Wreck of the P31 Patrol Boat - Comino

We really like the P31. While Malta has plenty of wrecks, this one feels different, especially as a purpose-sunk artificial reef. It’s sitting upright on a sandy bottom, which makes navigation simple. You can easily penetrate the wheelhouse and engine room, where schools of damsel fish flit in and out of the light shafts. Our favourite part is the stern, where you’ll often find dusky groupers lurking in the shadows and common spiny lobsters tucked into crevices. The wreck has been down since 2009, so the growth is impressive, with bushy coral and sunset cup coral adding splashes of colour. We’ve even spotted loggerhead turtles cruising past on occasion. For photographers, the light on the bow at midday can be spectacular, really highlighting the structure and the schools of salema that often gather there. The P31 is a calm dive, usually with minimal current, making it a great option for newer wreck divers or those looking for a relaxed multi-dive day around Comino.

Location
Comino, Malta, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
36.009266, 14.323687
Type
wreck

Wreck History - Wreck of the P31 Patrol Boat

Year Sunk
2009
Vessel Type
warship
Cause
scuttled
Tonnage
360 GRT

The P31 began its life far from the warm Mediterranean waters. It was built in East Germany in the late 1960s as a Kondor-class minesweeper for the German Democratic Republic's navy. After the reunification of Germany, the vessel was decommissioned and later sold to Malta in 1992. Renamed P31, it served with the Maritime Squadron of the Armed Forces of Malta for over a decade, patrolling the islands' waters and performing search and rescue operations.

Following its retirement, the P31 was meticulously prepared to become an artificial reef. All contaminants were removed, and strategic openings were cut to ensure safe access for divers. In August 2009, it was scuttled in a small cove off the west coast of Comino. Today, it rests upright on a white sandy bottom at a maximum depth of just 18 meters, making it one of Malta's most accessible and popular wrecks. Its shallow depth allows for long, relaxed dives, and its open structure provides numerous safe and exciting swim-throughs, from the engine room to the bridge. The wreck is teeming with life and is a perfect introduction to wreck diving for beginners, as well as a delightful dive for experienced enthusiasts.

Marine Protected Area: Ġebel ta\' Bejn il-Kmiemen, limiti ta\' Għajnsielem

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 of the P31 Patrol Boat

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 of the P31 Patrol Boat

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