A scuba instructor is fighting extradition to Malta where he faces charges of causing the deaths of his partner and close friend during a diving holiday last year, The Daily Mail reports.

Stephen Martin, of Rustington, West Sussex, has been charged with two involuntary homicides by Maltese authorities after Larissa Hooley, 48, and Nigel Haines, 59, died while diving in June last year.

But Mr Martin, an experienced diver, insists he is innocent of the charges and is fighting an order stating he should be extradited to the island to face the charge which carries a maximum ten-year prison sentence.

The IT manager, 55, was diving with eights friends from the Brighton branch of the British Sub-Aqua Club when Ms Hooley descended from 49ft below the surface to 114ft without warning.

Mr Haines and fellow scuba diver Jeremy Coster went down to help Ms Hooley and brought her to the surface but she died on the shore. Mr Haines was then also found dead in the water.

Mr Martin, who was in a relationship with Larissa for five years, said he would have 'done anything' to rescue her in the tragedy.

Brighton coroner, Veronica Hamilton-Deeley, concluded the deaths on June 17 last year were the result of diving accidents, after hearing from witnesses and medical experts.

However, the Maltese authorities accuse Mr Martin, of being 'negligent in his obligations', the Daily Mail reports.

They say he 'failed to keep a close watch' of his scuba diving 'buddy' and long-term partner Ms Hooley and should have halted the dive off Gozo, due to 'prevailing weather conditions'.

The father-of-three, who is a qualified diving instructor, rejects the claims.