Wreck number 10 - Comino

Wreck number 10, resting on the seabed off Comino, offers a quieter kind of wreck dive, a welcome contrast to Malta’s more famous, often crowded sites. We love that it's less about penetration and more about the slow discovery of a forgotten piece of history. The site is a small, unidentified fishing vessel, thought to be scuttled, and it’s slowly succumbing to the sea, becoming an artificial reef. As you descend, the wreck emerges from the blue, usually with good visibility. It’s covered in Mediterranean tapeweed, which sways gently with the surge. You’ll find painted combers tucked into every nook, and black gobies darting from the small crevices. Keep an eye out for sleepy loggerhead turtles, occasionally spotted resting on the deck. Our favourite moments here are spent hovering above the hull, watching soldier fish emerge from the shadows, and spotting butterfly blennies perched on the rusted metalwork. It’s not a challenging dive, making it perfect for those wanting to practice wreck awareness without strong currents or deep profiles. Just be mindful of local boat traffic in summer.

Location
Comino, Malta, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
35.866000, 14.591664
Type
wreck

Wreck History - Wreck number 10

Year Sunk
2009
Vessel Type
warship
Cause
scuttled
Tonnage
359 tons

The Patrol Boat P31, often referred to simply by its location off Comino, began its life far from the warm Mediterranean. It was built in East Germany in the 1960s as a Kondor I-class minesweeper for the East German navy. After the reunification of Germany, the vessel was decommissioned and later sold to Malta, where it was stripped of its armaments and served as a patrol boat for the Armed Forces of Malta's Maritime Squadron until it was retired in 2004.

In 2009, the P31 was given a new mission. After being thoroughly cleaned and made safe for the environment, it was scuttled in clear blue water just off Comino to create an artificial reef and a premier diving attraction. Today, it sits perfectly upright on a sandy bottom at a depth of around 20 meters, making it accessible to divers of various levels. Its open structure and specially cut access points allow for safe and exciting penetration, letting divers explore the bridge, engine room, and internal corridors. The wreck is a magnet for marine life and offers a fantastic, purpose-sunk wreck diving experience.

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

Nearest Dive Centres to Wreck number 10

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

Recommended Packing List for Wreck number 10

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