Bermuda's first wreck diving festival looks to have hit the rocks after the American magazine promoting the event closed down.

The inaugural Bermuda Shipwreck Festival was scheduled to take place last month, but was postponed until February due to lack of interest.

But last week, the Department of Tourism, which was sponsoring the week-long event, found out Skin Diver magazine, which was promoting the festival, had folded.

Acting assistant director of Tourism (Marketing) Michael DeCouto told The Royal Gazette last night: "Whether we have it or not next year, it is too early to say. "We will have to start from the beginning because we have unexpectedly lost a partner because we couldn't predict they were going to close the business.

"But we will make every effort to seek and explore other partners who are able to produce this. Currently we are seeking other partners."

Bermuda's most famous treasure hunter, Teddy Tucker, and National Geographic Society explorer, Margaret Rule, were among those scheduled to speak at the festival, which was being run in conjunction with the Island's dive operators.