Credits: Social Media
Sunbathers cheer in awe as man dives off cliff with his Jack Russell dog
A man has captured everyone’s hearts diving in the Mediterranean with his Jack Russell, and the dog’s skills are actually rather impressive.
Carmelo Abela and his furry friend Tina are well known in Malta and regularly gather an audience while cliff-diving together at St. Peter’s Pool in Delimara.
Man dives with his Jack Russell
A video of the iconic duo has gone viral on TikTok this week which begins with the pair standing on the edge of the rock preparing to dive. Tina, a little white and tan dog, whines loudly in excitement as she waits for her owner to leap off first.
Carmelo, who works for Malta’s Travel Department, jumps into the crystal clear Maltese sea and the Jack Russell remains on the cliffside until her owner puts out his arms. This is the signal for her to jump, and she quickly dives straight into his open arms.
Impressed swimmers and sunbathers in the sunny cove instantly roar into applause as the pair reunite in the water.
Another clip filmed from on top of the cliff shows them performing the impressive move once again. Tina then sits on her owner’s back as he swims through the water and everyone whispers “Awwww” in amazement.
Carmelo and Tina are famous in Malta
The pair are well known on the Mediterranean island and have been seen diving together in Delimara for many years. However, Carmelo actually hit internet stardom with another Jack Russell called Titti, who sadly passed away in 2019, aged 10.
Carmelo and Titti hit worldwide headlines diving from the limestone cliff and become celebrities in Malta. After she died, he then taught the diving craft to his new dog Tina and they continue to gather an audience to this day.
Jack Russell terriers weren’t popular in Malta when he got Titti in 2009, but Carmelo was inspired by the Jim Carrey movie The Mask. He got the pup from the nearby Italian island of Sicily and her name is from Hotel for Dogs.
“We started off on less high cliffs and ledges,” he told Travels with Tricia. “First, I would jump in, and soon Titti followed me. Eventually, we went on to try higher and higher ledges. Now Titti only likes St. Peters Pool she refuses to dive elsewhere!”
After Titti died, a family from Russia donated Tina to him. She comes from champion pedigree parents and quickly picked up the love for diving too. The Maltese native rides to the cliff on a motorbike from his home in {ejtun with the dog in his backpack.
They have racked up more than 65,000 followers on their Facebook page Tina Adventures Malta, where he regularly posts pictures and videos of them together.
If you love cute pet videos, watch this loyal dog protect a baby who wanders outside like the perfect bodyguard next.
