Malta May 2024 Trip Report
![Malta May 2024 Trip Report](http://diverutland.com/cdn/shop/articles/07ABD933-76FC-4EC4-AC31-043276D7B7AB.jpg?v=1717533787&width=1600)
Trip Report - Malta May 2024
Trip Attendees:
Divers:
- Mel Catlin
- Susan Cook
- Ben Green
- Will Goodbourn
- Tracey Roberts
- Kurt Rubenstein
- Leonie Russell
- Vic Russell
- Rick Smith
Non Divers:
- Kat Smith
- Brandon Roebuck
Trip Details
Trip Dates: May 23rd - May 30th 2024
Stayed at: AX sunny beach Self Catering Apartments, Qawra, Malta
Dive Centre Used: Buddies Dive Cove, St Pauls Bay, Malta
Trip Dives
The varying qualifications of our group consisted of open water divers, junior advanced, advanced open water divers, divemasters, assistant instructor trainer - some tech trained and some not.
This meant that a few of the dives sites were not available to some of the group but this was well handled by our supporting Dive Centre who then took them on some interesting cavern swim throughs or various reef dives but all at the same location as the rest of the group.
During the week we dived at Cirkewwa Right and Left reefs, Tugboat Rozi, X127 Manoel island, Ghar Lapsi, Patrol Boat P29 and the must do dive of the Um El Faroud
We also had a day out boat diving where we dived the P31 Patrol Boat and Comino Caves.
A varied week of diving with wrecks and sea life was had by all.
The Um El Faroud
The Um El Faroud sits upright on the sandy seabed southwest of Wied il-Qrendi. Um El Faroud is 115 metres (377 ft) long and has a beam of 15.5 metres (51 ft), and a height from keel to funnel top of approximately 22 metres (72 ft). The depth to the top of the bridge is 18 metres (59 ft) and 25 metres (82 ft) to the main deck. The bottom rests at 36 metres. After a bad storm during the winter of 2005/6 the ship has now broken in two.
Wreck penetration is possible (SSI Advanced Wreck Speciality anyone?) with access to both the engine room and several of the smaller surrounding rooms in the stern section and parts of the mid and forward storage sections of the ship.
While the wreck is still relatively new, it has quickly become popular with fish, including pelagic species such as tuna, jacks, and barracuda, pretty much all were seen on our two dives.
![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0652/9099/3922/files/blog_Malta_wrecks_Dive_Rutland.png?v=1717613493)
![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0652/9099/3922/files/Blog_Malta_Sea_Creatures_Dive_Rutland.png?v=1717613749)
Trip 'Rules'
![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0652/9099/3922/files/Bens_Shame_240x240.jpg?v=1717529620)
Hanging your head in shame for 10 minutes with the pointy finger of Mike!
Dive Boat
![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0652/9099/3922/files/Group_Picture_Gin_Palace_240x240.jpg?v=1717530210)
Trip Cakes
Instead of Ice-creams on this trip, Tracey and a few others decided that instead of lunch a late afternoon cake and coffee was the order of the day.
![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0652/9099/3922/files/Cakes_Malta_Dive_Rutland_Dive_Trip.png?v=1717611426)
Congratulations - Bens 200th Dive
![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0652/9099/3922/files/Ben_and_Tracey_-_Bens_200th_Dive_240x240.jpg?v=1717524853)
Buddies Dive Team
A huge thanks to Mike, Danielle and Martin for their guiding and support during our dive trip.
![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0652/9099/3922/files/Buddies_Dive_Staff_240x240.jpg?v=1717789534)
Summary
A great trip with so much on offer, throughly enjoyed by all.