LE POLYNESIAN - Comino
The Polynesian, a huge liner scuttled in 1918, is a deep, serious wreck dive that we reckon is one of Malta’s best. Lying upright at 59 metres, its sheer scale is what gets you. We’ve done this dive a few times now, and each time, dropping down that shot line, the hull just keeps going. You’re looking at 147 metres of history here. We love exploring the forward superstructure. The bridge area is largely collapsed, but you can still make out the outline, and the davits for the lifeboats are clearly visible, reaching out into the blue. Our favourite part is finning along the promenade deck, imagining what life was like on board. Visibility here is usually excellent, often 30 metres plus, making the whole wreck visible as a dark, imposing shape against the bright surface light. There isn't a huge amount of soft coral growth, but the hard structure provides a home for some impressive groupers. Look out for them lurking in the shadows of the deeper holds, and we've seen some enormous scorpionfish camouflaged on the decks. This isn't a dive for the inexperienced; it's deep and requires good gas planning and comfort with overhead environments if you plan on any penetration. But for those ready for it, the Polynesian is a phenomenal journey into a forgotten maritime past. It’s a true expedition dive.
- Location
- Comino, Malta, Mediterranean & Europe
- Coordinates
- 35.857666, 14.605714
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 59m
Marine Protected Area: Irdumijiet Ta\' Madwar Il-Kosta mill-Ponta tal-Miġnuna sal-Bajja ta\' San Tumas f\' Wied il-Għajn
Best Time to Dive in Comino
The warmest water temperatures in Comino occur in August, averaging 28.1°C. The coolest conditions are in March at 15.3°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 16.4°C
- February: 15.5°C
- March: 15.3°C
- April: 16.2°C
- May: 18.7°C
- June: 22.9°C
- July: 26.9°C
- August: 28.1°C
- September: 27.3°C
- October: 24.9°C
- November: 22.2°C
- December: 19.3°C
Nearby Dive Sites in Comino
- ABINGDON - 14m (wreck)
- Alex's Cave Dive Site (cave)
- Anadrian - 60m (wreck)
- Anchor Reef Dive Site (reef)
- ANTONIO E FRANCESCO - 55m (wreck)
- BARGE 1 - 60m (wreck)
- Bengħisa Patch (reef)
- Bengħisa Reef (reef)
- BLACK PEARL - 2m (wreck)
- BLENHEIM BOMBER - 28m (wreck)
- Blue Lagoon Tunnel Dive Site (cave)
- Blue Waters Dive Cove - 5-20m (reef)
- BRISTOL BEAUFIGHTER - 35m (wreck)
- CAROLINA - 11m (wreck)
- Ċirkewwa Arch Dive Site (cave)
Nearest Dive Centres to LE POLYNESIAN
- ABC Diving - PADI
- Aquamarina
- Aquatica Scuba Diving
- Atlantis Diving Centre - PADI, BSAC, VDST, TDI
- Blue Waters Dive Cove - ["PADI"]
- Bubbles Dive Shop
Marine Life in Comino
Home to 24 recorded species including 12 reef fish, 4 sharks & rays, 2 whales & dolphins, 2 seagrass & algae, 2 hard corals, 1 other.
Notable Species
- Painted Comber (Serranus scriba) - Reef Fish
- Wrasse (Coris julis) - Reef Fish
- Parrotfish (Sparisoma cretense) - Reef Fish
- Ornate Wrasse (Thalassoma pavo) - Reef Fish
- loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)
- Salema (Sarpa salpa) - Reef Fish
- Garrupa (Serranus cabrilla) - Reef Fish
- Dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus) - Reef Fish
- Blue-white Dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) - Whales & Dolphins
- Mediterranean tapeweed (Posidonia oceanica) - Seagrass & Algae
- Cowfish (Tursiops truncatus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Damsel fish (Chromis chromis) - Reef Fish
- sting ray (Dasyatis pastinaca) - Sharks & Rays
- killer alga (Caulerpa taxifolia) - Seagrass & Algae
- Marbled Spinefoot (Siganus rivulatus) - Reef Fish
- dogfish (Scyliorhinus canicula) - Sharks & Rays
- Moonfish (Mola mola) - Reef Fish
- Scarlet Coral (Balanophyllia (Balanophyllia) europaea) - Hard Corals
- Red coral (Corallium rubrum) - Soft Corals
- Bushy Coral (Cladocora caespitosa) - Hard Corals
Recommended Packing List for LE POLYNESIAN
Based on average water temperature of 21.1°C, currents 2 cm/s.
- Wetsuit (3-5mm) - comfortable for 21°C water
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories