Novice divers go under water in aid of charity

About 170 members of the public yesterday experienced a silent, watery world as they "tried a dive for charity" and helped raise Lm590 for St Joseph Home of Sta Venera.

The money was collected during a campaign, Try a Dive for Charity, run by ATLAM Sub Aqua Club at Qawra point between 8.15 a.m. and 6.30 p.m., for the sixth consecutive year.

"For those people who seek adventure, diving is a good option. Being surrounded by the sea is a blessing and the sea is something we need to tap into," the director of St Joseph Home, Fr Silvio Bezzina, said.

Fr Bezzina, who has been diving for eight years, described the feeling of being under water as one of awe, "especially in the deep where you feel so small".

His advice to first-time divers was to enjoy it but to be careful because although diving was "beautiful", it could be dangerous.

ATLAM's public relations officer, Edwin Zammit, said that looking back on previous years, the response to the activity Try a Dive for Charity has been positive.

Last year the activity raised about Lm800 for Dar Nazareth as 276 novices got a glimpse of the underwater world.

Mr Zammit explained that with the help of several sponsors, this year 30 diving kits and 125 cylinders, each of which were sufficient for three to four divers were available.

He thanked the members of the club for their support as well as the public and the sponsors without whom the event, that cost thousands of liri to hold, would not have been possible.

Mr Zammit explained that the public was requested to give a Lm3.50 donation, in aid of charity, to experience diving for a first time.

People interested in taking a dive had first to undergo a medical test to ensure they were fit for it. Those who passed the test were then given a brief outline of the procedure before they were passed on to a diving instructor.

Each instructor was assisted by an experienced diver and together they were responsible for five first-time divers at a time.

Once equipped with the necessary scuba gear, the seven-strong diving team immersed itself for a three-metre dive that lasted between 15 and 20 minutes.

"First time divers enjoy the experience, which they find exciting. Some love the experience and go further by starting diving lessons," Mr Zammit said.

Sylvester Cassar was a case in point. He first experienced diving during the activity four years ago after which he started taking lessons and yesterday assisted in the activity as an experienced diver.

Speaking about the first-time divers he accompanied under water, he explained that whereas some were startled by the experience, others behaved as though it was a natural thing for them.

Diver Marthese Busuttil, who has been diving for four years, agreed with Mr Cassar, adding that, at the end of the day, the majority of the novices were pleased with the experience.

First-time diver Anthea Brincat smiled as she described the sensation she had just experienced. She confessed that before going down she was scared, but once underwater the feeling changed.

"I felt at one with the fish. When underwater I saw different types of fish... I felt the water glide on my body as I moved. It's a different world and I will definitely repeat the experience," she said.

Massimo Catania said that at first he panicked, but after some time he settled down, to what he also termed, "a different world". His friend Christian Abela described the feeling as "very different and very good", one he would "recommend highly".

Standing on the shore in his blue wet suit, diving instructor Ray Scerri stressed that although more men had turned up for the event, diving was a sport for everyone, young and old, male and female and even people with a disability.

"One of the most fantastic feelings is that of weightlessness. Besides, the feeling of breathing underwater, and in so doing challenging a hostile environment, adds to the excitement of the dive," he said.

Mr Scerri said humans ought to realise that by entering the sea they were entering territory that did not belong to them and which must be respected.

Asked what he had to say to those who feared the experience, he replied that the fear was unfounded.

"There is nothing to fear, especially in the sea around Malta... It is not what there is in the sea that should be feared, but the boats that are on it."

Speaking through 24 years of experience he added: "Once you overcome the physical constraints of diving you can appreciate the scenery, the fish and the relaxing feeling that comes with it... Diving should be fun and relaxing, something to tell your friends about."