Malta
Wreck sunk for divers off Malta attracts looters
A recently scuttled P-29 wreck has proved popular with divers, but it has also attracted looters who have been stealing whatever they can break off or unscrew.

Simone Brinch-Iversen from the Maltaqua diving centre said: "Unfortunately, bits of the new wreck are already missing, as some narrow- minded persons have removed parts of the instrument panels, numerous nuts and bolts from the chimney, and also the phone went missing just a day after it was scuttled." The AFM patrol boat was scuttled two weeks ago around 170 metres offshore between Cirkewwa Point and Lantern Point in about 35 metres of water. The boat, which is 62 metres long, is one of a series of wrecks purposely sunk for divers. Ms Brinch-Iversen appealed to looters to leave the wreck alone, so that it could also be enjoyed by other divers. The Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) was urging the authorities to enforce the law so that dive sites are protected - not just from vandals but also from fishing nets and spear-fishermen.   

Antigua

Divers abandoned 

Two British divers were abandoned for five hours in the Caribbean after instructors failed to notice that they were missing. The terrified pair, who were holidaying in Antigua, drifted for miles in the Caribbean after the group left the site without them.The group even continued to scuba dive elsewhere in the afternoon. They did not realise that the men were missing until their wives searched for them when the boat arrived back at the jetty.The men were bleeding from being swept into razor-sharp coral. One was saved by helicopter and the other by a rescue boat.Helicopter pilot Gregory Scott, said he was amazed that the two survived, adding: “Nothing excuses a qualified diving team returning to dock without realising they are missing two people.”The Sandals Grande Antigua Resort immediately fired four staff but have reportedly reinstated two. Furious rescuers yesterday slammed the dive team as irresponsible.  

Egypt

Wreck discovered off Hurghada

The wreck of a 125m-long ferry, which sank in a fire in 1994, has been found near to Hurghada in the Egyptian Red Sea by technical divers. The Al Qama Al Saudi Al Misri sank after it caught fire caused by an explosion in its engine room. Several vessels came to the aid of the stricken vessel but the ship capsized and 21 people lost their lives. After several months of research, Paul Vinten and Aaron Bruce from Hurghada’s Emperor Divers dive centre Tekstreme Diving found the ferry lying at a depth of between 64 and 83m north of the port of Hurghada. Tekstreme Diving (www.tekstremediving.com) is now running trips to the wreck for suitably qualified trimix divers.  

Aruba

Curacao BonaireHurricane Felix update 

Although normally thought to be below the Hurricane Belt, the edge of Hurricane Felix has hit the Dutch Antilles. Felix strengthened into a dangerous Category 5 storm and the edges of it lashed Aruba, Curacao and Bonaire with rains and heavy winds, causing scattered power outages and forcing thousands of tourists to take refuge in hotels. But residents expressed relief that it did far less damage than expected. In Curacao, several homes in a low-lying area were flooded. Many Bonaire residents prepared for the worst, installing storm shutters and hauling their boats ashore, but winds from Felix's outer edges left little damage. In Aruba, there was also little visible damage, a house was damaged by a fallen tree and power was temporarily knocked out in a northern town. The island's airport was also closed. Felix became the second Atlantic hurricane of the season after Hurricane Dean, which killed at least 20 in the Caribbean as it stretched from St. Lucia to Mexico. This is only the fourth year since 1886 that more than one Category 5 hurricane was recorded in an Atlantic season, according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Only 31 Category 5 hurricanes have been recorded in the Atlantic since 1886, and eight of them have formed in the last five seasons.  

 UK

Creative UK underwater filmmaker and photographer dies 

Award-winning underwater filmmaker, photographer and environmentalist Mike Portelly, 55, died in early July after a long fight with cancer.Trained as a dentist, Mike came to prominence in the 1970s with models in imaginatively set up pictures photographed with a 6cm x 6cm Hasselblad camera. He also took pictures of Fashion and nude models underwater where the models were tied down but supplied with air by safety divers.In the 1980s he branched out into producing television commercials as both director and cameraman. His more famous work including 'Water Babies' for British Gas, and later, for Cheltenham & Gloucester, building a mock ancient temple underwater in the Red Sea off Sharm El Sheikh and having a young boy swim through it.Diagnosed with cancer of the trachea in 2001, his funeral was on July 20. 

Swimmers warned that Dave the Dolphin could kill 

Dave the dolphin arrived a year ago in the waters off Sandgate, near Folkestone in Kent, and has delighted crowds who have gathered on the beach this year.However, after reports that a father tried to put his little boy on the animal's back for a ride, Kent police have given a timely warning. Dave is still wild and unpredictable, not like the dolphins people see in films that have been trained in how to behave with humans.There have been reports of him trying to stop swimmers from leaving the water when games are over.And the danger of putting a child on his back is that the dolphin is likely to suddenly head out to sea.Police officers are now keeping an eye on the beach, warning Dave's admirers that it is illegal to intentionally harass a dolphin and that he might hit back.