Snorkeling Blue Lagoon Malta: 5 Best Spots, Maps & Private Boat Routes
Blue Lagoon is a brilliant place to put on a mask for the first time because the water is so clear. But if you want the most fish, boulders, octopus and proper underwater exploring, the best snorkelling is usually not in the busy sandy centre—it is around Cominotto Reef, Crystal Lagoon, Santa Marija Caves, Dog Rock and our quieter private-boat coves.
Written from daily on-the-water experience by Sam and the family team at Outdoor Explorers Malta. Updated .
Is Blue Lagoon Malta Good for Snorkeling?
Yes—Blue Lagoon is a great place to snorkel, especially for first-timers, families and anyone who wants clear water with an easy view of the seabed. The pale sandy middle makes the sea exceptionally bright and lets you see your surroundings easily. For a more fish-filled snorkel, though, move away from the most crowded sand and towards reef, rock and boulder habitat with a private skipper.
The honest answer is that the Blue Lagoon has two different experiences. The famous central water is beautiful, clear and comfortable for a gentle surface snorkel. But the fish do not live on bare sand in the same numbers as they do around ledges, holes, boulders and deeper rocky edges. That is why a good private snorkelling route does not stop after one swim in the main lagoon.
Start with our broader Blue Lagoon Malta complete guide for access and timing, then use this page to choose the right underwater route.
How Deep Is the Blue Lagoon for Snorkelling?
On the normal areas we use for a private Blue Lagoon snorkelling stop, the middle of the lagoon is commonly around 3–4 metres deep, while the water further out can reach roughly 10–12 metres. Depth changes with your exact position, the seabed is not level, and visibility can make the water look shallower than it really is. Let the skipper point out the safest depth for your group before you enter.
| Area | Typical character | Best for | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sandy middle of Blue Lagoon | Very clear, mostly sandy and generally around 3–4m on our usual route | First-time snorkellers, families and relaxed floating | Very photogenic, but less habitat means less variety of fish than the reef |
| Outer lagoon | Deeper blue water, often around 10–12m further out | Confident swimmers who want open-water visibility | Stay close to the boat; depth and boat traffic make supervision important |
| Cominotto Reef | Rock, reef structure, boulders and changing depth | Fish watching and more experienced snorkellers | Much more life, but choose it only in conditions your skipper approves |
| Crystal Lagoon and caves | Deeper water, cliffs, caves and darker underwater features | Confident snorkellers and experienced freedivers | Not a beginner cave adventure; route and entry depend on wind and swell |
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The Best Blue Lagoon Snorkelling Spots, Ranked by a Local Skipper
For the most marine life, look for boulders, rocks, small ledges and quieter water—not simply the brightest blue patch. Our favourite route begins at the Blue Lagoon for its clear water, then follows the conditions towards Cominotto, Crystal Lagoon, Santa Marija Caves and the more secluded Dog Rock and Outdoor Explorers Secret Beach area. Each stop has a different reason to put your mask on.
Dog Rock & Outdoor Explorers Secret Beach
This boulder-rich coastline is our strongest snorkelling choice when conditions allow. More rock means more shelter and more food, which means more fish and small marine life. It is also one of the best examples of why private boats are different: large ferry visitors do not simply step off onto this part of the coast.
Cominotto Reef
Cominotto Reef is even better than the sandy centre of Blue Lagoon for people who want to watch fish. Look for sardines moving in shoals, sea bream, parrotfish, wrasse, painted comber, crabs and octopus around the structure. Conditions and swimmer confidence decide whether we use it.
Crystal Lagoon
Crystal Lagoon is a very good snorkelling stop for confident swimmers: clearer blue depth, cliffs, caves and more varied rock. The goal here is not to rush inside every cave. Often the best fish watching is just outside, where the sun reaches the boulders and fish have hiding places.
Santa Marija Caves
Santa Marija Caves can be beautiful for a snorkel when the sea is settled. They add rock formations, shade and a different underwater texture to a Blue Lagoon route. Your skipper will choose the exact cave or replace it if wind, swell or traffic makes it unsuitable.
Blue Lagoon’s Sandy Middle
It is the easiest place to start: bright water, a clear view of the bottom and fish such as sea bream, damselfish and parrotfish. It might not have the most marine life, but it is a brilliant confidence-builder before moving to more interesting reef and boulder spots.
Move when the water tells us to
One spot may be calm in the morning and uncomfortable later. Private trips let us change the order, anchor at a better location and spend more time where you are actually enjoying the water. That matters much more than ticking off a fixed list of places.
Exact Map Pins: Use Them Like a Local, Not a Checklist
These five pins show the areas we use as skipper reference points, but they are not a promise that every location is safe on every day. Wind, swell, visibility, boat traffic and your group’s confidence decide the final route. If you snorkel independently, never treat a map pin as permission to cross a busy boat lane.
Blue Lagoon & Cominotto Beach
This is the easiest place to begin: bright water, a mostly sandy bottom and a clear view of where you are swimming. In the middle of the Blue Lagoon, depth is commonly around 3–4m on our usual route. It is ideal for getting comfortable with a mask, although the rockier edges hold more fish.
Private-boat tip: begin here, check the mask seal and confidence level, then move to the reef rather than spending the whole trip over bare sand.
Cominotto Reef
Cominotto Reef is one of the better places for fish, boulders, holes and octopus—but it demands more awareness than the sandy lagoon. The structure attracts sardines, bream, parrotfish, wrasse, painted comber, crabs and more. It can also have regular boat movement, so it is not a place to switch off or make a long unmarked swim.
Private-boat tip: we choose the safest available side and bring the boat close to the proper entry point. If you go independently, use a bright surface marker/dive float and check all around you constantly.
Crystal Lagoon’s Rocky Edges
For snorkelling in Crystal Lagoon, we prefer the sunlit rocky sides, boulders and cave entrances rather than the open middle or dark cave interiors. This is where you get the dramatic blue water and more structure to explore. It is better for confident swimmers, because the water can be deeper and the conditions can change fast.
Private-boat tip: your skipper selects the calmer side, watches traffic and keeps the ladder close. Do not enter caves alone, swim under boats or treat the nearby wreck as a casual snorkel.
Dog Rock, South Comino
Dog Rock is our strongest all-round Comino wildlife stop when sea conditions allow, because the boulders create far more shelter and detail than an open sandy bay. Spend time near the rocks and you have a better chance of seeing more small fish, crabs, hiding octopus and changing underwater scenery than in the busy centre of Blue Lagoon.
Private-boat tip: this is exactly the type of place a fixed public route often misses. We can adjust the order, anchor responsibly near the safe entry point and give you time to explore instead of rushing to the next stop.
Santa Marija Caves Area
Santa Marija Caves adds a quieter, rockier chapter to a Comino snorkelling route, with clear water, cliff scenery and fish around the brighter outer edges. The important thing is not to chase the darkest part of a cave. The best underwater viewing is often outside the entrance, where sunlight reaches the rocks and fish have places to hide.
Private-boat tip: cave access depends entirely on swell, wind and marine traffic. We choose a safe entrance—or a different stop—rather than forcing a cave visit because it is on a list.
Read more about the Outdoor Explorers Secret Beach, explore our guide to the best Comino caves, or compare these locations in our best snorkelling spots in Malta, Gozo and Comino guide.
What Fish and Marine Life Can You See While Snorkelling?
The sandy Blue Lagoon middle is where you are most likely to see sea bream, damselfish and parrotfish in clear water, while the rocky reef areas bring much more variety. Around Cominotto and boulder bays, patient snorkellers may see sardines, several kinds of bream, parrotfish, wrasse, painted comber, crabs and octopus. There is no need to touch, feed or chase anything—the best encounters happen when you float quietly.
| Where you snorkel | What is often seen | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Lagoon sandy areas | Sea bream, damselfish, parrotfish and small shoals | Excellent visibility and a bright sandy background |
| Cominotto Reef | Sardines, bream, parrotfish, wrasse, painted comber, crabs and octopus | Rocks, boulders and cracks create shelter and feeding habitat |
| Crystal Lagoon & cave edges | Fish around the sunlit entrance, rocky walls and boulders | Deeper water and varied structure; most fish prefer the bright outer edges |
| Dog Rock & Secret Beach area | The strongest overall mix of small fish and marine life | More boulders and less open bare sand |
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Blue Lagoon Caves, Crystal Lagoon and the Sunken Wreck
Comino’s caves are beautiful to snorkel around, but they are not always where you will see the most fish. Marine life commonly gathers just outside a cave entrance, where daylight reaches the water and rocks or boulders give it shelter. We may take you to a cave, but we never make cave entry a promise or a stunt: it depends on swell, visibility, boat traffic and your confidence in the water.
Crystal Lagoon also has the well-known sunken P31 patrol-boat wreck in the wider area. It is a point of interest for experienced freedivers and scuba divers—not a casual snorkelling target for beginners. If freediving is your priority, tell us when booking so we can choose an experienced water-focused skipper and a route that suits the conditions. This is not a substitute for certified freediving instruction, and nobody should freedive alone.
- Do not swim into a cave, tunnel or under an overhang alone or when there is swell.
- Do not touch the wreck, attempt to enter it or treat a deeper wreck location as a normal surface snorkel.
- Do not hyperventilate before a breath-hold dive. Freedive only with a capable buddy watching you from the surface.
Snorkel Masks, Ladders and How to Keep a Mask Clear
Every private boat snorkelling trip includes masks, snorkels and a proper ladder, and we help first-time snorkellers get comfortable before the real exploring starts. You are welcome to bring your own mask if it fits your face better. The right mask is more important than an expensive one: a comfortable seal, calm breathing and a clear lens make the biggest difference.
Check the seal
Hold the mask gently against your face without the strap, breathe in softly through your nose and see whether it stays in place. Keep hair away from the silicone skirt and do not overtighten the strap—too tight can make a mask leak more, not less.
Keep the lens clear
We can show you how to use proper mask-defog liquid before you go in, so the lens stays clearer underwater. After the trip, rinse the mask in fresh water, let it dry in the shade and store it only when dry. Avoid harsh chemicals, abrasive toothpaste or flame tricks, which can damage lenses or coatings.
We help you start slowly
Before you go exploring, we can help fit the mask, explain relaxed snorkel breathing and let you begin beside the ladder in clear, calm water. If you prefer extra support, ask for a flotation device, life jacket or snorkel vest. The aim is to enjoy the view—not to feel pushed into deeper water.
Keep the memories too
Bring your GoPro or waterproof camera if you have one. When conditions and safety allow, we are happy to help take a few photos while you are swimming, so you can be in the memory instead of only filming everybody else.
If water gets inside, stay calm, lift your head, return to the ladder or boat if needed and ask the skipper for help. Guests who are not confident swimmers can use a life jacket or snorkel vest; the goal is to enjoy looking down, not to fight the water.
Book a Private Blue Lagoon Snorkelling Tour That Follows the Fish
Most people who want a Blue Lagoon snorkelling tour choose three or four hours, because that gives enough time to leave the main lagoon and visit more than one underwater environment. Tell us in the booking comments that snorkelling or freediving is the main priority. Where possible, we will assign a skipper who is especially comfortable with water-focused routes and plan more swimming, snorkelling and suitable free-diving locations around your group.
| Private tour | Price | Best snorkelling use |
|---|---|---|
| 3-hour private boat trip | €289 per boat | Best for Blue Lagoon, Cominotto Reef and one additional cave or cove depending on conditions. |
| 4-hour private boat trip | €369 per boat | Our best value snorkelling choice: more time for Cominotto, Crystal Lagoon, Santa Marija Caves and a quieter boulder stop. |
| 6-hour or 8-hour private trip | Ask us for the best route | Best for groups that want a real day on the water with more Comino or Gozo snorkelling stops. |
Swipe left and right to view the full table on mobile.
A strong four-hour snorkelling route
Blue Lagoon confidence swim
Begin in exceptionally clear water, check every guest is comfortable with the mask and enjoy the sandy blue before the route gets more adventurous.
Cominotto Reef
Move to rockier habitat for more fish, boulders and underwater detail when current, visibility and group confidence allow.
Crystal Lagoon or Santa Marija Caves
Choose the calmer, safer option that day for cave-edge snorkelling, blue depth and a different underwater landscape.
Dog Rock or a quiet private cove
Finish where the boulders and clearer, quieter water offer the best chance for an unhurried snorkel away from the main Blue Lagoon activity.
Compare tour lengths in our guide to half-day versus full-day Comino boat tours, see private boat charters to Comino from Ċirkewwa or read what to pack for a private boat tour.
Make Snorkelling the Main Event, Not Just One Quick Swim
Tell us what you enjoy—easy fish watching, caves, deeper blue water or freediving—and we will build the private route around it. Your skipper can move the boat when the sea, crowds or visibility make a different stop better.
3 hours from €289 per boat · 4 hours from €369 per boat
Blue Lagoon Snorkelling Safety and Freediving Rules
The best snorkelling trip is the one where everyone returns to the ladder smiling, not tired or pushed past their ability. The Blue Lagoon is clear, but conditions can still change with wind, current, boats and tiredness. A private skipper chooses the safer side of Comino and adjusts the route; guests should be honest about their swimming confidence before entering the water.
- Always tell the skipper if you are a non-swimmer, nervous swimmer or prone to seasickness.
- Stay visible, keep a comfortable distance from the boat and return early rather than waiting until you are tired. If you are without a private boat, take a high-visibility float marker.
- Use a life jacket or snorkel vest if advised—there is no prize for refusing flotation.
- Never freedive alone. One person stays on the surface and watches while the other dives.
- Do not hyperventilate, enter caves alone, swim under boats or touch fish, octopus, urchins or wrecks.
- Follow local swimmer-zone rules, lifeguard instructions and your skipper’s decision if a route changes.
What Our Snorkelling Guests Say
The best proof is what happens when a skipper gives guests enough time, chooses calm water and takes them beyond the crowded shore. These are genuine Google-review comments from private boat guests who snorkelled around Comino with Outdoor Explorers Malta.
“My daughter loved snorkelling among the sea breams in a beautiful secluded spot with no crowds around.”
— Merete Mansfield, Google review
“The boat ride was beyond amazing… we could have even swam or snorkeled in the breathtaking waters.”
— Kathy Agrelius, Google review
Snorkeling Blue Lagoon Malta: Frequently Asked Questions
Blue Lagoon is a fantastic starting point for a snorkelling trip, but the best experience comes from matching the reef, depth and route to your confidence level. These answers cover the questions we hear most before a private Comino snorkelling boat trip. Message us for a route recommendation based on the conditions on your date.
Is Blue Lagoon Malta good for snorkeling?
Yes. The water is exceptionally clear and the sandy middle is ideal for a first snorkel. For a greater variety of fish and marine life, a private boat can move to Cominotto Reef, Crystal Lagoon, Santa Marija Caves or boulder-rich private coves when conditions allow.
How deep is the Blue Lagoon?
On the normal areas used for our private snorkelling route, the middle of the lagoon is commonly around 3–4 metres deep. Further out, it can reach roughly 10–12 metres. Depth changes by exact position, so follow your skipper’s advice before entering the water.
Where is the best place to snorkel near Blue Lagoon?
Cominotto Reef is usually better than the sandy central lagoon for fish because it has more rock, boulders and shelter. Dog Rock and Outdoor Explorers Secret Beach are our strongest wildlife options when conditions allow, while Crystal Lagoon and Santa Marija Caves add dramatic rock and cave-edge snorkelling.
Is Cominotto Reef safe to snorkel?
Cominotto Reef can be a brilliant snorkel, but it has more changing depth and may have active boat traffic nearby. We use it only when the conditions and group are right. Independent snorkellers should never make a long unmarked swim there: use a bright dive float, keep looking around and avoid boat routes.
What fish can I see at Blue Lagoon and Cominotto?
In the sandy Blue Lagoon area, you may see sea bream, damselfish and parrotfish. Around Cominotto Reef and boulder bays, patient snorkellers may see sardines, bream, parrotfish, wrasse, painted comber, crabs and octopus. Wildlife sightings can never be guaranteed.
Are masks and snorkels included on a private boat trip?
Yes. Outdoor Explorers Malta provides masks and snorkels on private boat trips, plus a proper ladder to enter and leave the water easily. You are welcome to bring your own mask if it fits you better. Tell the skipper if you would like a life jacket or snorkel vest.
Can a complete beginner join a private snorkelling boat tour?
Yes. We can help you fit the mask, use mask-defog liquid, practise breathing beside the ladder and choose a calm first stop. Ask for a flotation device, life jacket or snorkel vest if you would like extra support. You set the pace; there is no need to force a deeper or more advanced swim.
Can I go freediving during a Blue Lagoon boat tour?
Tell us in the booking comments if freediving is a priority and we will, where possible, plan a more water-focused route with a skipper comfortable around suitable locations. You must never freedive alone, enter caves alone or treat the trip as formal freediving tuition.
How long should I book for a snorkelling private boat tour?
Three hours is enough for Blue Lagoon, Cominotto Reef and one additional stop. Four hours is our best recommendation for guests who want to focus on snorkelling, because it provides more time for Crystal Lagoon, Santa Marija Caves and quieter boulder areas.
Do I need a Blue Lagoon access pass to snorkel?
If you stay on your private boat and swim without landing in the regulated shore area, an access pass is not needed for that swim. If you also plan to go ashore at Blue Lagoon, check the current official access requirements before travel.
Book Your Private Blue Lagoon Snorkelling Boat Tour
Bring your own mask or use ours, step down the ladder into the clear water and let a local skipper take you beyond the one crowded lagoon. Tell us your snorkelling level and we will make it the focus of the day.
Routes, cave access, snorkelling conditions, depth choices and stop durations are always weather- and safety-dependent. Your skipper will choose the safest and most enjoyable available version of the route on the day.
