A 58-year-old Bulgarian diver died yesterday after he found himself in difficulty while diving near Fra Ben at Qawra.

The diver was diving with a group of 10 at about 5.30 p.m. but did not surface with them.

He was found dead on the bottom in 30-metre deep water at 8 p.m. during an intensive search by the divers from the Armed Forces of Malta and the Civil Protection Department. He was found between 50 and 60 metres off shore.

A patrol boat and a helicopter were also involved in the search while policemen searched from the shore.

The alarm that something went wrong was given after the group surfaced and it was noticed that the Bulgarian did not.

After the lifeless body of the diver was spotted and the spot marked with a buoy, it was lifted onto a dinghy of the AFM’s bomb disposal unit and taken ashore close to the Qawra Palace Hotel.

Sources said the dead man was an experienced diver and he was a member of a Bulgarian diving club.

A post-mortem examination is expected to be held at Mater Dei Hospital today.

Magistrate Edwina Grima, who is holding an inquiry into the fatality, has appointed a team of court experts.

This was the second fatality involving a diver in three weeks. A 61-year-old German died in hospital after finding himself in difficulties at Il-Fossa, Jews Sally Port, Valletta at the end of May.