A SCUBA-DIVER who was accused over the deaths of his girlfriend and friend has spoken of his relief after the charges were dropped.

Stephen Martin, 55, from Rustington, near Littlehampton, also called for better safety measures for divers in Malta, where Larissa Hooley and Nigel Haines died in an accident while diving on holiday with him.

The computer expert was charged with involuntary homicide by Maltese authorities who said he was responsible for the pair as the most experienced diver in their group.

But on Monday, as he prepared to fight his extradition at a court hearing on Wednesday, he was told the charges and his extradition had been unexpectedly dropped.

Speaking to The Argus on Tuesday, Mr Martin, who denied the charges and has been under bail curfew since August, said: "I was preparing to go to London when my solicitor phoned me to say charges had been dropped. I am just so relieved it is over. I phoned the electronic tag company and they said I could take off my tag.

"I still cannot believe it happened. But I don't feel as if anyone has won here - it does not bring them back. It is just dreadful."

While authorities in Malta have not spoken publicly about their decision, Mr Martin said the British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC) had highlighted to Malta's attorney general the impact the high-profile case could have on the nation's diving tourism industry.

BSAC and Mr Martin's MP, Sir Peter Bottomley, were among many who called for the charges to be dropped, stressing that an inquest in Brighton said the deaths were accidental.

Mr Martin said he had not ruled out lodging a formal complaint with the authorities over his treatment.

He added he planned to travel to the country in the summer to lay a wreath at the spot off the island of Gozo where Mrs Hooley, 48, from Aylesbury, and Mr Haines, 59, from Hove, died in 2014.

He added: "The safety there is still something that needs to be addressed. There was another accident in the same place recently."

Mr Haines' sister, Amanda Haines, has also called for better safety measures in the popular diving spot, such as regular lifeguards or easily accessible pontoons to help people in difficulty.