It is with sadness that we pay tribute to Peter Lemon, who passed away in May 2025, at the age of 83. I knew Peter for only a relatively short time, working together to distribute his self-published book only since 2022.
Peter was a dedicated firefighter for 37 years, but discovered a second calling through his passion for the underwater world. His love for diving was ignited by his first visit to the Maltese Islands in 1983, where he explored the warm, clear waters and found a relaxed, friendly way of life that changed the course of his own.
Peter’s fascination with his underwater adventures led him to create sketches after each dive in his logbook, a practise that his buddy, Chris, suggested would be worthy of a book. This suggestion launched his career as an author. With the support of his wife, Sue, and a lump sum from his retirement from the Fire Service, he self-published his A Guide to Shore Diving the Maltese Islands, in 2002. This was followed by Scuba Diving Malta Gozo Comino, which has run to five editions, each time honed and augmented with new sites and discoveries.
Peter’s dedication was evident in the meticulous detail of his work. He spent countless hours hand-drawing each dive site, adding depths, routes, and aerial photographs. He was also a passionate photographer, and the books were filled with his own underwater shots and others generously donated by visiting photographers. Each time we met, Peter was at pains to point out how much assistance others had given to ensure that the fifth and final edition of his book was as good as it could possibly be. He was immensely grateful and humbled by it.
The final edition of his guide was a particularly challenging journey. In recent years, Peter’s health had declined, ending his 40-year diving career. In January 2024, he was diagnosed with Mesothelioma, an illness with treatment but no cure, which made completing the book even harder.
Peter’s legacy is one of passion, generosity, and love for the Maltese Islands. He dedicated his final book to his wife, Sue. Peter is survived by Sue, his son, and five grandchildren, many of whom shared in his passion for diving and who enjoyed the experience with him. He will be remembered not only for his contributions to the world of diving but also for the warmth and friendship he extended to all who knew him.
See also the Times of Malta‘s fitting tribute.