Wrecks of Malta

I had not seen a shipwreck ever in my life until this past summer, here in Malta, while taking  freediving lessons.  The Um El Faroud was the first wreck I encountered while I  swam down to  about 16m deep, on a single breath of air.   There were plenty of fish everywhere and a large moray eel poked his head out of a pipe to greet me as I approached the top deck.  I felt as  though I was in another world.  There was a very strong silence down there, almost like a moment frozen in time.  There was nothing but me, the ship and all the marine creatures that live around this wreck. Not another human in site! It was as though a door to a new world opened before my eyes.  

Since then, I finished up my scuba diving course and had the opportunity to encounter a few other wrecks in Malta.  I say "encounter" because I feel that each wreck has its own entity, its own sphere of energy. Each wreck evokes a different sensation. I find wrecks are somewhat eerie, but fascinating and beautiful at the same time.

You and I on the Rozi

The Rozi

The Rozi, for instance, is a frequently visited wreck in Cirkewwa. I would describe it as having lots of energy.  It has plenty of fish and eels to visit and is quite stunning as a wreck itself.   I've gone diving there a few times, and every time has been wonderful. 

"Silence in Darkness"

The P29, although very close in distance to the Rozi, feels nothing like it. It is a much "heavier"wreck, almost solemn. Its top deck  is covered in algae, making it look tattered and eerie. There aren't as many fish here as the Rozi, but you can still see a decent amount.  There is a mounted machine gun on the front deck. Everyone likes to take a picture behind the gun. It's a good wreck to explore, and again, very beautiful but also dark in a way. There is a silence surrounding it and a feeling that the windows of the wreck are looking right at me.

The only other wreck I have been to other then the ones mentioned,  is the Tug 2 off of Exiles. I have yet to paint it, but I would interpret that wreck as being "light" in energy and fun. I have not seen many fish on this wreck, but I have found a lot of scribbles on the side of the boat, left there by other divers.  It's a shallower wreck then the other ones I've been to, and surrounded by a sandy bottom which  helps to reflect a lot of light.  Despite being  a happier wreck, it still has a certain silence that cannot be found up on land. 

I think all wrecks carry this silence. 

There's a stillness, a sense of nothingness, a sunken past about wrecks that words cannot describe. Those are the reasons for my paintings.