The search for a snorkeler reported missing two days ago is expected to resume this morning after it was called off yesterday afternoon due to bad weather, an army spokesman said.
Herbert Mercieca, 34, was reported missing on Sunday. His older brother, Jesmond, informed the authorities at about 9 p.m. that Mr Mercieca had not returned from a dive in Għajn Tuffieħa Bay.
The army spokesman said a boat carrying divers was immediately sent out, despite the strong wind and high seas. Shortly after reaching the bay they found a discarded diving float and a harpoon belonging to the snorkeler.
Peter Mercieca said his son, who is unmarried and lives with his parents, had left home at 9 a.m. equipped with his harpoon and ready to practise his hobby.
"He knew the sea would not be as rough at Għajn Tuffieħa, so he did not feel he was risking by going out," he said.
Usually, Mr Mercieca goes diving a few times a week and on weekends, leaving early and staying out all day. Each time, without fail, he would call his parents when he gets out of the water at about 7 p.m. to put their mind at rest and let them know he was on the way.
However, on Sunday afternoon when the wind picked up and the sea became extremely rough his parents got very worried and his father tried calling him at 4.30 p.m.
"We kept getting no reply, so at 7 p.m. I called my elder son and we drove to Għajn Tuffieħa. We found the car but he was nowhere in sight and that's when we alerted the police," he said, his voice breaking down.
Mr Mercieca, who works with the Water Services Corporation, was described as a quiet man of a few words, with a kind heart and a passion for the sea.
He has taken part in a number of harpoon competitions and is quite a dab hand in the sport.
"My wife can barely speak. She's under shock. Let's hope the search carries on and we find him. We're just praying and hoping," the father said.
The search, which included the police, continued yesterday with three divers scouring the area from aboard a military dinghy. However, it was called off in the afternoon because the rough seas and strong winds hampered their efforts. Moreover, aircraft could not assist the divers.
Civil Protection Department director Peter Cordina said firemen were also keeping an eye on those areas of the bay where boats could not enter.
The Meteorological Office yesterday issued a warning about the strong east to southeast wind, which later became very strong, reaching gale force over exposed areas.
Mr Mercieca's disappearance follows that of diver Paul Swain almost two months ago. The 49-year-old Englishman was last seen by a friend entering a hatch in the scuttled Gozo Channel ferry Xlendi off Ix-Xatt l-Aħmar in Mġarr, Gozo.
The search for his body was also called off several times because of the sea conditions and his body was found days later, partly buried in sand.
Frenchman Alain Bollini, 44, who failed to surface while diving off Xlendi almost four months ago, remains missing.