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Welcome
to the beautiful Mediterranean Islands of
MALTA with breathtaking coastlines
and clear calm waters. Here you can explore the colour, vision
and life of the undersea world and let your senses absorb
memories that will last a lifetime.
Scuba
Diving
in Malta is considered the best diving in the Mediterranean. The Maltese islands are blessed with warm
temperatures, even in winter, clear, unpolluted seas, with
visibility underwater in excess of thirty metres. Hundreds of kilometres of coastline, many of which are still unexplored,
make the Maltese archipelago a favourite with adventurous
divers. |
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BRISTOL BEAUFIGHTER |
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The Bristol Beaufighter was built in Filton & Westonsuper-Mare
England. The Mk1 was first taken into service in July
1940. This aircraft was a twin engine 2-3 seater long
range fighter, strike and torpedo aircraft. It had a wing span
of 18 metres and almost 13 metres in length. Armament: 4x20mm
Hispano cannons in the fuselage nose, 6 0.303" machine guns in
the wings and one machine gun in the dorsal position. One
18" Torpedo externally under the fuselage also 8 rocket
projectiles could be carried as an alternative to the wing guns.
Using a gyro angling device and a radio altimeter the
Beaufighter could make precision attacks to wave top height with
her torpedoes or rockets, add to this her long range and ability
to undertake combat during darkness made her a formidable
fighter aircraft.
(Scuba Diving the Malta - Gozo - Comino by Peter Lemon) |
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"On 17th
March 1943 at 11.25 hours nine Beaufighters of No 272
squadron took off to escort nine Beauforts of No 39
Squadron on a shipping strike of Point Stelo. At 11.38
hours Beau fighter ‘N,’ with Sgt Donald Frazee at the
controls and Sgt Sandery as observer, began to vibrate
violently and lost speed rapidly. There was no option
but to ditch the aircraft and this was accomplished at
100mph in a slight swell about 1000 yards off Dragonara
Point, Sliema. As all this took place close to shore,
persons watching informed Fighter Control but Maltese
dghajsas reached the crew some five minutes before
rescue launch HSL 166 arrived on the spot. The air crew
was transferred to the launch.
(This extract was taken from the book ‘Call Out’, page
227 a wartime diary of air/sea rescue operations at
Malta written by Frederick R. Galea). |
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The Bristol Beaufighter
was found at the mouth of St. Julian's Bay. Wreck lies
upside down at a depth of 38 metres on a sandy bottom.
This dive
is done by boat and as the divers descend the wreck will
come into view. What remains of the Beaufighter is
the main fuselage, the wings and undercarriage.
This is an excellent dive for the photographer.
Extra care has to be taken in planning this dive due to
its depth and good buoyancy is a must in order to
maintain good visibility. |
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Divesubway.com - Subway Dive Centre |
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