It all started at the local diving club we attend every Thursday evening where we all started to take diving lessons. At the Atlam diving club, located in Valletta, lessons on diving theories are given every week and afterwards, members can chat and enjoy a drink together. Practice sessions are then given on Sunday mornings at a dive site chosen by the instructor. We three had been diving together for these past 4 years now, Paul, an architect by profession, and Tony, a teacher, had started diving 6 years before and they had passed their instructor exam a year ago. As for me, a customs officer, I had started diving 7 years before my collogues did, and has been an instructor for these past 3 years which was how we met as we were in the same group of divers diving under the same instructor. As I do also commercial diving I was the most experienced diver of the three so when diving in a new area normally I would do the dive leading.

It was July 10th and this evening was a normal one. Although I had no lessons to give to other members, I went to the club as usual around 19:00 hrs. There where only a few people that had already arrived so I got a beer and went to some old friends who seemed to be having an interested conversation.

“Hi. How is everybody?” I greeted them.

They greeted back and one of them Charles, an office worker and a newcomer to the club, continued to talk about a deep dive to retrieve some fishing nets. Knowing my interest in ‘Search and Rescue’ dives, he explained that the day before, a fisherman friend of his, from Marsaxlokk had lost the dragging nets of his trawler and the winch, which is used to haul and keep the nets in place. Charles continued that the fisherman had told him that the nets got caught around a strange object, which was picked up on the fish finder. He had told him that this object had an unusual shape and could not be that of a large bolder. His crew had to cut the nets loose after around three hours trying to loosen the tangled nets. He was offering a sum of money if some divers would be able to retrieve the nets for him. The only problem would be that they are lying at a maximum depth of 45 meters. They asked me if it was possible that such nets could be retrieved from that depth. I said that with a good dive plan and an accurate position of the area, they might be found but I doubt if it was viable to retrieve the nets.

“Why don’t you talk and explain to him? He is a bit desperate to get those nets, especially the equipment he lost.” Suggested Charles as he gave me the fisherman’s phone number. During the time I was talking to Charles and his friends, Paul and Tony showed up, as always they come to the club together.

“Thanks Charles I will phone him. Got to go and talk to Paul and Tony about a dive we have to do next Sunday. See you all.” I said as I waved and approached the others. 

“Hey. How are you both?” I greeted them.

“Good. You?” They returned

“Ok.” I replied after which, we started to plan next Sunday’s dive as they had some student members that had to do some practical exercises.
   
It was time to part now but before we left I mentioned the dive and all information I had to retrieve the nets and told them that I was going to talk to the fisherman and if I decide to go and search for the nets I would like them to come with me. We saluted other members and left together to our cars. On our way out from Valletta, Tony said jokingly,

“What if the mysterious object would be an old shipwreck?”

“Yeah, and we find the lost treasure of the French Armada there.” I replied as we started laughing. The next morning I phoned and made an appointment for 11:00 hrs with the fisherman.

We met in a bar in Marsaxlokk, where we talked about the nets over cup of coffee. I had asked him the question if it was viable to try to search for the nets, as this could be expensive.
“Not as expensive as the equipment I lost.” His reply was.

Then he explained that the nets themselves only would not be worth searching but the equipment is. He explained that this equipment is a hydraulically operated winch, which is used to haul the nets, and two plates like objects called ‘doors’ that kept the nets open when being dragged. He continued that these are expensive to manufacture or buy. He would be grateful if somebody could try and search for them.
 
“Well I could go with some of my friends but I need some information about the position, area, depth and in what do you think the nets got caught.” I told him. He produced all the information I requested and he said that it was strange where the nets got caught, as it was not the first time he was fishing in that area and the shape of that object could not be that of a large bolder. Before we shook hands on the deal we had also agreed on the payment for the job.

Later in the afternoon I telephoned Tony and Paul and asked them if they would drop over at my house so we could discuss this dive. It was a busy evening as we met, discussed, and started to plan our dive. It was decided that Paul would be responsible and prepare a boat that would take us to the site, while Tony was given the responsibility to prepare the air cylinders and lifting bags which are balloon like objects that when filled with air can be used to lift any heavy objects from the sea bottom. I would prepare any other equipment such as cameras, ropes that we might need, a first aid kit and safety equipment. The dive was planned on the depth and the information we had. It was decided that if we find the site, we would go down together and I would do the leading. We go down a shot line to the planned depth of 45 meters. If the nets where visible it would not be difficult to find the other equipment, as these should be attached to the nets. According to the dive tables the maximum time we could do at 45 meters was 24 minutes with stops of 3 minutes at 9 meters and 18 minutes at 6 meters.

“We cannot exceed the time limit as we can run into problems afterwards” I had emphasized. Then we would assess the situation and do what ever it is necessary to haul the nets and the equipment attached to them.

Preparations where carried out during the next 3 weeks. Cameras, buoys, lifting bags, oxygen cylinder and ropes where prepared. A twin-engine 10 meter boat equipped to our specifications was found, and the air cylinders where prepared. Everyone had his diving gear prepared and we waited for the only thing remaining, which was good weather as the sea had to be calm for this type of dive. On Friday 8th a look at the weather forecast for the proceeding week showed us that the wind would turn Northwest force 4 to 5 for the next 3 to 4 days, and then it would turn and calm down from Southwest. This gave us the chance that we might make the dive during the weekend, as it was a long weekend due to the feast of Saint Mary on Friday. By Thursday the wind had died down, so, we decided that we do the dive on Saturday, as by then the sea would have calmed down. Saturday at 06:00 hrs we were on the launch in St. Paul’s Bay ready to sail. We had everything prepared onboard and at 06:30 hrs we set sail to what we taught was a normal search and retrieve operation.