Depth
0m
Photo: Frank Vincentz / CC BY-SA 3.0
Beginner · Snorkel & Dive · Comino

Blue Lagoon
Comino

Malta's most visited dive and snorkel destination. A natural bay on the southwest tip of Comino where the water is shallow, calm, and clear enough to read depth gauges at 10 metres from the surface. The bottom is sandy with scattered limestone rock formations and posidonia meadows at depth.

36°00'50"N · 14°19'23"E  |  Comino Island, Malta

14m
Max Depth
15–25m
Visibility
Open Water
Min Cert
14m
Max Depth
3m
Avg Depth
Open Water
Min Cert
15–25m
Visibility
Minimal
Current
Boat
Access
Depth Profile

History & Background

  • Ancient
    The Blue Lagoon sits between Comino and the uninhabited islet of Cominotto. The channel has provided a natural anchorage for centuries, used by Phoenician traders, Arab seafarers, and the Knights of St John. The distinctive limestone arch on Cominotto was shaped by centuries of wave erosion.
  • 1990s
    The Maltese government designated Comino a nature reserve, restricting permanent development on the island. By the late 1990s the Blue Lagoon had become Malta's most visited summer destination, attracting luzzu boats, ferries, and charter vessels daily throughout the season.
  • Today
    Diving the Blue Lagoon is best in the early morning before the day boats arrive. The underwater landscape is completely different from the crowded surface scene: clear water, sandy bottom, and rich invertebrate life among the limestone boulders and columns.

Below the surface, the Blue Lagoon reveals a different world. The sandy bottom reaches 14m at its deepest and reflects the light that gives the lagoon its iconic turquoise colour from above. Limestone columns and boulders rise from the sand, covered in encrusting sponges and nudibranch species. Dusky grouper patrol the rock edges; schools of bream and salema hold position in mid-water. Visibility is among Malta's most consistent at 15–25m. An ideal introduction dive for beginners or Try Scuba participants. A full Comino day links to the Santa Marija Caves and the P31 patrol boat.

BLUE LAGOON DEPTH PROFILE (14m) OW ZONE 0m 7m 14m Sandy 14m
Marine Life

What You Might See

Species commonly encountered at this site, based on depth and habitat. Click any card to read the full species guide.

Rainbow Wrasse underwater Malta 0–30m
Bony Fish

Rainbow Wrasse

Coris julis
Comber underwater Malta 0–35m
Bony Fish

Comber

Serranus cabrilla
Annular Seabream underwater Malta 0–50m
Bony Fish

Annular Seabream

Diplodus annularis
Salema underwater Malta 0–70m
Bony Fish

Salema

Sarpa salpa
Common Octopus underwater Malta 0–100m
Molluscs

Common Octopus

Octopus vulgaris
Neptune Grass underwater Malta 0–40m
Plants & Algae

Neptune Grass

Posidonia oceanica
Purple Sea Urchin underwater Malta 0–30m
Echinoderms

Purple Sea Urchin

Paracentrotus lividus
Common Prawn underwater Malta 0–40m
Crustaceans

Common Prawn

Palaemon serratus
Dive Conditions

When to dive the Blue Lagoon

Season Water Temp Visibility Conditions
Jan–Mar 14–16°C 20–25m Good
Apr–Jun 17–22°C 15–25m Peak
Jul–Sep 25–28°C 15–22m Good
Oct–Dec 18–24°C 18–25m Peak
Summer
22m
Winter
25m

Current and Surge

The inner lagoon is protected and current is minimal under calm conditions. On days with a northwesterly swell, surge can make the shallows uncomfortable and can stir up sand, reducing visibility significantly. Boat traffic during peak summer months also disturbs the bottom. Early morning dives before 08:00 give the best conditions in July and August.

Entry and Exit

Access to the Blue Lagoon is by boat from Cirkewwa or Sliema. There is no practical shore dive from the island itself for most visitors. diveshack operates a live-aboard style day trip with boat entry direct into the lagoon. Entry is from a platform or by giant stride from the dive boat. Exit is back to the boat.

Equipment Notes

3mm wetsuit is comfortable from June to October. A 5mm is recommended for spring and autumn dives. At maximum depth of 14 metres, bottom time is not a limiting factor and this is an excellent site for buoyancy practice. No torch is needed unless exploring the rock edges. The shallow depths make this suitable for trainee divers on course.

Dive Briefing

Safety and planning

Open Water

Certification Level

Open Water or equivalent is the recommended minimum. The shallow depth and protected conditions make this an ideal site for newly qualified divers. It is also used by diveshack for the confined water dives element of Open Water courses during calm conditions. Snorkellers can enter independently, and this is one of Malta's most popular snorkel sites.

Seasonal

Summer Boat Traffic

In July and August the Blue Lagoon receives high volumes of day-tripper and liveaboard charter boats. Dive during early morning or late afternoon to avoid peak congestion. Always ascend to the anchor line or the dive boat's shot line rather than a free ascent. Surface visibility for boats can be poor in congested conditions.

Briefing

Buoyancy Control

The sandy bottom at the Blue Lagoon is easily disturbed. Poor buoyancy causes silt-outs that destroy visibility across the entire shallow bay. Maintain trim throughout the dive and avoid fin kicks near the bottom. This site is valuable as a buoyancy training environment precisely because the consequences of poor control are immediately visible.

Guidance

Posidonia Seagrass

The posidonia oceanica meadows in the deeper sections of the bay are a protected species under Maltese and EU law. Do not anchor on them, do not walk on them, and do not collect fragments. Posidonia grows at less than 1 cm per year and damage from a single anchor can take decades to recover.

Beginner

Shallow Depth Advantage

The 14-metre maximum depth means NDL limits are not a practical concern on a single dive. This gives new divers more time to focus on skills, buoyancy, and observation rather than computer management. Repetitive dives are viable throughout the day without significant surface interval requirements at these depths.

Note

Weather Window

The Blue Lagoon is exposed to northwest swell. On days with strong northwest winds the site can be too rough for comfortable diving, particularly for less experienced divers. diveshack monitors forecast and sea state before departure and will substitute an alternative sheltered site if conditions at Comino are unsuitable on the day.

Book This Dive

Dive Blue Lagoon Comino with diveshack

diveshack runs guided boat trips to Comino from Sliema, combining the Blue Lagoon with Santa Marija Caves and Crystal Lagoon on a full-day itinerary. Groups include a maximum of eight divers or snorkellers per guide, with all equipment available for hire. The trip suits newly qualified divers, snorkellers, and mixed-ability groups.

Min Cert Open Water (snorkel also available)
Depth 3m average, 14m maximum
Departure Sliema seafront
Includes Guide, tanks, weights, boat transfer
Book via WhatsApp Send an Enquiry

Request a Booking