Death of a turtle
Published on the Times of Malta on Saturday 20th October, 2007 by Adam Cassar.
During a dive at Hondoq Ir-Rummien - dive time being around 40 minutes and maximum depth at around 13 metres - some divers spotted a turtle lying in the sea grass in 10 metres of water near the pipeline, just outside of the swimmer-zone. They stopped to watch as it grazed on the grass and then began to swim and surface for air. Only after it started to swim out towards Comino did they progress with their dive. Upon returning to the surface, the divers were asked not to speak of the turtle until after they arrived back at the dive centre. They did not want anyone to overhear their conversation on what they had seen, as they knew what the turtle's fate would be.
Turtles are a rare sight around the island. I have been diving here for a good 12 years and not once have I come across one. Even other divers - some of which have been diving the islands a lot longer than I have - have never come across one. To be honest, I only know of two sightings, including this one. In recent years the number of turtles has declined sharply. This is one of the reasons we have had jellyfish infestations around the islands, making it impossible for bathers to enjoy a peaceful swim, the turtle being one of the jellyfish's main predators.
To view the whole article go to, http://www.timesofmalta.com/core/article.php?id=4937&hilite=hondoq
During a dive at Hondoq Ir-Rummien - dive time being around 40 minutes and maximum depth at around 13 metres - some divers spotted a turtle lying in the sea grass in 10 metres of water near the pipeline, just outside of the swimmer-zone. They stopped to watch as it grazed on the grass and then began to swim and surface for air. Only after it started to swim out towards Comino did they progress with their dive. Upon returning to the surface, the divers were asked not to speak of the turtle until after they arrived back at the dive centre. They did not want anyone to overhear their conversation on what they had seen, as they knew what the turtle's fate would be.
Turtles are a rare sight around the island. I have been diving here for a good 12 years and not once have I come across one. Even other divers - some of which have been diving the islands a lot longer than I have - have never come across one. To be honest, I only know of two sightings, including this one. In recent years the number of turtles has declined sharply. This is one of the reasons we have had jellyfish infestations around the islands, making it impossible for bathers to enjoy a peaceful swim, the turtle being one of the jellyfish's main predators.
To view the whole article go to, http://www.timesofmalta.com/core/article.php?id=4937&hilite=hondoq
posted by Hondoq at
5:00 PM
