P31 and P29 share DNA, but the diving experience is completely different. P31 lies much shallower, which means more light, more time and a wreck that can be enjoyed without immediately thinking about a thirty-plus-metre profile.
Site at a glance
History
The ship was built in East Germany as Pasewalk, a Kondor I-class minesweeper. Malta acquired her in the early 1990s and she served with the Armed Forces of Malta as P31.
After decommissioning, engines, hazardous materials and various fittings were removed. She was scuttled off Comino in August 2009. The planned position was adjusted to avoid damaging Posidonia seagrass, and later winter storms shifted the wreck from its original resting point.
The dive
The wreck sits upright with the deck comfortably within recreational depth and the bottom around twenty metres. In clear Comino water, the complete outline can often be appreciated from above before descending onto the ship.
That shallow depth makes P31 excellent for photography and for divers building wreck experience. It also means the site can attract many groups at the same time, so situational awareness matters.
Boat access
P31 is a boat dive. The exact descent method depends on the operator, mooring and sea conditions. I want to know the pickup procedure and surface plan before entering, especially if current could separate divers from a fixed line.
Watch my P31 dive in Comino
This is one of my own YouBusaBoy videos from the site.
Where it is
GPS reference: 36.00900, 14.32310. Coordinates identify the site area; they do not replace underwater navigation, a current local briefing or an assessment of access on the day.