The Professional Diving Schools Association inconjunction with the Malta Tourism Authorityrequested permission from the planning authority toscuttle tugboat number 2 some 250 metres on the sandoff St Julians Point. After going through the process ofplanning applications and being made environmentallysafe tugboat number 2 was scuttled as a diverattraction on the morning of the 20th June 2013. Shenow sits on the sand in an upright position at a depthof 22m, lying parallel and some 17 metres in distancefrom the closest point to the reef. Tugboat 2 is now anartificial reef already attracting marine life.

Another unique dive site has been created byscuttling the ninth diver attraction/artificial reef just toadd to the excellent variety of diving in the Maltese

Islands. Tugboat 2 has enhanced this attractive reefwith its marine life, only a short distance from thepromenade of Sliema. This new wreck will allow newerdivers with a qualification to this depth to visit anunderwater wreck and see for themselves how themarine life gradually moves in. She is environmentallyfriendly, the more time spent on artificial reefs the lesstime will be spent on the natural reefs. It will alsomake a good training dive for navigation and diveleading. I dived this site a number of times during mystay in September 2013 and I find it takes between 12 and 20 minutes to reach this wreck depending onyour dive plan. Maybe on the way to the wreck, justconcentrate on the route and navigation and leaveexploring the reef and its marine life for your returnjourney. Approaching the end of the reef where theboulders are and looking out over the sand towardsthe tugboats resting place, my first sighting was a darkshadow in the blue, then moving forward, soon thewhole wreck came into view, she looked quite peacefuljust sitting there on the sand. While exploring theoutside of the hull, take time to stop and resting onthe sand in front and below the bow, just look up, it isquite awesome.

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Tuo Lun Er Ho – tugboat 2 during her working days in GrandHarbour, Valletta.

The bows and bridge of tugboat 2 in her final resting place.Final preparations before being scuttled off St Julians Point,the Hilton Tower in the background. PHOTO: DIVE SYSTEMS MALTA

Tugboat number 2 was built by Malta Drydocks, Marsa in 1975 for the Chinese Government, namedTuo Lun Er Hao and registered in Tientsin China; she spent all her working life in Malta. She and hersister tugboat Tuo Lun Yi Hao worked together on the China Dock 6 project in French Creek (Id DahlaTal-Francizi) Grand Harbour, Malta. Due to the length of their names they soon became known asnumber 1 and number 2 tugboats, these numbers were painted on the sides of the bridge. Tugboat 2was decommissioned after about ten years in operation and was originally owned by Kalaxlokk Co.Ltd, in the year 2000 she was purchased by Bezzina Marine Services Ltd. She has been laid up atBezzina Shipyards for 12 years. Her sister ship, now named Anni is still working and was present at thescuttling. Tugboat 2 has a gross weight of 141 tons, a length of 30 metres, a beam 7.5 metres and aheight of 9.5 metres, as the mast has been removed.

Tugboat number 2 – Tuo Lun Er Hao

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Already the fish life are taking up residence, agrouper and a shoal of saddle bream under the bows, a small octopus in a pipe with only two very small eyeslooking up at me. It is also possible to enter the engineroom; the engine is still in place. Please ensure thatpenetration diving procedures are followed.

There are a number of ways in which to reach thewreck of Tugboat 2, but I am going to suggest three.Before you kit up bear in mind that even though thereare special marks (yellow buoys) for the wreck and thereef, beware not all boat traffic will stay outside thesemarkers and it gets very busy especially at weekendsduring the summer.

All my choices of this dive use entry point E1, checkyour entry point for the steps could have beenremoved during the winter months.

Choice 1

From entry point E1 descend and take a compassbearing between 300° and 330° this will take you overthe short marine growth, then over the sea grass downonto the sand at 12m, time about 3 minutes. If youhave navigated correctly and with a little bit of luck,you should come across the Calypso plaque and stoneson the sand, the letters read CSAC (Calypso Sub AquaClub) at Christmas, I understand a Christmas tree isplaced here! This plaque is a good marker point onyour return journey.

Now follow the reef edge where it meets the sand,for a short while your heading will be 30° in about 2 minutes the reef will be heading in a northerlydirection, depth 13m. Continue for some 10 minutesuntil you reach a depth of 18m, here the reef changesdirection slightly to 30°; at this point there is no reef assuch on your right, only sea grass. When reaching adepth of 20m your approximate total time to this pointcould be 17 minutes. You should find in this area, partlyin the sea grass and surrounded by sand, a largesmooth boulder almost a metre high and from aboveappears to be the shape of a heart, so I have given itthe name ‘Heart Rock’. Facing out over the sand usethe right hand side as a directional line and a compassbearing of 20°, from here it is 30 metres to the wreck.,or you can follow the reef further round passing threemore boulders each separated by sea grass, the fourthone is shaped like a small car, ‘Mini car Rock’, this is thewrecks’ closest point to the reef, a distance of 17 metres with a northerly compass bearing. Total timeto reach the wreck approximately 19 minutes, of courseyou may be a lot faster than me!

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Heart Rock – some 30 metres from the wreck.

An octopus takes up residence.

A diver has spotted someone’s hiding place!

THE DIVE Minimum time – 50 mins

The plaque in front of the bridge reads: Malta Drydocke No 101 built 1975.

Beware of boat traffic – especially at weekends inthe summer. The yellow Marker Buoys couldpossibly be removed from the sea in the wintermonths then a Surface Marker Buoy would be amust and at other times a Delayed Surface MarkerBuoy would be advisable

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PHOTO: LUCA PAPARELLA / ITALIAN AIR FORCE

TUGBOAT 2 - EXILES - SLIEMA

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Choice 2

From entry point E1 descend and take a compassbearing of north 0 to 330° continue down and over thereef until you reach the sand, basically this way you arecutting off a corner. Now follow the edge of the reefwhere it meets the sand all the way to Heart Rock, as in choice number 1, this route could save you 3 to 4 minutes making a total time to the wreck ofapproximately 15 to 16 minutes.

Choice 3

Possibly this is the best way to complete this dive. Fromentry point E1, surface swim parallel with the land tothe end of St Julians Point. Stay on the western side ofthe reef, using it for protection from boat traffic. Nowdescend to a depth of 5m and take a northerly compassbearing; it will take you some 6 minutes to reach adepth of 8m and a further 6 minutes to reach the endof the reef where it meets the sand. If your navigationhas been good you should be able to make out one ormore of the six boulders that line the end of the reef,bearing in mind they are only almost a metre in height.Normally from here you should be able to see thewreck, if not, from Heart Rock it is 20° and 30 metres indistance. From Mini Car Rock it is a northerly compassbearing and 17 metres in distance. Total time to thewreck approximately 12 to 13 minutes.

Return Route

You have a choice of routes over the reef to entry pointE1, compass bearing 180° or E2 compass bearing130°/140°. I would normally follow the reef where itmeets the sand all the way back to the Calypso plaqueand stones at approximately 11 to 12m. Halfway alongthe reef in an area where there are little gullies/tunnelslive a family of groupers, not very large, they seem tohide behind the rock to check you out! I found the reefto be full of life, octopus, painted comber, cardinal fishand nudibranchs to name but a few. It is always a goodidea to check out on the sand for tun shells, rays, flyinggurnards and dabs.

The minimum dive time recommended 50-55 mins.Lots to do – lots to see – a great dive – even better if

you have a camera.

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Calypso Plaque and stones.

Mini Car Rock 17 metres from the wreck.

Shoal of saddle bream taking up residence below the bow. The stern of tugboat 2.

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