Bubbles May June 2015

T HE A T LA M SUBA QUA C LUB E -M A G A Z I N E

MAY / JUNE 2015 2015 Atlam Committee Members :Joseph Azzopardi President guzeppi56@gmail.com Anton Debattista Secretary andeb@go.net.mt Alfred Muscat PRO superfredie@yahoo.com Klaus Farrugia Treasurer klafster@gmail.com Reuben Borg Activity Officer reuben.borg@yahoo.com Alvin Pace Activity Officer tamsinjane@yahoo.com Victor Fabri Photography Off. vfabri@gmail.com

IN THIS ISSUE

page

• Note from the Editor 2 • Atlam Events - Fenkata 2 • Atlam Photography Comp - 2015 3/5 • Species Page - Parrot Fish - Edward Vella

6

• BOM - Archaeology & the Sea- Dorian Law

7

• Atlam Events - Majjalata - Denise Baker

8

DIVE LOGS

Atlam Photographic Competition June 2015 - Winning photo by Victor Fabri - model Antida Muscat

Ras il-Hobz - 03.05.1 5 - Edward Vella

9

Ta’ Cenc - 17.05.15 - Edward Vella

10

Reqqa Point - 31.05.15- Joe Formosa

11

Crocodile Rock - 07.06.15 - Edward Vella

12

Sanap Point - 28.06.15 - Edward Vella

13

Dives Map - Joe Formosa

14

info@atlam.org

www.atlam.org

The Editorial So lots of club activities both during these past two months, and others are ongoing…

Top of the list is for sure, the highly successful Foundation Photography course conducted by the renowned photographer Kevin Casha, which is now heading towards its ‘graduation’ day. At its launch there were doubts as to whether the number of attendees would make everyone’s efforts worth the while, but as it turned out, it was oversubscribed. Rumours have it that there may be a second one…?

Let us remain on the theme of photography. Going on an Atlam boat dive, a feature that stands out I believe, is the number of cameras on board. Then of course there is the Facebook exchange of dive shots in the evening. This for sure enriches the dive experience. The new committee is giving more weight to these underwater photographer members whose numbers are actually on the rise. Apart from the previously mentioned Foundation course, a presentation on Underwater Photography was held at the clubhouse on the 4th June for members of the MIPP (The Malta Institute Professional Photography). This branch of the art is one of the privileges open only to divers, this presentation helped to make non-divers aware of the multitude of variables that go together to make that incredible shot!

More photography! Through the kind sponsorship of M&A importers of underwater equipment and providers of diving services who provided the prizes, a photographic competition titled ‘Mandamalta.com Underwater Photography Competition’ was held on the 7th June at Cirkewwa. The winning photograph of which may be seen on the cover of this issue, and the complete collection of the participating shots on pages 3 to 5. Nice work!

Still more… to be advised through official communications in the near future are a series of photographic competitions awarding points to the winners – with the overall winner being the one who adds up the most points by the end of the year.. So quite a clicking momentum gathering here.

Other social events organised were the now traditional (and much awaited) Annual Eurovision Majjalata which took place on the 23rd May – alas no Maltese finalist this time, but who cares when there is so much good company and mouth watering food around? See page 8 for a full report by Denise Baker.

Of course, we are now entering the peak of the diving year, with another new glorious Maltese diving summer just starting (we are the lucky ones and have a lot to be thankful for!). Joining the Atlam boat dives will provide the best of what underwater Malta and Gozo can offer, and joining will encourage the committee to organise yet more activities, so as the poster would say: Atlam needs you! No better win-win situation for sure!

Keep Diving.

Edward Vella evella@onvol.net

Atlam Events -Fenkata 26.06.15

Photo: Victor Fabri

Three cheers for the great chef – the one and only George Mugliett!

Photo: Victor Fabri

ATLAM UnderWater PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION JUNE 2015 Sponsored by M&A Distributors of Diving Equipment

1st Place - Victor Fabri

2nd Place - George Mugliett

3rd Place - Mario Micallef

ATLAM UnderWater PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION JUNE 2015 Sponsored by M&A Distributors of Diving Equipment

Joseph Azzopardi Falzon

Guzi Azzopardi

Atlam Events - Photographic Competition Awards 15.06.15

From left to right: Joseph Azzopardi, George Muliett, Maryanne Micallef, M & A representative Mr. Patrick Schembri, Mario Micallef, Antida Muscat, Victor Fabri, Joseph Azzopardi Falzon

Species Page Research by Edward Vella

Parrot Fish

(Marzpan) - Sparisoma cretense

Being an herbivore, it has very developed incisors to enable it to graze on algae, but this food source is also supplemented by small crustaceans. Feeding is carried out during the day, at night it is bed time – in other words this is a diurnal fish (those active at night are of course called nocturnal – example – the octopus). Once settled in for the night, it tries to suppress its scent to protect itself from any nocturnal marauder by weaving a mucous secretion into an enveloping sac. The sea can become a very dangerous place at night – especially if you intend to sleep.

Photo: Mario Micallef

Mediterranean Parrot Fish (Sparisoma cretense) Chances are that during any given dive, sooner or later a Parrot Fish (Sparisoma cretense) – Marzpan (Maltese) sighting is bound to happen! This is more than likely if the dive takes place along algae covered reef walls or among the boulders at the reef’s base. Based on the numerous sightings, one gets the impression that Maltese waters provide the ideal conditions to support a numerous population.

Very often, parrot fish are found in groups which may be quite numerous and consist of males and females, but there may also be communities overseen by a territorial male and a few females – and mentioning gender – parrotfish are all born female, but not all remain so – otherwise they would be long extinct no? The breeding season is from July to September. Those that become female will then begin to develop the colours. While the larger males are grey overall, females become mostly reddish with a large grey area approximately from behind the eyes up to the leading edge of the dorsal fin. The grey and the red are separated by a yellow band. Common to both sexes are the large scallop shaped scales that cover the entire body, and of course the highly developed and specialised incisors.

Apart from the Mediterranean, Sparisoma cretense is also to be found along the Atlantic shores from Portugal and down along the upper West African coast, however other related parrot fish species are to be found in the Caribbean down to the coast of Brazil.

Quite a lot of reef grazing going on down there!

Perhaps another reason for the large numbers is that the Mediterranean Parrot Fish is not much sought after food source for us humans! As perhaps happens with another grazing fish – the salema – the flesh of these fish is not very tasty, and has a soft consistency.

This species in fact is known to inhabit the lower shores of the Mediterranean, but recently, perhaps as a direct result of the general trend in increasing sea temperatures, it is being found more frequently in for example northern Italian shores.

Photo: Tano Rolé

July-August­: Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Tonn Photo :Joe Formosa

PLEASE SEND PHOTOS

Book of the Month Review by Dorian Law

Dr. Elaine Azzopardi (BA) in Archaeology.

History of underwater archaeology in Malta: A detailed description of the various underwater archaeological events that happened in Malta, starting in the late 50s to the latest systematic survey of the seabed off the Maltese islands covering over 350 square kilometers.

Name of Book: Archaeology and the Sea in the Maltese Islands.

Authors: Elaine Azzoppardi & Timmy Gambin.

Publisher: Aurora Trust & Midsea Books Ltd. ISBN Number: 978 – 99932 – 7 – 402 – 5.

Book in short: This book describes underwater archaeological activities and finds around the Maltese islands that shed a better understanding of our history and the connection of the island’s inhabitants with the sea. The information supplied by the authors makes this book an ideal introductory book for anyone interested in marine archeology, in particular, around the Maltese islands. With about hundred coloured photographs and sketches to compliment the detailed information, this book is divided into five chapters, namely;

Dr. Timmy Gambin B.A.(Melit.),M.A.(Bristol), Ph.D.(Bristol)

Archaeology and the Sea – how cultural remains can shed light on human interaction with the sea: A voyage through time from the birth of scuba diving which made marine archaeology possible, to the different types of studies and their outcome. Other topics include the connection with the sea of the island’s past inhabitants like the seafaring Phoenicians and Greeks and the connection between land-based archaeological finds and the Mediterranean marine routes.

How do we study marine / underwater archaeology?

Remote sensing, ROVs, excavation and conservation are some of the subjects described which are used to bring to light archaeological finds.

Maritime Malta: an overview: A historical recollection of the Maltese island’s maritime activity, starting from the island’s first inhabitants from Sicily to the post war period of today.

Finds from Malta. A collection of photographs and information regards underwater finds. This includes anchors, Xlendi’s amphorae, wartime wrecks like the HMS Russell and HMS Olympus, aviation archaeology and the submerged prehistory.

With the HMS Southwold in the background, the following quote from the back cover is the best introduction to such an intriguing subject; marine archaeology of the Maltese Islands, and makes this, the book of the month: “The Maltese Islands have, since ancient times, been witness to various degrees of maritime activity. This movement of ships was mainly linked to the islands’ excellent harbours. Over the last 50 years, the introduction and rapid increase of SCUBA diving around Malta and Gozo has led to numerous archaeological discoveries on the seabed. This book presents not just the artefacts but the stories of how they were found.”

Availability: Item 009.521.434. Malta Public Library.

Atlam Events Majjalata 23.05.15

Article: Denise Baker Photos: Victor Fabri

I met Atlam SAC some 15 years ago and the thing that attracted me most to the club (after safe diving of course) were the social events organised by the club for its members, their friends and families. It was obvious then as it is now that everyone sees these occasions as a chance to meet up with old friends and make new ones.

Robert Vella carving his masterpiece

A feast for all ages and all the family

One only has to look back on the last Majjalata of the 23rd May held at the Lily of the Valley School, to see this.

Over 100 people attended to enjoy the Eurovision song contest, a good meal and drinks whilst catching up with the Atlam family.

Members ,families and friends enjoying the evening

The night started off with the celebration of holy Mass which was said by our very own Fr. Silvio Bezzina. Robert was our master chef, looking after the cooking of a 120kg pig (we owe the success of a good meal to that poor pig) whilst conjuring up a tasty chutney sauce. Mary was ever busy, not only getting salads organised beforehand, but also making sure we all got our fill on appetisers of garlic bread and sausages before the meal. A well deserved mention goes to those who helped in dishing out the food namely Fiona and Jackie.

But last and by no means least the guys behind the scenes, the ones who were there from the morning loading the pig on the spit, bringing the drinks on site, setting up the big screen, laying out the tables etc etc.

In a nut shell the very guys who made this possible......

Anton, Derek, Dorian, Guzi, Mario, Noel, Reuben, thank you for all your hard work!!

All was eaten, nothing was wasted and everyone had fun, making the night another Atlam event a great success.

Ras il-Hobz

- Gozo 03.05.15

Since the prevalent wind in Malta is the North West, boat dives at Ras il-Hobz (and the other dive sites on Gozo’s south facing coast) tend to happen more frequently than at other sites. That is why it was a bit perplexing when this site was chosen! The forecast was fine, with a light easterly wind, so we could have dived anywhere along the Western coast – but then the elusive reasoning materialised…. The boat dive was not to be the fast and stable Atlantis II but the slower and rollier Lucky Lady and Ras il-Hobz is not too far away – we have become a pampered bunch – too used to having the best!

That aside, Ras il-Hobz remains a fine dive site, with the added advantage that since its features have become well known to many Atlam divers through our frequent visits (the North West after all is the prevalent wind – and it often blows on Sundays!), this site has become one of the nicer relaxed dives. This allows for more observation and appreciation.

Article & photos by Edward Vella

This site has featured many times in Bubbles’ Dive Logs, and one may remember reading that for sure the main feature is the free standing pinnacle situated only a few metres away from the shore reef. We have seen it so many times, but it is always impressive. This time the we decided to proceed due Eastward and past the pinnacle (a.k.a. the Middle Finger – wonder what happened to the other four…) searching the reef for photo targets. Unfortunately, this time we had lean pickings. At the turnaround point however, looking at me from between the fronds of brown algae was a large cuttlefish – which obliged with the usual menacing raising of upper tentacles and waves of changing body colours – nice! We then visited the pinnacle top in the hope of encountering the resident shoal of two banded bream, but this time apparently even these were not at home.

Technical divers at this site have very easy access to the deep, but that surely is another story, one which I am sure will make very interesting reading. Coming back up from the deep, the shore reef is excellent to count down the deco penalty. It starts off at about 12m at the deep end, and then tapers off to a couple of metres at the shallow shore side. It seems to have been purpose made during the Grand Design!

And so back to Marfa on the jolly old Lucky Lady to the awaiting Sunday lunch….

The pinnacle

Ta’ Cenc- Gozo 17.05.15 When someone states that he has dived at Ta’Cenc, knowledgeable divers would deduce that on the day, the weather conditions, primarily the wind velocity and direction, would have almost certainly been higher than a force 4 North Westerly and given that the dive starts beneath sheer cliffs, then for sure the only access possible would be by boat. In this case these assumptions would have been very correct!

Our dive boat, was the Atlantis II now back in business after its winter re-fit. As is typical when we do this site, the divers are discharged as close as possible to the cliff face, at a couple of hundred metres to the right hand side of the Mgarr ix-Xini creek entrance, and then the dive takes an Easterly direction towards the entrance (wall on the left) to be collected at that point.

Article by Edward Vella

We started off the dive by descending along the steep slope down to approximately 30 metres and then progressed along the agreed heading for about 15 minutes, at this point, just when we were resigning ourselves to one of those barren dives, there was a welcome encounter with at large slipper lobster. This one was completely out in the open, and provided an excellent excuse for a protracted photo shoot! But it was not to be the only slipper lobster…..

This second crustacean was found all tangled up in a ghost-fishing net which had become snagged around a free standing boulder. Here we were at about 28 metres – the depth was becoming shallower, an indicator that we were close to the creek entrance. This was a small individual, and still it had managed to become hopelessly entangled. Had it not been for the keen blade (and eyesight!) of Raniero Borg, this slipper lobster (Maltese: Ckal) would have had it for sure. Incidentally, this rescue has been filmed and may be appreciated here: https://w w w.youtube.com/ watch?v=BNEZAUInerQ

Photo: Joe Formosa

Photo: Edward Vella

Once within the creek, we visited the two caverns on the left hand (facing landward) side of the entrance. Both of these have very small powdery sand, almost like silt, so extra care must be given to the finning technique. One energetic stroke towards that sand, would mean the end of any photo session for the day.

The sandy sea bed in front of the caves is colonised by what seems to be Cymodocea nodosa, which to the untrained eye seems to be sparse Neptune seagrass – Posidonia oceanica, but it is actually another species.

This environment creates another type of habitat, where bottom dwelling sea life like gurnards, spotted weevers, lizard fish and occasionally sea horses may be found.

Air was getting low, but the safety stop was done, and now it was just a matter of surfacing after an eighty minute dive – we thought that it was not bad value for money at all!

Photo: Joe Formosa

Photo: Joe Formosa

Reqqa Point

- Gozo 31.05.15

Article & photos by Joe Formosa

Although one can dive Reqqa Point from shore, a boat dive saves the travelling time of getting there by ferry and car. The dive can be planned in various ways: some divers may choose to go very deep to the sandy bed reaching 60m+; others may explore the spectacular ‘Chimney’ cave which rises from 60m to 35m; others may prefer a wall dive, Shrimp cave or the very large and long Billinghurst cave.

The weather was pleasant: a 20°C May sunny day with broken cloud cover, water temperature 15’C. We were 13 divers onboard and I was joined with 2 other buddies for the dive. The plan was to do Billinghurst cave, since one of the buddies had never done it before.

On arrival, the boat positioned itself east of Reqqa Point with the first divers including one of my buddies entering the water. It soon become evident there was a very strong surface current; divers and the boat drifted quickly to about 50m away from Reqqa point.

As I was about to jump, the captain of the boat decided to move the boat west of Reqqa Point so that divers could drift towards the coast.

At this point in time, me and my other buddy decided to descend 30m and head easterly to meet the other buddy coming opposite way. We met exactly whilst turning around the reef below the pinnacle. We then descended deeper to about 43m and continued our dive moving west towards Shrimp Cave.

The main attraction of this part of the dive is the wonderful feeling drifting in lit clear deep blue water in sharp contrast with the dark sheer vertical reef wall which faces north. We moved along the big boulders on the west side of the pinnacle encountering a moray eel. On arriving inside the cave, I immediately searched for the upper crevices and was sure to find them littered with shrimps which immediately spread around scared by the light of my torch.

I was photographing the shrimps and noticed that my buddies were giving me a signal not to spend too much time in the cave and to proceed towards Billinghurst cave.

The dark north facing wall suddenly stops and turns left, allowing sun rays emerging above Billinghurst cave to light up the sea and expose 3 very large dentex cruising in the blue.

By this time, I had already accumulated lot of decompression and decided to stay exploring the large cave entrance and wait for my buddies who insisted to explore deep inside the cave. There is a lot of coral, sponges and miniscule sea life along the walls forming the entrance. Below the ceiling on the left looking out, I noticed a conger eel stationary in the narrow crevice surrounded by shrimps.

Soon, my buddies were out of the cave and we all started our route towards the boat. Having spent a lot of time at depth, my buddies gained about 15 minutes decompression which was released enroute from the cave and the shallow parts around Reqqa Point around which an amazing diversity of shallow water marine life such as kahli (sea breams), xilep (salema), kahli (painted combers), ornate wrasses and big shoals of small fry. Soon after clearing we had a long surface swim towards the boat which was collecting divers still drifting away from the eastern reef.

Crocodile Rock Perfect weather for a perfect dive site! As the divers where stowing their equipment on the Atlantis II there was a general feeling of positive anticipation that comes before diving Crocodile Rock. Then the discussion turned to the previous Atlam boat dive there – that was the one held on that memorable 5th October – the one which started off with perfect weather (as on this day), then on the way back, we were hit by a veritable storm front, which made the Atlantis II head for the safety of Mgarr Harbour in Gozo, and all the divers had to get back home on the ferry. Thank God for the happy ending! (Bring back memories of the storm at https://vimeo. com/108269627).

- Gozo 07.06.15

Our dive took more or less the same pattern we usually adopt for Croc Rock – descend through the breach in the reef top down to the first shelf which is at about 40m in the hope of meeting one of the large dentex or mottled groupers that inhabit this area. Unfortunately this time we only encountered a marked thermocline, which sent the surface temperature of 21 deg C down to 17. The next phase of the dive consisted of a very gradual ascent keeping the reef wall on the right heading toward the turnaround point which is the so called Roger’s Cave - and here things are not going so well…..

Dislodged sponge lying on Roger’s Cave floor.

Article by Edward Vella

Actually, in successive dives here we had been noting a steady degrading of this interesting cavern, for instance, the floor is littered with the remains of shade loving life forms, like for example lace bryozoans, but this time is was more alarming. Two large (I would estimate about 45cm) orange coloured sponge growths were lying on the cave floor. It would seem that they were somehow knocked off from somewhere on the cavern’s walls or ceiling by careless by some diver’s careless finning?

The remaining damage may also be attributable to diving activity - possibly by divers touching these growths, as well as by exhaust air settling in ceiling cavities.

Would it be wishful thinking to somehow suggest making Roger’s cave out of bounds for a determined period in the hope that it recovers?

Exiting from the cavern in light decompression, we headed slowly up towards the rim of the reef, this time heading back towards the breach. So no notable sea life encounters this time, however, the technical divers had better luck, and came back with stories of a close encounter with a large dentex.

This time it was a relaxing cruise back to the quay at Marfa. No grey walls of heavy rain awaited us as we rounded Newwiela Point….

Dawret is-Sanap/Blata tal-Hotba

- Gozo 28.06.15

Article and back ground photos by Edward Vella

Dawret is-Sanap…. a quick look in my dive log revealed that the last time we went there was way back in 26th April 2009, so naturally there was anticipation to rediscover the place. It is the name given to the last semi-circular recess before coming to the Xlendi Tower at Ras il-Bajda. The weather however had other plans!

The NW had settled in mid-week, (right after the boat dive notice was sent eh…) and then on Sunday, it started to taper off, but our concerns were justified when we got there – it was not impossible, but it would have been uncomfortable, more so for our skipper who would have spent a good hour and a half rocking and rolling waiting for us on the reef. In view of this, we re-traced our course to a smaller arc shaped recess beneath the headland called Il-Blata tal-Hotba. (Humpback Rock?)

This was to be a drift dive, keeping the cliff wall to our left.

So decision taken, the divers were discharged in front of a large cave. There was another smaller cave to its left (looking towards the cliff ). My good friend Alex Camilleri told me that the larger one is called L-Ghar tal-Fatati (Ghosts Cave!!), and the smaller one L-Ghar tal-Klieb (The Cave of Dogs – unless something is not being lost in translation..)

Sea life was a disappointment. Beautiful scenery and lighting, but alas only a couple of spiny lobsters, a large moray eel and a slipper lobster were observed. I only saw one spiny and the moray – pity.

This dive was a very nice surprise – we have to return.

Actually we did not explore the caves, (must do so next time..) but started out following the cliff faces as planned, therefore heading in a Southerly direction. At the dive’s start, the depth is about 40m or thereabouts, but it seemed to me a bit non-standard that there are not too many boulders that have fallen off the cliff face, so one does not see the boulder slope that typically accumulates. The cliff face here keeps descending straight down providing for some very spectacular scenery. Another feature which adds to the dive’s enjoyment is that at the time (about 10:00hrs), the cliff is brightly sunlit.

Towards the end of the dive, the entrances to at least two submerged caves and another with an underwater entrance but which may be surfaced further in, were ‘discovered’. Unfortunately, the discoveries came too late, since the air by now had long been exhaled… again a strong note for an eventual return!

Photo: Mario Micallef

Photo: Mario Micallef