained immense enjoyment from, and as Dunstan's words have highlighted his legacy will be remembered by all those who knew him, may he rest in peace.

busumark · January 19, 2009, 21:25:35 CET

i met herbert for the first this summer at his brothers shop. his brother intruduced him to me and told him that i like fishing and from that day everytime i met him there we spent some time talking about fish. i saw you guys who were diving on sunday everyone working together to find him. he deserved all your help because although i met him only a few times it was like knowing him for a long time. when he talked about diving and fish you could see the passion for the sea in his eyes. rest in peace herbert.

SPNOTTA · January 20, 2009, 09:17:30 CET

Rest in peace

Granitu · January 20, 2009, 10:07:47 CET

shall he rest in peace. not of comfort at all but he died doing what he loves doing, spear-fishing

careful guys when spear-fishing it doesn't seem a very good year for us, spearfisherman

sirena · January 20, 2009, 13:00:36 CET

may he rest in peace.

fishfinder · January 20, 2009, 15:14:27 CET

May he rest in peace and I hope that you all spearos will remember in such accidents when you go to your limits in waiting for a fish, keep in mind that no fish is worth more than your life and all the problems and worries you leave behind to your family and friends.

I know that fishing is getting much more scarce in Malta and when we see a fish we lose our control cause it's often a one off but guys lets learn from mistakes and safety first.

fisheye · January 20, 2009, 15:34:53 CET

This is dedicated to all those who knew him family and friends what moves through us is a silence, a quiet sadness, a longing for one more day, one more word, one more touch, we may not understand why you left this earth so soon, or why you left before we were ready to say good-bye, but little by little, we begin to remember not just that you died, but that you lived. And that your life gave us memories too beautiful to forget.

and please lets not be judgmental this is neither the place nor the time. We can discuss safety in general on another separate thread.

freediver · January 20, 2009, 15:44:30 CET

may he rest in peace

suffrun · January 20, 2009, 16:44:27 CET

may he rest in peace.

fabrizioviper · January 20, 2009, 19:49:49 CET

may he rest in peace