Snorkelling in Malta: The Best Spots and What to Expect

Why Malta Is One of the Mediterranean’s Best Snorkelling Destinations

The Mediterranean does not always deliver on its promise of clear water. Many stretches of the Italian, French, and Spanish coasts are murkier than the brochures suggest. Malta is different. The island sits on a shallow limestone plateau with very little river runoff to cloud the water. Visibility averages 20 to 30 metres in summer, with 40-metre days around Gozo in the right conditions.

Water temperature reaches 23–25°C from July through September, and stays comfortable at 20–22°C in May, June, and October. The sea floor is varied : rocky coves, sea-grass meadows, caves, and the occasional wreck sitting at a  depth suitable for snorkelling. Marine life is plentiful and not particularly timid. For current conditions and the broader seasonal picture, the best time to visit Malta guide has the full breakdown.

The other thing Malta has is infrastructure. Most major spots have bus access, and the Malta hotels with waterfront access at Verdi place you within easy reach of beaches, boat hire, and ferry ports from the start. You are not dependent on a car.

Quick stats: sea temperature 20–25°C (May–Oct) · visibility 20–40m · no wetsuit required in summer · most spots accessible from shore by public bus

The Best Snorkelling Spots in Malta

Five spots stand out for consistent quality, accessibility, and the quality of what you’ll find underneath.

1. Blue Lagoon, Comino

The lagoon sits between Comino and the tiny uninhabited island of Cominotto, and the water is exactly as it looks in every photograph: turquoise, shallow in places, and full of light. You’ll share it with other swimmers in July and August, but arrive on an early boat and you’ll have a quiet hour before the day-trip crowd lands. Access is by boat from Cirkewwa or St Julian’s; no shore access from land. Difficulty: beginner.

2. Ghar Lapsi

A sheltered natural lido on the south-west coast, about 25 minutes’ drive from Valletta. The water is calmer here than on the exposed north coast, and the rocky entry is straightforward if you’re wearing fins. Just beneath the surface you’ll find a tangle of posidonia sea-grass meadows, damselfish, and the occasional octopus tucked under a ledge. Shore access. Difficulty: beginner to intermediate. Bus 201 runs from Valletta.

3. St Peter’s Pool

A natural limestone pool on the south-east tip of Malta, near Marsaxlokk. No beach. You jump in from the flat rock, and below you is a cave system worth exploring slowly. The walls are dark and textured, wrasse pick at the limestone, and with a torch you can peer into cavities where moray eels rest during the day. Shore access. Difficulty: intermediate (rocky entry; watch for swell). Worth combining with a visit to the Marsaxlokk fishing village market on a Sunday morning.

4. Paradise Bay

Malta’s only genuine sandy beach at the northern tip of the island, a short walk from the Gozo ferry at Cirkewwa. The bay is calm, shallow, and good for children or anyone new to snorkelling. The sandy floor means fewer species than the rocky sites, but sea bream are abundant and the entry is as easy as it gets. Shore access. Difficulty: beginner.

5. Blue Grotto, Wied iz-Zurrieq

Six sea caves on the south coast, reached by boat from the small village of Wied iz-Zurrieq. The bioluminescent algae in the caves give the water its famous deep blue glow. Boat trips run for around €8 per person and take about 25 minutes. Snorkelling is done at the cave entrance, where the water is clear and sheltered. Difficulty: beginner, boat access only.

Planning a Malta trip? Explore Verdi’s waterfront hotels : perfectly placed for the island’s best snorkelling spots.

6. Snorkelling in Gozo and Comino

Gozo is worth the forty-minute ferry from Cirkewwa if you have a day to spare. The water around the island is generally a step clearer than around mainland Malta, and the topography is more dramatic. Three spots are essential. The Dwejra Blue Hole is a natural rock formation on the west coast, a roughly circular pool with a natural arch at depth that opens into open sea. The diving here is among the best in Europe, but the snorkelling at the surface level is worth doing on its own: the visibility allows you to look straight down into the arch. Xlendi Bay is a small inlet on the south-west coast, calm and sheltered, with sea grass and bream. Crystal Lagoon sits just east of the main Blue Lagoon at Comino and gets significantly fewer visitors. Reachable by the same boat, it’s quieter and shallower, and the snorkelling is often better. For more on making the most of a day trip, see our guide to places to visit in Gozo.

What You’ll See Underwater: Malta’s Marine Life

The rocky limestone seabed supports a varied population, and most of it is visible without going below the surface. The most common fish at snorkelling depth are damselfish (small, fast, bright blue when the light catches them), various species of wrasse, and sea bream. Look more carefully and you’ll spot things worth stopping for.

For water sports and diving in Malta on a serious level, the quality and variety of sites around the islands rivals anywhere in the Mediterranean. Snorkelling is the surface introduction.

The Best Time to Snorkel in Malta

The honest answer is: May through October, and earlier in that window if you want calmer conditions and fewer other swimmers. Here’s how the season breaks down.

September is frequently the best month to snorkel in Malta: the summer heat has broken slightly, the water is still warm from three months of sun, visibility is back to its peak, and the major sites are noticeably quieter than in August. May and June are the right choice if you want guaranteed calm conditions without the crowds. July and August are fine, but the Blue Lagoon especially gets very busy by 10am.

Malta Snorkelling Tours: What to Book and When

Most spots are reachable independently, but a guided boat trip opens up the sites you cannot reach from shore. The boat trips in Malta that include the Blue Lagoon are the most popular option: a shared boat from Sliema or St Julian’s, typically half a day, costs between €15 and €25 per person. Private charter boats for a family or small group run from around €200 to €400 for a full day, which includes fuel, the skipper, and usually stop-off choices you make yourself.

If you want a guide in the water with you, several operators run snorkelling-specific half-day trips, particularly around the Blue Hole at Gozo and the cave systems near St Peter’s Pool. These typically cost €35–€50 per person and include all equipment. For first-time snorkellers especially, having a guide point you toward the right spots and show you what to look for changes the experience considerably.

July and August demand advance booking for any group tour. Popular boats to Comino fill within days in high season. For the quieter shoulder months, you can usually book a day or two ahead. Check Verdi’s experiences page for up-to-date recommended operators and departure points.

Tips for Snorkelling in Malta: Gear, Safety and Getting There

Practical things to know before you get in the water.

What to wear

• A well-fitting mask is the difference between a good session and a frustrating one. Hire quality kit or bring your own : most dive shops around St Julian’s and Sliema rent good masks and fins for around €5–€8 a day.
• Fins are not essential at the calmer sites but make a real difference in any current. Short snorkelling fins are easier to walk in on rocky entry points than long scuba fins.
• Wear a rash guard or light wetsuit top in May, June, and October. Sun exposure through clear water is stronger than it feels.
• Use reef-safe, mineral sunscreen. Malta’s marine areas are protected, and chemical sunscreens damage sea-grass and coral.

Rocky Entry Points

• Most Maltese snorkelling spots have rocky rather than sandy entry. Wear fins into the water from the start, not once you’re in : it protects your feet and gives you grip on the limestone.
• Check the swell before jumping in at exposed sites like St Peter’s Pool. A calm-looking surface can have surge inside caves and at entry points. If in doubt, watch how the water moves for a minute before committing.

Getting There

• Most spots are covered by Malta’s bus network (operators: Malta Public Transport). Ghar Lapsi via bus 201 from Valletta takes around 50 minutes. Cirkewwa (for the Comino ferry) is bus 41 or 42 from Valletta.
• The Gozo ferry runs from Cirkewwa and takes 25 minutes. Ferries run roughly every 45 minutes in peak season.

Stay Close to the Water: Verdi’s Malta Hotels

Our hotels at Verdi Gzira Waterfront and Verdi St Georges Bay sit within easy reach of the Sliema ferry, the Cirkewwa bus routes, and the boat departure points for Comino and Gozo. Verdi Vivaldi puts you in St Julian’s, a five-minute walk from the water-taxi and charter boat operators.

Our team knows these waters. Ask at reception about the quietest spots for that week, which operators we’d recommend, and the current conditions at the sites you’re planning. We’d rather give you a useful fifteen-minute conversation than send you to the wrong beach on the wrong day. Read more about living like a local in Malta for how to get more out of the island beyond the shoreline.

Stay at Verdi St Georges Bay or Verdi Gzira Waterfront and ask our team for their personal snorkelling recommendations. Explore Verdi’s Malta hotels here.

Frequently Asked Questions

What fish can you see snorkelling in Malta?

The most common species at snorkelling depth are damselfish, wrasse, sea bream, and grouper. In rockier spots and cave systems you’ll find moray eels resting in crevices during the day, and octopus are regularly spotted at Ghar Lapsi and around St Peter’s Pool. Sea urchins are present at almost every rocky site : watch where you put your feet.

What is the best time of year to snorkel in Malta?

May, June, and September are the best months for snorkelling in Malta. The water is warm (20–27°C), visibility is typically 25–35 metres, and the main spots are significantly less crowded than in July and August. September is particularly good: the sea has absorbed a full summer of heat and the summer crowds have largely gone home.

Do I need a guide to snorkel in Malta?

No. Most of the best snorkelling spots in Malta are accessible from shore and require no guide. For the Blue Lagoon at Comino and the Dwejra Blue Hole in Gozo you’ll need a boat, but these run as standard day trips from multiple departure points. A guide is worth it for first-timers or for exploring cave systems where local knowledge genuinely helps.

Is snorkelling in Malta good for beginners?

Yes, Malta is one of the better Mediterranean destinations for beginners. The water is calm at most sites from May through October, visibility is consistently good, entry points (while rocky at some spots) are manageable with fins, and no wetsuit is required in peak summer months. Paradise Bay and the Blue Lagoon are both ideal starting points for anyone new to snorkelling.