Liveaboard diving in
Patrol Boat P 31
Patrol Boat P 31 was built in Germany in 1969 and performed minesweeping and border control duties. In 1992 it was purchased by the Maltese government and transferred to Malta where it spent 12 years patrolling its coastal waters. After over a decade of operations the boat became outdated and was decommissioned. It was scuttled off the coast of Comino Island in 2009 and since then has become a scuba diving attraction. The boat lies at the depth of 18-20m/59-66ft in the upright position. At this depth the wreck is suitable for beginner and experienced divers. It is easy to penetrate into, and divers can go anywhere inside the boat. As it was recently sunk, it is not overgrown with corals yet, and the marine life is not so rich, but still divers can see a variety of fish species in surrounding waters.
When To Go Diving
This dive site is open for diving all year round, however, the best conditions for diving are from May to November when the water temperature is between 24-26C/75-79F. The water temperature in winter drops to chilly 14-17C/58-63F.
What to see
With many doors of the wreck open, divers can easily penetrate and explore any part of the wreck, including radar tower, cargo holds and bridge. In surrounding waters they can see squids, shoals of damsel fish, flying gurnards and rays.