Best Places to Swim in Comino: Beaches, Snorkelling & Cliff Diving

Best all-round swimming

Blue Lagoon—Still Number One When Visited Properly

The Blue Lagoon earns first place because nothing else around Comino combines the same pool-like colour, pale seabed and broad swimming area. The water between Comino and Cominotto can look almost illuminated in calm sunlight.

The problem is not the Lagoon; it is the way most people experience it. The tiny arrival beach and paths can become packed in summer. A private skipper can position outside the protected swimmer zone and heavy shore traffic, then direct guests to an appropriate entry point. You enjoy the famous colour without making the crowded beach your entire day.

For detailed depth, crossing and flag advice, use the separate iMalta guide to swimming in the Blue Lagoon.

Best for families

Santa Marija Bay—Shallow Sand and an Easy Entry

For a family with young children, Santa Marija Bay is our first recommendation. Its main beach offers a longer sandy coastline and shallow entry, allowing a child or less-confident swimmer to lower themselves into the water gradually instead of stepping from rock or a boat ladder.

On a suitable private trip, we can use the jetty beside the slipway and guests have only about a one-to-two-minute walk to the sandy section. That practical detail matters when carrying children, towels and beach items. An adult must still remain within immediate reach, and the jetty or landing arrangement always depends on current rules, traffic and conditions.

Santa Marija also has a smaller beach used on our longer route. It is more compact but can provide a quieter combination of swimming and snorkelling.

Best secluded swim

Outdoor Explorers Secret Beach

This small cove is our most distinctive recommendation. A major storm reshaped the shoreline and formed two small sandy pockets beneath high cliffs. Around the sand are boulders and rock transitions where we regularly observe rabbitfish, Mediterranean parrotfish, seabream, groupers, wrasse and mullet.

The water often appears crystal green rather than the pale electric blue of the Blue Lagoon. Morning sun reaches the sand; later in the day, part of the beach falls into cliff shade while sunlight remains on the water. This natural balance can make the cove comfortable without relying on umbrellas.

It is not a mass-tourism beach and should never become one. Access is by a suitable private boat, capacity is naturally limited, and the skipper may replace it with another protected cove if swell or wind makes entry uncomfortable.

Best for adventure

Crystal Lagoon—Snorkelling, Caves and Cliff Scenery

Crystal Lagoon is deeper and more dramatic than the Blue Lagoon. High limestone walls frame vivid water, while Popeye Cave and nearby formations give swimmers and snorkellers more structure to explore. It is one of our favourite locations when visibility is good and the bay is protected from the day’s wind.

It is also our first choice for guests who ask about rock jumping because there are different take-off areas used by different ability levels. That does not make any jump automatically safe. Rock, depth, underwater debris, exit route, traffic and swell must be checked in person on the day, and the skipper can refuse the activity.

Learn more in our complete Crystal Lagoon guide.

Best varied snorkelling

South Comino, Anchor Bay and the Former Kissing Elephants Area

On the southern side of Comino, the rocky water around the small cove our team calls Anchor Bay, Dog Rock and the location of the former Kissing Elephants Arch offers one of the island’s most interesting snorkelling landscapes. This local name should not be confused with the better-known Anchor Bay beside Popeye Village in Mellieħa. The famous Comino arch has collapsed, but the boulders and underwater edges that make this area productive for marine life remain.

This is not a groomed beach experience. It is better for people who want to look into cracks, follow the edge between sand and rock, and spend time observing rather than simply float. Never chase or handle an octopus, stand on marine growth or feed fish.

Best quiet north-side variety

San Niklaw East, Nursery Grounds and San Niklaw Gorge

The east side of San Niklaw can be a rewarding place to snorkel, particularly for visitors hoping to observe octopus habitat among the rocks. Just outside the main bay is an area our team describes as nursery grounds, where groups of small juvenile fish shelter.

Nearby San Niklaw Gorge changes the experience again. It contains tunnels, openings and air pockets that interest experienced freedivers. These are overhead and breath-hold environments—not beginner snorkelling attractions. Entry should only be considered with appropriate experience, a dedicated buddy and safe sea conditions.

Beautiful but advanced

Cominotto Beach and Rocky Edge

Cominotto faces the Blue Lagoon and provides a tiny sandy area, rocky snorkelling and exceptional views back toward Comino. It can feel separate from the busiest shore even when the Lagoon itself is active.

Some experienced visitors use the higher rocks for jumping, but these are advanced locations and not a general recommendation. We also do not encourage ordinary visitors to swim across the channel simply because it looks short; currents and fatigue can turn a casual crossing into a rescue situation. A suitable boat is the better approach.