Another diver disappears in Gozo

A search party yesterday combed the seabed off Ix-Xatt l-Aħmar in Mġarr, Gozo for an English tourist who disappeared during a dive.

The 49-year-old man was diving on the wreck of the Xlendi, a former Gozo Channel ferry, with two other foreigners when he disappeared, sources said.

The accompanying divers rushed ashore and asked a hunter in the vicinity for assistance.

The hunter immediately called in help. The AFM and the Civil Protection Department dispatched four divers who were assisted by three civil protection volunteers.

The operation had to be called off later because of inclement weather and is expected to continue today should the wind permit.

The Gozo Channel had donated the mv Xlendi to the Gozo Tourism Association to be scuttled to create an artificial reef, which has become a popular diving spot.

Yesterday's news follows the mysterious disappearance of Alain Bellini, a diving instructor, who never made it back from a cave dive for an appointment with his wife on September 20.

The body of the 44-year-old has not been found. Mr Bellini, who had more than 8,000 dives under his belt in a career that spanned 26 years, was an experienced cave diver.