You cannot be a Gozitan and not have a relationship with the sea. The blue surrounding the island is part and parcel of being Gozitan. VisitGozo met up with Franco Bugeja, a 45-year-old seasoned traveller and family man who mainly identifies as a local diver and diving instructor.
Franco’s love for diving goes back to his childhood years. With a hint of what can be described best as a mischievous smile, he reminisces about carefree days at the beach and how he and his friend had the first taste of diving at the age of fifteen. The underwater world beckoned, and the following year, Franco would repeat the experience. Since then, he has been hooked. He describes this second stint at diving as spellbinding, a marvellous evocative experience as he witnessed the underwater scenery he had never seen before when snorkelling and swimming in the local bays. This was the turning point in his life, and he explains how upon resurfacing, he knew he had found his life’s calling.
At 18, Franco started diving, a habit that would take him to the beach every Sunday, come rain or shine. After seven years of diving, Franco qualified as an instructor in 2000. Initially, he planned to travel the world as a diving instructor. Eventually, he decided to work for two years on the island with a local diving school to gain enough experience, which is vital when diving is undertaken professionally. At this point, he already knew the local dive sites like the back of his hand and focused on becoming more technically proficient. One day, one of his friends invited him to partner up and open a new dive centre, but Franco, still dreaming of the ‘great’ adventure, opted out. However, the seed was planted, and Franco returned to his friend and set up the diving centre soon after. His only regret is that he had to shelve his great dream of diving around the world.
His diving passion has taken him around the globe, and he always tries to include a diving stint when abroad. Among his favourites are the Red Sea in Egypt, Thailand and Australia. As he describes his diving stints in other Mediterranean spots, he emphasises the need to safeguard the ecosystem and the fish in our waters. Conservation is crucial on many fronts, and ensuring that our seas remain thriving with marine life is essential. Franco believes that diving can help bring more awareness to marine conservation.
Despite having come face to face with creatures like dolphins, whales and even sharks while diving abroad, and he cannot discard the emotions of such encounters with the kings of the deep, Franco is a man who genuinely appreciates the beauty of the creatures of the remarkable marine kingdom, even those with a tiny dimension. He stops to reflect on the Nudibranches, the soft-bodied marine molluscs. He explains that only divers know about such creatures, and not even the fishermen are aware of them, and the Maltese dictionary does not include a term for them!
His most memorable encounter is one that involves sea horses. Franco explains the world of seahorses at Mġarr ix-Xini, giving it a lyrical vibe akin to fairytales. He remembers that in a particular year, Mġarr ix-Xini was swarming with herds of seahorses of different sizes and species. Franco was lucky enough to witness the rare experience of a seahorse giving birth during a night dive. He poignantly describes this ethereal marvel of nature as the pregnant seahorse gave birth to thousands of tiny seahorses.
When it comes to challenges, Franco considers diving a straightforward sport when done with the proper safety precautions. The only challenge is that diving can be costly and needs at least two to three hours every time. Diving cannot be practised alone and thus requires a dive buddy. That can be tricky to organise.
Franco’s advice to those who have yet to try diving is very practical. He says it is like searching for a restaurant. It is essential to check the reputation and credentials of a dive centre. No extensive course is needed for a first dive, and discovering scuba diving with an instructor starts from very shallow waters, eventually leading to a deeper level when one is comfortable.
For Franco, diving is his way of being close to the sea. He cannot imagine life in any other way. Instructing others is what he ultimately enjoys most. Meeting new people and giving them a taste of underwater, which he is passionate about, is one of his life’s bigger blessings.
VisitGozo would like to thank Mr Franco Bugeja for this interview and for sharing the photos.
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