P31 Wreck: A Diver's Delight in Comino

The P31 Wreck is a captivating dive site located off the coast of Comino, the small island between Malta and Gozo. Originally a Kondor I-class minesweeper named Pasewalk (GS05) built in East Germany, it was sold to Malta in 1992 and renamed P31, serving as a patrol boat for the Armed Forces of Malta. Decommissioned in 2004, the Malta Tourism Authority purchased the vessel to create an artificial reef and diving attraction.On August 24, 2009, the P31 was scuttled in a protected area, clear of seagrass beds, and now rests almost upright on a white sandy bottom. Measuring 52 meters in length, the wreck's shallow depth (7 meters at the top and 18-20 meters at the bottom) makes it an ideal site for both novice and experienced divers. Divers can explore the exterior, penetrate the interior, and observe the diverse marine life that has made the wreck its home.Before being scuttled, the P31 was carefully prepared to ensure diver safety and environmental protection. Doors, windows, hatches, engines, and the mast were removed. Today, the wreck is an inviting underwater landscape, with shoals of fish, colorful anemones, scorpionfish, moray eels, and nudibranchs. Rays and other fish species can also be found on the sandy bottom surrounding the wreck. The P31 is also suitable for free diving and can even be seen by snorkelers from the surface.