Patrick Vella had a passion for the underwater world. Photo: FacebookA 36-year-old diver died yesterday morning while carrying out works at the Palumbo shipyards where he was called in to repair a faulty underwater mechanism used to empty a dry dock.
Patrick Vella, from Żejtun – the father of triplets – was also a marine biologist with a passion for the underwater world.
“The sea was his life. Saying he had a passion for it is an understatement. I can’t understand how this could have happened since he was not someone who took risks,” said his friend Alan Deidun with whom he set up a marine biology course through Nature Trust.
A spokesman for Palumbo said that, yesterday morning, workers emptying one of the dry docks realised it was taking longer than usual for the water to be released.
They spotted a fault in the underwater mechanism and called in Mr Vella to help. But, as minutes ticked away, the diver never resurfaced and workers called for help. The spokesman denied there was any underwater mechanism that could create suction, as reported in certain media. He insisted that the faulty mechanism – “like a gear box” that helped empty the water – was manually operated.
The sea was his life
The police said they were called in at about 11.45am and informed that a diver needed help at dock number 4. The Armed Forces of Malta and the Civil Protection Department were also called and they sent in their diving teams who retrieved Mr Vella and he was taken to hospital – where he was declared dead. Police are carrying out further investigations while Magistrate Neville Camilleri is carrying out an inquiry.
Justice Minister Owen Bonnici tweeted last night: “Shocked to hear about the tragic death of Patrick Vella, whom I happened to know very well. My thoughts are with his family.”
Mr Vella started diving in 2001 when he developed a passion for the underwater world, and was a director of Watercolours Dive Centre.
He graduated from University with a Master’s degree in biology and completed various marine projects and studies of artificial reefs in Maltese waters.
In 2002 he started importing scuba diving equipment and, in 2009, launched his own brand – Salpa Sub. He also carried out scientific diving and underwater core cutting and drilling.