The Malta Sea Ranger Unit has raised the alarm over what it described as its “worst day” monitoring Malta’s Marine Conservation Areas, warning that a lack of enforcement is putting divers’ lives at risk.In a strongly worded social media post, the NGO said its Rangers witnessed several near misses involving divers at the surface, with no enforcement officers available to intervene.“Our Rangers could just document and hold their breaths, hoping that no one would get hit, while alerting divers using emergency whistles,” the organisation said.According to the Malta Sea Ranger Unit, the conservation areas around Xatt l-Aħmar in Gozo and Ċirkewwa in Malta continue to experience the highest number of reported infringements.The Rangers said vessels are illegally speeding through protected zones and crossing between the shore and the special marker buoys, an area where boat traffic is prohibited to protect divers and marine life.They also stressed that travelling at high speed so close to shore is itself illegal.The NGO argued that enforcement at sea remains severely limited, claiming that Transport Malta’s enforcement unit appears to operate with just one vessel.“Without enforcement at sea by the authorities, these illegalities cannot be tackled effectively,” the Rangers said, adding that inadequate markings around conservation areas make it even easier for offenders to escape consequences.The Malta Sea Ranger Unit is once again calling for stronger maritime enforcement to improve safety for divers and better protect Malta’s marine conservation zones.What do you make of this?•