New wreck for Malta

The 52m-long craft, P31, was purchased by the Malta Tourism Authority. It was sent to the bottom in 18m of water, in an area called tal-Matz, in the Gozo Channel.

The sinking follows that of another patrol boat, P29, in Cirkewwa two years ago.

Before being bought for Maltese patrol work, including anti-smuggling operations, both P31 and P29 were used in East Germany during the Cold War to patrol rivers bordering the East and West.

They were also used to sweep for mines between Germany and Denmark.

Malta was recently voted third most popular diving destination by Diver Magazine, after Egypt (top) and the Maldives.

According to Mario de Marco, the Maltese Tourism Parliamentary Secretary, some 55,000 divers visited Malta in 2008. They came mainly from the UK, Germany and Italy.