The Mediterranean sea is heavily invaded by alien species. Populations from the Indo-Pacific and Red Sea become established quickly and have frequently been recorded outcompeting the more sensitive local species. Effective control of invasive alien species first starts with early detection and monitoring of populations, an area that often lacks attention as many studies take place only after a population has already become established.

Our pioneering research study in collaboration with the Marine Ecology Research Group of the University of Malta is a long term investigation into the populations, spread and impacts of invasive flora and fauna around our island. We conduct monthly surveys in various dive sites around Gozo from April to October. This study employs a variety of survey methodology, from use of transects and quadrats for benthic substrate surveys, to census surveys assessing fish species assemblage.

This research project started in 2023 and, in 2025, we trained two other dive centres in Malta to carry out the same surveys. This increases the area of our study to cover a greater range of the Maltese archipelago. The implementation of this standardised methodology means that broader results can be compared. Not only that, but it has helped grow collaboration between dive centres; combining efforts to get behind a shared cause.

Loggerhead sea turtles were once abundant around Maltese shores; anecdotal reports from fishermen and locals mentioning frequent sightings of nesting mothers on beaches and foraging individuals out at sea. These numbers rapidly declined due to anthropogenic influence, as hunting trade of sea turtles was legal up until 1989. However, even with the new regulations, turtle populations still struggled to recover. Turtles are often found close to our beaches with injuries from boat collisions or entanglement/ingestion of fishing gear and plastics, and nesting beaches are often packed with tourists and polluted by bright lights from hotels and urban developments.

We work with Nature Trust FEE Malta team of volunteers to support the work they do in protecting loggerhead turtle populations around Malta and Gozo. We cover weekly nest monitoring shifts from May-October, as well as attending hatchings, nest excavations and releases. Our Marine Biologist is Licensed under Nature Trust Gozo’s permit with ERA to handle and rescue injured or unwell turtles (and all other wildlife under the Wildlife Rescue Team jurisdiction). Thanks to the efforts of the Nature Trust team and volunteers, Gozo welcomed back it’s first record turtle nest in 2020. Numbers have since been steadily increasing, with 4 nests on Gozo in 2025!Check out the amazing work Nature Trust do: click here!

Seagrass is often overlooked by divers as ‘just’ a plant. It may seem simple at face value, but the truth is, it is a complex, intricate and fascinating habitat. Seagrass meadows in the Mediterranean (Posidonia oceanica) are a key foundation to all life in our seas; engineering barren seafloors into complex thriving ecosystems. They act as nursery habitats for juvenile species, stabilise the sea floor and protect our coasts from erosion. They are the reason for our crystal clear blue waters and a huge store of carbon. Unfortunately, seagrass habitats are struggling to survive. Threats including warming sea temperatures, destruction caused by anchors, trawling and more. If seagrass disappears it would result in a complete ecosystem collapse.

We have acquired a permit that allows us to carry out work on the seagrass habitats that are protected by EU regulations. We replant naturally uprooted fragments of seagrass in order to give them a better chance at re-rooting and replenishing meadows. In September 2025, our friends at Project Manaia NGO entrusted us with 200+ Posidonia seeds that we planted into beds. While replantation can improve the success of individual shoots, and help to understand processes for larger scale restoration, long term conservation of Posidonia depends on protecting the meadows we already have. This can be done by understanding causes of decline and reaction of meadows to varying conditions. Health assessments are carried out by our Marine Biologist and we are also developing research surveys that will contribute towards protecting our existing meadows.

Citizen science can be valuable part of environmental research. It allows the wider community to participate in science by providing observations and data that can be used towards research efforts. Divers are in a unique position to be able to make underwater observations first hand, on almost a daily basis. We support a number of citizen science initiatives , encouraging divers and staff to submit findings from their daily dives. This means that every dive we go on has the potential to make a difference to conservation by improving the understanding our marine environments, one dive at a time. Get in touch as we are looking to grow the project!

Marine litter is a serious global problem, one that needs to be tackled at the source by addressing overproduction of plastics and reducing consumerism in order to be curbed effectively. However, if we take a closer look at marine litter around our islands, we can see that the problem is still worth trying to address, even if it is on a smaller scale. Local wildlife rescue organisations such as Birdlife Malta and Nature Trust Malta report that endangered marine animals such as sea turtles and shearwaters are hugely affected by litter. Ingestion and entanglement of marine litter and fishing gear is one of the primary causes resulting in these animals requiring rescue. While alone, we can’t change the global plastics issue, we can still try to make a change for our local wildlife.

We conduct regular clean-ups throughout the year, both on land and underwater. Bringing together other dive centres as well as the wider community to help clear the area of waste. A collaboration between Ritual and LIFE OASIS NGO was developed so that we could contribute our findings on abandoned, lost, and discarded fishing gear to their cause. LIFE OASIS aims to improve the sustainability of local fisheries and reduce the bycatch of sea turtles and other marine life by working together with local fishermen, highlighting their role as custodians of the sea. Check out their work here.

Humans have become increasingly disconnected from the natural world that we are part of. This disconnection leads to apathy and dismissal of the issues that the environment is facing on a global and local scale. That is why one of our core projects is to create opportunities for learning. Through educational talks, kids’ community workshops, and conservation workshops, we want to reconnect people with nature. Knowledge creates care and care drives change.

Talk and fundraisers:
Malta and Gozo have a whole range of environmental NGO’s. We host free, open talks for the public delivered by these NGO’s to raise awareness of what they do and increase engagement with activities like Shark Adoptions (SharkLab Malta) or citizen science projects (NudiBank). We also host fundraiser events like pub quizzes and karaoke nights to support the work of the NGO’s that rely on donations and volunteers, such as Malta Sea Rangers Unit who help tackle illegalities like spearfishing in Marine Protected Areas.

Kids workshops:
Planet Patrol is a community lead group aiming to provide children aged 5-10 with opportunities to engage in environmental education and activities. We work closely with this group, running a variety of workshops from snorkelling and rock pooling, to marine fossil exploration. Inspiring the next generation to connect and discover the natural world around them is not only rewarding, but vital for the future of our planet.

Conservation workshops and Training programme:
Understanding the ocean and natural world is the first step to saving it. Our Workshops provide the chance to connect with marine life, shifting perspectives from simply observers to curious stewards of the ocean and planet. Our training programme takes this even further, equipping trainees with the skills needed to carry out research and conservation projects underwater. These skills are applicable anywhere in the world,