Beginner · Snorkel & Dive · Comino

Blue Lagoon
Comino

Name: Guided Dive
Brand: diveshack

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

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.

Points of Interest

Blue Lagoon: what to look for

Shallow sandy bottom of the Blue Lagoon, Comino

0–5m

The Shallows

The inner bay is predominantly sandy bottom at 3 to 5 metres. The clarity here is exceptional: the white sand reflects light back to the surface giving the lagoon its characteristic turquoise colour. Octopus are common in the sand even in the shallowest sections, and juvenile fish shelter around the bay's rocky edges.

5–14m

Rock Formations

The eastern and western edges of the lagoon shelve down over limestone ledges and scattered rock formations to the maximum depth of 14 metres. Sea urchins, starfish, and nudibranchs are abundant here. These rocks provide habitat diversity within a generally sandy site, making the edges significantly more interesting than the central basin.

Posidonia seagrass at Blue Lagoon Comino

8–14m

Posidonia Meadows

The deeper sections toward the open bay contain posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows. These are protected marine habitat and not to be disturbed. Sea bream and salema feed in the seagrass, and the leaf litter at the edges shelters nudibranchs and small cephalopods. The meadows are an indicator of excellent water quality in the bay.

All Depths

Marine Life

Despite the site's reputation as sand-heavy, the Blue Lagoon holds consistent marine life. Octopus, moray eels, scorpionfish resting on rock edges, sea bream, salema, and mullet are regular sightings. The shallow warm water in summer concentrates juvenile fish and bream schools around the bay perimeter. Visibility makes identification straightforward even for new divers.

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

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Additional Notes

Blue LagoonComino