A brief history of the P31 wreck

The Pasewalk (GS05), which was a Condor I-class minesweeper, was built in East Germany and initially served in the Volksmarine. After it was disbanded before German reunification, the ship was considered obsolete, so it was sold to Malta in 1992, where it was renamed P31 and served as a patrol boat. It was used for coastal protection, fighting smuggling and rescuing migrants. Its most famous action was the rescue of 251 people from a sinking boat during severe weather conditions. After being withdrawn from service in 2004, the P31 was converted into a diving attraction by the Malta Tourism Authority. The ship was cleaned and sunk on August 25, 2009 off the coast of Comino, at a depth of 18 meters, where today it serves as an artificial reef.

How to get to the P31 wreck

The P31 is reached by boat from Malta or Gozo. There are several dive boat operators regularly offering trips. Dive centers in the Maltese Islands are unlikely to have their own boats, as the characteristics of the dive sites are such that diving is mainly from the shore, so they simply book seats for their guests with the boat operators once or twice a week. For this reason, a sufficient number of people must gather on a given day for the trip to take place. Usually it does gather, because Malta is currently the most popular diving destination in Europe. However, that doesn’t mean there’s a crowd at the wreck, because there usually isn’t. Because there are only few operators, seats are limited and different boats arrive at the wreck at different times of the day, there are usually no crowds.

What the P31 wreck looks like and what condition it is in

The P31 is in very good condition, as it was sunk only 15 years ago. It’s also important to note that it was sunk with divers in mind, so anything that might have endangered diving was removed. In preparation, they also welded parts that could be too tight and dangerous shut, and made sure that divers can quickly and easily get out from any place accessible for them. Of course, 15 years in salt water had already weakened the wreck somewhat. It has also not been spared by the thousands of divers who have managed to visit it. But still the wreck is considered safe and still with its appearance invites divers. And all the marine organisms that have made their home at it, some of which have already begun to grow on it, add to its beauty.

How the P31 wreck dive goes

The dive boat stops directly above the wreck or right next to it and drops anchor. So you don’t have to rush and you jump off the standing boat. In addition, you can use the anchor line as descent line.

When you jump into the water, you immediately see the wreck, because the visibility in Malta’s waters is sensational, often reaching tens of meters. So you see from above a sunken ship surrounded by desert, with fish around it and sometimes divers who are just diving there with someone else.

The bottom is at an average depth of about 18m, and the deepest spot is a depression just below the bow at about 21m. So the wreck is great for OWD or CMAS P1 divers, who, depending on the organisation, are certified between 18m and 20m.

It is most optimal to start exploring the wreck from the seabed and gradually ascend. We suggest first going around it near the bottom, admiring its vastness and paying attention to the various details of the hull covered with marine life. If you take photos, it’s worth taking some around the bow and stern.

Once you know the size of the wreck and can visualize it from the outside, it’s the best time to explore inside as well. You can enter the interior from both the bow and stern. Importantly, the wreck can be navigated inside its entire length, as all the doors between the rooms are permanently open. Inside, in addition to several rooms, curiosities include the narrow corridor connecting them and the fuse board, which still bears the original inscriptions in German. Plus the various sea creatures that have taken a liking to the interior of the wreck. Although the wreck is generally easy and safe, as it is specially prepared for divers, we still recommend that only people with proper experience and training, such as a wreck diving course, enter the wreck.

Once you’ve swum out from under the deck, it’s a good time to explore the deck from both sides, then slowly make your way toward the superstructure. There, more rooms, corridors and even an overgrown toilet await you. Apparently it only became overgrown after it was sunk, but we have not been able to verify this. At the top of the superstructure you’ll find a door leading to the bridge. Immediately behind the door are two corridors, in both directions. We suggest that you enter the bridge with one side and exit with the other, especially if you are diving in a larger group. That way you won’t collide in the narrow corridors.

On the roof of the bridge there are still the windshield. It’s a great place to take the last pictures on the wreck, perhaps one that’s framed. From here, it’s a good idea to already start ascending towards the boat and start making a safety stop. A dive conducted this way takes 40 to 50 minutes and you will be slowly ascending the whole time. You will have better control over air and no-decompression time.

Map of the P31 wreck

Since the wreck is very popular, it lived to see a three-dimensional map a few years ago, but so far only on the outside. Still, it’s sufficient for basic planning of a safe dive, as well as planning the photos you may want to take underwater.

What diving courses can be done at the P31 wreck?

This wreck is perfect for a wreck diving adventure as part of your SSI Advanced Adventurer diving course. That’s why for many divers this is their first wreck dive ever! Of course, it is also suitable for a full recreational wreck diving course, which requires several dives on P31 or other nearby wrecks.

The exploration of wrecks is fascinating and we often want to stay at them for a while longer, but the no-decompression time may no longer allow for this. So here comes the possibility of completing the Enriched Air Nitrox divnig course, which can effectively extend our stay at the deeper parts of this, or other wrecks.

Finally, the wreck of the P31 is also a great place for an underwater photography course because of the excellent visibility, size of the ship, opportunity for penetration and abundance of marine life.