Um El Faroud directions please...

[TeeJF]

Has anyone got a reliable compass bearing to swim in order to hit the Um El Faroud? We had no problems what so ever in June when the viz wasn't too bad but this September we missed her completely.

The directions we were using were to surface swim out and round as far as the big crack in the rocks then to submerge and look for the divers helmet statue on the seabed then shortly afterwards there is a big patch of weed that looks like a diver's face with a J tube snorkel. From there we had been able to see the wreck previously... BUT NOT THIS TIME!

Oh well, we did see a ray in the sand... ho hum... bloody fish, always getting in the way of a good piece of metal!

Best wishes,

M and TJ

[broady]

Quoting from 'A Guide to Shore-diving the Maltese Islands by Peter G Lemon' - great book by the way

- Route 1

If sea conditions are perfect , surface swim taking a compass bearing of 240 deg until you have a 20 deg bearing on the flat faced sandy coloured rock. the surface swim is approximately 200 metres from the entry point and will take some 8/15 minutes to reach depending on current

- Route 2

In my opinion the best way to dive this wreck is to surface swim across the inlet entrance, west along coast for approx 100 metres until you reach a little cove, even at a slow swim this will take no more than 8/10 minutes. If you are facing out to sea behind you will be a large sandy coloured flat faced rock and below you a 10m ledge. Fron this ledge take a compass bearing of 200 deg. Your distance from here to the wreck is about 70 metres and takes about 3/4 minutes.

Hope that helps

Graham

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[divingniknaks]

Best way to dive that is bung a fisherman a few Maltese quid and get him to take you out there.

Why waste shedloads of gas getting there.



I nearly died on that bloody thing so my views may be taken as very biased

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[salty_seadog]

I can't remember the way, I followed the guide, but I remember swimming accross the inlet, and passign over the top of an old diving helmet!

[String]

We just surface swum to it then descended to save gas

Otherwise i dont recall using a compass. Just into the bay, turn right a bit at the exit of it, over the helmet then straight ahead. I think its only about 100m "right" of the bay.

[Helen F H]

Originally Posted by divingniknaks

Best way to dive that is bung a fisherman a few Maltese quid and get him to take you out there.

Why waste shedloads of gas getting there.



I nearly died on that bloody thing so my views may be taken as very biased

.

What he said.... (cept for the snuffing it bit....didnt manage that.... )

[Nick_lincoln]

Ah the memories of swimming at 12m, then 18m, the 30m looking for this thing.

Fantastic dive though, done it twice.

Watch out for the local fishing boats if you are doing stops in the inlet. One nearly took my buddies head off. Do you stops then get to the sea wall and ascend.

[TeeJF]

Thanks Broady, I appreciate your reply.

M and TJ

[caro]

hoi TeeJF

we did it twice
with super vizz
a great wreck , indeed

but with a guide, because it so hard to find it..

the wreck of Mt Um El-Faroud lies upright in position N 35’ 49.20 / E 014’27.04 stern closest to the inlet approximately 8 minutes normal underwater swim away from point of entry following a 270’ bearing...

like broady says:
"my opinion the best way to dive this wreck is to surface swim across .."
yes , that's the best way...

a lot of succes for your next dive on the Farouk

greets

caro

[ScubaSue]

Originally Posted by TeeJF

Thanks Broady, I appreciate your reply.

M and TJ

Being sort of 'native' I'd go with Broady's response - tis a good book, but don't get over to the 'motherland' unless flying home, sorry

T'is a cracking wreck though