Beach tennis, a good fun introduction to the sport

There’s a beach tennis court marked out at Golden Bay.  The kids found it before we adults.  We realised that something was going on as usually they pester for ice-creams, drinks, snacks, help with snorkels and so on. But, when 15 minutes went by undisturbed, we looked up to spot them engrossed in beach tennis and, what’s more, being coached by professional coach Ian Smith.  All on a regular Sunday on the beach.

Tennis is a sport most of us have a go at some point in our lives, but often forget.  Beach Tennis in Malta, conveniently in situ at Golden Bay on most summer weekends, is a great way to get back into the sport or start it afresh,  and perhaps get into it all year round.

We asked Ian to give us the low-down on tennis’ benefits for young and old, island resident or visitor,  and how to go about it in Malta. Ian is a qualified, experienced coach (find him working out of the Union Club, Sliema) and stresses that pro session aren’t exclusive or just for the born players among us; his motto is that tennis is truly a sport for all, and definitely one for our climate in Malta.

 Is tennis for me? Here’s Ian’s word on it…

Get fit + play tennis = fun.  Tennis is for everyone regardless of whether or not you have played before.  Adult beginners learn great new skills while having a great workout.  For adults, there are also the benefits of weight loss, learning new skills and engaging in a very social sport.

Tennis is truly a sport of a lifetime and with people regularly playing into their 70′s and 80′s.  The myth about tennis is that it is played by the elite and wealthy which of course is simply not true.  If you master the skills, you’ll find a sport to engage in almost anywhere in the world.   The health benefits to children and adults are second to no other sport given tennis’ cardiovascular workout and the coordination you develop coupled with the competitive and social aspects.

Having coached at every level of the game and having introduced nearly 30,000 children to the sport over a 25 year period, I can vouch for the benefits time and time again.

It is essential for a coach or ‘pro’ to be qualified to international standards, particularly if you’re setting kids on a tennis path.  Parents should ensure they choose a coach that truly understands how children learn.  The environment has to be condusive and stimulating to make tennis both interesting and fun and be able also to deliver a fantastic learning experience.

Another myth, is that tennis is ‘hitting the ball over the net’ – of course this is the aim but tennis offers a unique and unparalleled education with a coach that teaches the sport progressively.

We specialise in teaching tennis to children under the age of 10 using a worldclass system that uses modified equipment to make tennis more logical and enjoyable.  Each child has the same experience and the progressive system nurtures the child in health, coordination, socially, physically and competitively.

5 reasons to get kids playing tennis:

• development of hand-eye coordination (vital skills that last a lifetime)
• health – win the battle of childhood obesity!
• teamwork & sportmanship – social skills
• discipline & perseverance
• FUN! - tennis is fun, plain and simple!

More Info

Ian Smith runs Elitennis Malta, Under 10s Programme.  Find out more about Beach Tennis here.

Course Details:

The Elitennis Malta, Under 10s autumn course starts 24 September. Elitennis is offering an Early Bird discount to the first 20 to sign up through Malta Insideout. See full course details and offer info here and contact us for your offer voucher number. Alternatively, sign up for our eNews (see above, right) to access the voucher link in our next issue, out 1 September.

Elitennis Malta Malta Union Club, Sliema
Email:
tennisprofessional@hotmail.co.uk;
Mob: +356 79002923
Facebook:  Elitennis on Facebook

Photo: courtesy Controvento

Live and let live: natural born survivors if we leave them be

We stumbled upon an unusual set of photographs by Leslie Vella that captures the beauty and wonder of Malta’s sand dunes.  We’ve covered beaches from the tourist facility point of view, but not looked hard and long at the habitats they provide for all manner of plants and wildlife.  What better time of year to draw attention to our need to preserve Malta and Gozo’s few sandy beaches than in peak summer when we’re packed on them and trampling around them. With more beaches seeking Blue Flag status, so far given to urban, part man-made beaches of St George’s Bay and Bugibba, it’s time to wise up on Malta’s natural beaches.

Sand dunes are one of the rarest and most vulnerable habitats in the Maltese Islands.  Since sandy beaches make up only around 2.4 per cent of Malta and Gozo’s coastline, it’s hardly surprising.  Originally scarce to start with they have come under increased pressure from tourism and leisure activities over the past sixty years or so.  In spite of such threats, a few sand dunes continue to thrive and marvel us with their diversity and adaptation.

Chief among these are the dunes at Ramla il-Hamra Bay in Gozo.  The depth and the deep ochre of the sand there, make the beach impressive even before you factor in the dunes at the back. Here, you’ll find a small, but almost perfectly preserved dune area which apparently plays home to an abundance of fauna and flora.  Other dunes, perhaps more a slope of sand though, are at Golden Bay, and if you take the back steps to the beach you’ll often pass white sea daffodils (Pankrazju in Maltese) in flower, even more surprisingly even in the middle of a summer.  Their determination to grow against all odds should prompt us to protect the dunes at all costs.

If you’re exploring the dunes while sunbathing this summer, please tread carefully and live and let live this rarest of Maltese habitats. Thanks Leslie for the photos, text input and drawing our attention to dunes.

Malta: a sandy beach guide  - a full list of all sandy beaches with tourist info and map.

More dune life photos from Leslie Vella here.  His portfolio is a flora guide to Ramla.

Photo: Left: Ramla il-Hamra Bay, Gozo; top right: Sea Medick; centre: Sea Daffodil; bottom: Prickly Parsnip. 

The best of snorkeling is that it is cheap: you can pick up a mask and snorkel from most corner and village stores here in Malta, and while not the most robust equipment, they’ll last you a holiday here. If you want to invest in something more durable, dive and water sports set-ups usually have shops. Golden Bay for example, or Marsalforn, Gozo, have well stocked dive shops with snorkel gear. Snorkel in shoulder and winter months and you’ll need a wet suit. Go beyond the swimming areas designated in the popular bays, and we advise you get a buoy to indicate your whereabouts to passing boats. Also, if doing more than a very casual shallow snorkel in the safe swimming zones on major beaches and close to shore, never snorkel alone. Take a friend along for safety’s sake.

Snorkeling safety tips, click here.

Top Snorkeling Sites
Five plus one actually; we’re sure to be adding to it on your recommendations.

Ħondoq ir-Rummien, Gozo (beyond Qala) – is popular with snorkellers because of its deep and clear water and the small caves at water level. Access to the sea is from bathing ladders. Beautiful, natural spot down a long track from Qala village. Generally quiet. Sadly, the area is under threat from development, we believe. So go there now.

Fomm ir-Rih, Malta (beyond Bahrija – a little trek down a slope). The beach itself is very pebbly, so best to wear rubber shoes. Only swim here if the sea is calm. Very clear water, generally very quiet, and a lovely natural location.

Wied il-Għajn, Malta, (Marsascala) / Zonqor Point, Malta (beyond Marsascala town on the tip of the harbour below swimming pool). There is a reef that goes out in the sea, more or less across the harbour mouth. It is very beautiful. Just mind the currents and passing boats.

Ghar Lapsi, Malta (beyond Siggiewi): a local beauty spot which can get busy in summer. It’s a small inlet below an impressive, craggy coastline used by a few local fishermen. Swim out of the inlet and along the coast – it’s very deep here and excellent snorkeling. Easy road down to inlet, parking and cafes.

Comino – all the coast, if you can get to it. Blue Lagoon on summer day trips is too busy to enjoy.

Gnejna Bay, Malta – this is more rocky than the other two north-western bays. Go along the outer sides, past boathouses on the right after the so called Chicken rock, nearer to the bay.

View Top 5 Snorkeling Sites in Malta & Gozo in a larger map

Photo: Canlasa

When we rounded up the sandy beaches (list & map below), the small archipelago does, surprisingly, have a good range of sandy beaches, some man made granted, but on the whole tourists are catered for, wherever they’re staying. Most visitors seek sand, but some join the locals and are happy to swim off rock; OK for those who don’t have small kids at the bucket and spade age! Local councils taking in rocky coastlines and harbours have placed rails and ladders at safer points for us to plunge the depths with ease.

There seems to be enough sand to go round to accommodate 400,000+ Maltese and the swell of summer visitors. To give you an idea: in mid August last year, I went to Gozo’s Ramla Bay at 3pm and managed to plant myself right on the water’s edge. I doubt the same pole position would be possible on many an Italian concession beach! And in Malta, good sandy beaches are FREE! Unless you happen to want to hire a lounger or sunshade. You’ll need to leave some small change with the parkers though as well. Oh, and we’ve now two Blue Flag beaches – St George’s Bay beach in Paceville, and Bugibba’s strip of sand. Both man-made!

Some Beach Tips
When to arrive
Language students like arriving in droves on the beach in the midday sun. Maltese families tend to come and go very early or very late to sensibly avoid the searing heat, or to BBQ well into the evening (though some councils have banned beach BBQs for a few years now). So adjust your timetable around the students or act like a local! If you can, it’s best to avoid sandy beaches at weekends in peak summer unless it’s actually the hustle and bustle of crowds you’re looking for.

Jellyfish
I’ve not seen any this summer yet but we can have periods of jellyfish infestation; usually their arrival is because of a north-westerly prevailing wind blowing them to shore. Some years, we’ve had reports of an early ‘blooming’ of jellyfish but apparently sea turtle numbers are up and they feed on them – so fingers crossed! Take precautions – put kids in sleeved sunsuits (a good policy anyway) and have some sting relief or diluted vinegar with you. For more on jelly fish, awareness and burns, click here.

Beach facilities
In the main, Malta’s popular sandy beaches have seen some improvements in the past year or two: Golden Bay for instance has lifeguards (from around 10am), adequate rubbish bins and lifelines anchored on buoys to help swimmers when it’s rough seas. Ghajn Tuffieha has lifelines and a red flag system but no guards. This is reassuring. More could be done on many other beaches, but it’s a start. Most have snack bars, either temporary vans or permanent kiosks or both. But if you don’t want to eat through more than small change on things that don’t fill you up, try to take some food & water with you, especially if you’ve kids who eat every time they come out of the water!

Settings and Ambiance
The plus about Malta’s sandy beaches is that they are mostly found in natural settings in the countryside so don’t have the ugliness of built-up promenades behind them. It also means some have few facilities. So go prepared with enough sun cream, water, snacks and sting relief. Man-made beaches at St George’s Bay (Paceville), Pretty Bay and Buggiba are attractive in their own ways still, and have handy shops alongside. St George’s Bay has been awarded Blue Flag status.

Below, we list the main sandy beaches in Malta, Gozo and Comino. Click ‘Larger Map’ for locations and some details on each. We welcome your comments and experiences so we can post an honest low-down on each beach as the summer goes on.

View Malta Sandy Beach Guide in a larger map

Sandy Beaches listing

Links take you to full articles and ‘how to get there’ info.

Malta

Golden Bay
Ghajn Tuffieha
Gnejna Bay
Paradise Bay
Armier & Little Armier
Mellieha Bay
Mistra Bay
St George’s Bay
Pretty Bay, Birzebuggia

Gozo

Ramla Bay
Xlendi Bay

Comino

Blue Lagoon

Photo: Courtesy of Susan Attard.

This other side to jellyfish – their allure as weird, brainless, even beautiful marine creatures – is something that has struck the Malta Tourism Authority too. The officials there know that all beaches, at some time over the summer, are going to be blighted by jellyfish. Rather than try to play down the prospect, they have come up with a new strategy – tackle the issue head on and celebrate the large variety of jellyfish along our shores. They’ve posted up a set of ‘Spot the Jellyfish’ boards at some 70 coastal sites to encourage us to identify species we come across. In fact, kids will love reporting any new species they think they’ve found on the Spot the Jellyfish website run by the International Ocean Institute (Malta).

The MTA is also supporting a Spot the Jellyfish Photo Competition with two categories of entry: one for scuba divers; the other for those with regular cameras.

So far this summer, I’ve not spotted jellyfish at my regular two sandy beaches in Malta – Golden Bay and Ghejn Tuffieha. But it’s early in the season. Jellyfish come and go, according to tide, winds, lunar pull, bloom rates, and so on. You may have a day with them (so go prepared with some vinegar or sting relief spray), but the next day on the beach could be fine. Generally, jellyfish volumes are not something to panic about. Last year, I swam the entire summer virtually jellyfish free. It’s hit and miss. If you aren’t lucky enough to miss them, you can always take up a new beach-combing pastime, and do your civic duty by reporting details of sightings – send an SMS to 7922 2278 or email: ioi-moc@um.edu.mt.

Jellyfish trends: There seems to be no clear data on jellyfish volumes, but in certain parts of the world (off Namibia for example) scientists have discovered that jellyfish biomass outweighs that of fish. Their arrival is seasonal, and related to sea temperatures and availability of food, or the lack of their predators (sea turtles for instance). They do thrive in oxygen-poor waters so sea pollution worldwide may have helped their blooming.

Treating stings: there’s a lot of information on this. See Wikipedia for a full low-down. But to treat a minor injury from a jellyfish sting in Maltese waters, you’ll probably only need diluted vinegar or a sting relief. Make sure you protect yourself when removing any stuck tentacles. If in any doubt, and especially if treating a child, do seek medical assistance. The levels of toxicity vary according to jellyfish type, and we can all react differently to a sting. Golden Bay has a lifeguard (from July onwards) who can assist; many other beaches have food kiosks nearby which can no doubt give you some vinegar. Ambulance service tel: 196.

For more on Jellies in the Med, click here [an article from a few years ago but it's a good background read on why the Mediterranean has seen a surge in jellies. And shows Malta is not alone!]

Photo: Dragan Donkov

Pros: This rocky beach is located in central Sliema, just below a local playground and an old watchtower. It is easy to get to, by car or bus, and with some patience parking space can be found as well. The sea is very deep so it is ideal for divers and those of us less professional who still like to splash about in the sea. There is a Water sports centre located at the beach where you can get all the equipment and lessons necessary for scuba diving. At night you can also opt to take a blanket and a bottle of wine and listen to the sounds of the waves rushing in and gaze at the stars. This holds most for couples wanting some time away. The scent of the sea is the best appetite enhancer I have ever come across. Overlooking this beach you will find a beach bar/restaurant called Paradise Exiles. It is ideal for light meals, with a selection of salads and breads on the menu. To make the afternoon even more pleasant, there is also a good variety of wine to choose from. Music is played on a large juke box as well; this varies from reggae to soft rock, making the atmosphere light and social.

Cons: There used to be a ladder to climb in and out of the sea, however the strong tide tore it apart this winter and it still has not been replaced. Since the bay is situated in a natural port, it tends to be a bit windy and the sea can get quite choppy. So it might not be so ideal for families with young children. One also has to watch out for jellyfish which teem in their tens when the tide is in, however having been to this beach daily for the past month I am happy to say none have been sighted so far.

Verdict: Paradise Exiles and Exiles beach, in short, are one of my favourite summer hang out spots. In the afternoon lots of young couples with babies still in their strollers come there, it is a soothing scene with the soft music and the sun and waves nearby. As the afternoon turns into early evening more people show up and the bar can get quite crowded. For those who are looking for company it is ideal, as both locals and foreigners mix at the long wooden tables and benches.

How to get there:
See bus schedules on the new bus transport system operated by Arriva which should start on 3rd July 2011. Hopefully if you’re a returning visitor to Malta, you’ll find the new bus routes and system an improvement; unless you hanker for our characteristic, old orange and red buses – they’ll still be on some routes as vintage specials; perhaps the main Sliema one as well.

See also our Sandy Beach Guide to Malta & Gozo.

Photo: Leslie Vella

It’s a blustery February morning at Golden Bay. But the sun is out and so are the walkers, and the cafe in the corner is doing some trade. My son notices a small group of people poking at the flotsam and jetsam beached after the winter storms. Before I know it, he’s engaged in animated conversation with them.

Sharklab(Malta) was set up in 2008 to research sharks which pass through and live within the Maltese territorial waters. There are 35 recorded species of sharks inhabiting the waters around Malta. The large species only travel through the Mediterranean seasonally. Go to the fish market in Marsaxlokk on a Sunday to find the occasional unfortunate creature that ended up in a net.

Greg Nowell from Sharklab(Malta) says that sharks are being removed from our seas and oceans at an unprecedented rate, and we must act now to preserve these magnificent animals from extinction. The oceans and seas are their home and when we travel on or swim under we should remember that we are guests.

For more info, check out SharkLab’s website. They’re out beachcombing for egg cases, snorkeling and diving almost every weekend. See their calender of activities.

Photo (thumbnail, main page): by Lebatihem

Today, I was at Golden Bay with friends and kids in tow and swimming very near the channel (hotel end) marked off with buoys for the power boats, pedalos and jet skis to get out into the open sea.  The ‘Big Mable’ floating bed and banana boats were moored in a nearby channel and were all too tempting for curious kids wanting a diversion.  One boy strayed into the boat channel without noticing. In a few seconds, we saw panicked parent,  boy retrieved and told off and an episode that ended safely.  But it was a harsh reminder that accidents are waiting to happen on our beaches, even when sea conditions are smooth and calm.  Here’s some useful, timely reading to cast your eyes over to help us all stay water safe this summer….

We ran an advice piece on water safety and kids a while back.  But there are less obvious ways we can be in difficulty in the water.  For instance, would you know how to recognise the signs of someone drowning. We are conditioned, probably by films, to think that people who are drowning wave their arms around, shout and look in distress in the water. If they are managing to wave and shout, then they are likely to be ‘in distress’ but not actually drowning; not at that point. Their noise will trigger our reaction, and lifeguards into action. But it’s those who are silent in the water we need to look out for…

I read a blog post by a guy who has 19 years of US Navy and Coastguard service and writes on all aspects of water safety. He said that drowning doesn’t look like drowning. Because people who are drowning are usually silent, unable to shout as their remaining breaths are for gulping air not voice production, and their arms and hands will be underwater paddling downwards in an attempt to propel their bodies upwards. Because they are silent and their movements underwater, we are less likely to notice their plight.

The article is an eye opener, and led me elsewhere to read about another possibility – ‘delayed drowning‘ which can happen hours after a person has gulped water into their lungs. As island folk with sea and pools the mainstay of our summers, we need to recognise the signs drowning and delayed drowning.

Now, I don’t write ths to shock you, but more to make us all realise we need to at least be aware of the signs of drowning and delayed drowning. Golden Bay and Ghajn Tuffieha beaches have life guards (10am – 6pm), but we leisure and pleasure swimmers are out there, and our alertness may save someone this summer.

So please click here and read the article I read. And let’s all hope for a safe summer in sea and pools.

There's nothing like home sweet home for a BBQ!

It’s a Sunday evening in early July as I write this, which is an appropriate moment to tackle that great Maltese seasonal institution – a large, loud gathering of family and friends out for a beach BBQ.

Tomorrow morning, many a Maltese beach will bear the signs of this weekend’s nighttime invasion – litter, spent charcoal, chicken wings and detritus of all kinds will be left behind. While some litter, there are others who spend hours doing voluntary beach tidy-ups. It’s a never ending cycle of litter, tidy, litter… but perhaps we’ve reached the tipping point, or nearly.

The Beach BBQ’s Environmental Impact
Of course, it’s not solely the beach BBQ that contributes to beach littering, but here’s an anecdote on its polluting effect which isn’t all about litter.

A couple of hot July’s ago, I went out for an expensive, splash-out meal at a restaurant right next to a small bay. The establishment suggests guests arrive to catch the sunset views from the al fresco dining area. We did. And that was about the best bit of the evening, and the meal. I won’t do a hatchet job on the meal (which it deserved), but the evocative sundown drink was spoiled within around five minutes of our arrival by the chugging into action of a generator and the waft of petrol, followed by floodlights, shouting and general mayhem. The beach BBQ was in full swing.

Now, I like the idea of a beach BBQ, and went on a couple in the past. But we were responsible enough to keep noise to a minimum. The people I was with enjoyed chilling out in the mellow heat and listening to the waves, not music or generators and scoured their patch of beach meticulously using torches to ensure not a scrap of litter was left. If all nighttime BBQ-goers did this, then there’d be no need to…

Ban the Beach BBQ
Mellieha Local Council used by-laws to ban the BBQ last summer from Ghadira Bay, to some uproar. Some quarters saw it as another attack on popular ‘cultural’ pastimes. Not that the beach BBQ can be compared with the Ghanafest.

Ghadira Bay has a nature reserve behind it and is aiming for Blue Flag status as a beach with outstanding environmental and safety credentials. While the Blue Flag criteria don’t stipulate a ban on BBQs, Blue Flag status and barbecuing don’t sit happily together; the pollution the beach BBQ produces in Malta would make attaining and retaining Blue Flag status nearly impossible.

Two beaches in Malta now have the Blue Flag – Bugibba (this year) and St George’s Bay (awarded last year). Interestingly, both are ‘new’, man-made beaches and in built-up areas popular with tourists. They have no local tradition of BBQs.

Yet, the more rural, beauty spot beaches, which should have greater potential to reach Blue Flag standards aren’t yet quality enough; the BBQ culture must have something to do with that.

Conspicously, today, I noticed a row of temporary info boards on Golden Bay beach explaining Blue Flag and the local sealife and fauna and flora. The Malta Tourism Authority’s info boards nearby, also a new addition this year, clearly said BBQs were not allowed, neither was camping.

So, plans are afoot to make more of Malta’s beaches BBQ free in pursuit of that elusive Blue Flag status no doubt. I love the idea of footloose and fancy-free summer nights on the beach with a Barbie as much as the next man. But given our islands’ limited beach space, masses of beach goers and our enduring lack of self-discipline, the BBQ must stay at home. About time.

Even when they swim like fish, you need to be vigilant

This article is aimed at giving you advice for a happy, safe holiday with kids on, in and around water in Malta this summer. Do take a moment to browse down. We’re rather like the flight attendant reminding you to listen to those safety instructions even if you’re a frequent flyer (or swimmer… in our case)!

Holidays are for relaxation, and nowhere more so than in Malta which promotes itself on its relaxed Mediterranean lifestyle. However, as parents we can’t really relax when water and kids mix because…

Swimming pools pose the greatest risk of death and injury to children in a home or holiday setting. More British children drown on holiday abroad than in Britain itself, most of them in swimming pools. And if you take recent statistics from Algarve (Spain) and Greece, most drownings of young children are in pools, not the sea, despite the unpredictability of the sea and the crowds that beaches pull.

There is good news in all this though – research shows that most swimming pool drownings are preventable.

Swimming Pools & the Law
In 2008, a new European Union standard relating to the design and operation of swimming pools came into effect. It is a standard only, but both France and Spain have introduced laws based on it, and backed by hefty fines, to protect youngsters in both private and public pools. French law states that all privately-owned swimming pools should be equipped with a safety fence and gate with a self closing latch. This is not the case in Malta.

If you are renting a house with pool in Malta or Gozo this summer, do ask about pool safety equipment such as fences and gates if you have young children and are at all worried. Also, check about non-slip surfaces and ask if filters, reservoirs or infinity pools have sufficient safety barriers in place. Be aware that some houses for summer rentals have pools up close to the premises, or even fitted into courtyards; perhaps you can lock doors though this is rarely practical in summer heat.

Just be prepared to be vigilant. After all, however many safety devices are in place, accidents can happen so don’t rely 100% on anything other than your own eyes and presence of mind. If you really want to relax on holiday, swim with the kids!

Seaside / Poolside Safety Tips

Things to consider:
• Fencing round pools to avoid kids inadvertently wandering off to the swimming pool without adult supervision.
• Alarms that ring by the pool and in your house, as soon as wave action is detected, are also a good option.
• Another alternative is pool covers or shelters, though be aware that covers can hold enough water on top to pose a threat to toddlers.
• Be aware also of hidden dangers from drain or suction entrapments. Drains with broken, missing or faulty covers can entrap hair, the body, limbs, jewellery and clothing, or cause disembowelment/evisceration.
• Slippery surfaces. Nasty accidents can be avoided by wearing rubber swimming shoes, usually made out of wet-suit material. These can also protect little feet from sharp rocks and pebbles, sea urchins and other hazards by the sea.
• Swim Aids: armbands should be worn by young children at all times when in close proximity to pools or by the seaside. Modern versions are now available which do not have to be inflated. These swimming discs are quick and easy to put on, give your child better posture and more confidence in the water, and most importantly don’t puncture, so you have a lot less to worry about.
• Shade by the pool and even more so by the sea, is paramount in avoiding sunburn. Sea salt and sand mean sun block does not last as long at the beach, but these days you can find UV tents from most kids’ related outlets or online, which give the whole family a safe way to enjoy the sun.
• At the beach, avoid rough or choppy water. Be careful with inflatable boats and lilos, which can quickly and easily drift out to sea. Check the weather and the likelihood of jellyfish, before you head out.
• Have a medical or first aid kit with you to deal with jellyfish stings and accidents.
• Always have an adult present when kids are swimming. At gatherings, it is particularly important to appoint a strong swimmer to supervise kids by the pool or sea, to ensure there is a responsible adult watching at all times.

Additional reporting by Faye Camilleri Preziosi, who retails Delphin Disc armbands in Malta.
See also: Delphin website.

For more information on pool fencing in Malta, see: protectachildmalta.com

Photo: Anne Muscat Scerri.