Ally

A former German minesweeper has been scuttled in Malta to create an artificial reef for divers. The 62m-long Kondo class P29 sank upright and now lies at a depth of between 12m and 33m.

The P29 was deliberately sunk about 170m from the shore between Cirkewwa Point and Lantern Point. It is the latest in a series of wrecks to be scuttled off Malta as artificial reefs for divers.

'So far the wreck has not attracted any marine life, but this will most likely change in only a few weeks,' said Magnus Grinneback of Oxygene Diving, who dived the wreck the day after it sank. 'She can be dived from shore but is a considerably better option by boat since she is some distance away from the reef.'

An environmental impact assessment was carried out and the vessel was cleaned and stripped of all toxic, dangerous and polluting substances. The project to sink the vessel was led by the Malta Marine Foundation, a non-government organisation which promotes diving in the Maltese Islands. The sinking was funded by the Malta Tourism Authority.

The P29's sister ship, P31 is set to be scuttled off Comino later this year.

(DiveNews)