Belgian Itzy Herrero was shocked to find the idyllic bay of Mġarr ix-Xini filled with toilet paper and rubbish when she submerged for a dive last week.

“It was disgusting. It was like diving in a toilet,” she told Times of Malta.

Ms Herrero, 54, who has lived in Qala for the past 19 years, is an avid diver and was shocked and saddened to find the mess. “I even came across sanitary towels in the water,” she said.

Aside from the dumped sewage, Ms Herrero was also upset by the damage caused by boat anchors.

“There are no anchor points for the boats, so they drag them on the seabed, pulling the sand and algae until a mound forms,” she said.

These makeshift mounds are recreated each time a new boat comes into the narrow channel, ruining the seabed.

Ms Herrero appealed for the authorities to install anchor points, like those found abroad, allowing boats to tie up without any environmental damage.

“These are perfect for shallow bays because boats will not need to use their anchors,” she said.

Ms Herrero said she had never seen the sea in such a disastrous state and was embarrassed when a friend recently visited the island to go diving.

I even came across sanitary towels in the water

“I was ashamed to have her with me. She will now go home and remember the dirt. It’s such bad advertising,” she said.

Visiting boats, which reach their peak in August, also leave garbage such as empty beer cans, glass bottles and cigarette butts behind them.

“People should take their rubbish back home with them, even for their children to enjoy the bay in the future,” Ms Herrero said.

She is calling for facilities, such as chemical toilets, to be installed to dispose of the sewage and rubbish from boats.

A spokesman for the health authorities said there was no visual evidence of dumping in the sea, nor sewage dumping by vessels.

When asked about the seabed, the spokesman said the authorities were looking into the matter.