The second wreck to be scuttled in Cirkewwa was the P29, an old patrol boat and former east German minesweeper. The wrecks lies west of the reef, around 100 metres from the drop off of the wall and lies between 18 and 38 metres.
Up until 1997, the ships intended use was as a minesweeper for East Germany, also used for fishery protection and border control. After this, the ship was brought to Malta and sold to Armed Forces to be used as a patrol boat. In 2005 the ship was sold to Malta Tourism Authority with the aim to be scuttled. Firstly the boat was cleaned and deemed environmentally safe before finally being scuttled in August 2007 in Cirkewwa.
Compared to the Rozi wreck also in the same area, the P29 is longer measuring roughly 50 metres and stands completely upright with the mast still intact. The iconic thing about this wreck in particular is the machine gun found at the bow. Despite it being broken by the weather a few times in the past, divers have made sure to repair in order to keep its reputation alive.
The wreck is now home to plenty of marine life, noticeably in the winter we have many squid eggs that attach themselves to the railings. It is also a perfect place to complete the wreck specialty with many places to enter inside and navigate along the corridors.
Usually we enter and exit this dive from the same location, a shallow pool known as suzie’s pool. There are two rocky staircases that we use to enter and exit, and once you swim a short distance away from here you have enough depth to descend.