Malta with Children: What the Sea Costs for a Family, and from What Age

A family trip to Malta means the sea — Comino's Blue Lagoon, harbour cruises around Valletta, a child's first breath underwater. The question is what it costs and whether your child is old enough. On Hera's cruises children up to 6 travel free and children 7–12 pay a child fare; Luzzu's child fare covers ages 4 to 11. Diving starts at 8 with a Bubble Maker in a shallow bay or pool, and at 10 with a try dive. Below are the child and infant prices, the minimum ages the operators publish, and what is included.

Day cruises with children: Comino, Blue Lagoon, round Malta

Hera Cruises sails the Hera, a Turkish gulet, and runs five cruise types. The child fares follow one pattern: infants up to 6 sail free, children 7–12 pay a child fare, and transport is €10 per adult or child and €5 per infant.

Adult tickets include a cold buffet lunch, beer, wine, and an open bar with soft drinks and water throughout the day. Children 7–12 get the buffet lunch and the soft-drinks bar. The Round Malta and Fireworks cruises board at Sliema Ferries. On board there are freshwater showers, swimming ladders and a shaded canopy. Snorkelling equipment is available for rent on board.

In bad weather the captain may change or cancel any cruise; you are then offered another date or a full refund.

Luzzu Cruises — another option from Sliema

Luzzu Cruises also sails from Sliema ferries. Children aged 4–11 pay a reduced fare.

The Comino & Blue Lagoon cruise includes a Crystal Lagoon stop (seasonal, May–October), a Blue Lagoon stop, a visit to the Comino sea caves, and toilet and bar facilities on board. Commentary on the 2 Harbours Cruise is in English only. For the Comino & Blue Lagoon and the Gozo, Comino & Blue Lagoon cruises, Luzzu asks you to register in advance for a Blue Lagoon pass (QR code) and choose the afternoon slot, 13:30–17:30.

Comino ferry with children

Comino Ferries operates daily round-trip ferry services from Marfa and Ċirkewwa to the Blue Lagoon on Comino. The crossing takes approximately 20 minutes each way. A round-trip adult ticket is €15; children under 10 pay €7. Tickets include a free trip to the caves and Blue Lagoon landing access — no separate QR code or time-slot booking is required. Tickets are valid for 3 months from the date of purchase and can be used on any scheduled departure from either Marfa (from 8:30) or Ċirkewwa (from 8:40).

A €5 charge per bulky item (bicycles, inflated mattresses, camping equipment) may apply; wheelchairs and similar necessary items are exempt.

Children and diving in Malta: minimum ages

The dive centres below publish minimum ages; here they are in one place.

Two age brackets matter: 8–9 years and 10+. At 8, a child can do a Bubble Maker (at Blue Waters, a supervised dive in a shallow protected bay or pool to a maximum of 2 metres) or an SSI Try Scuba. At 10, try dives and the certifying Scuba Diver and Open Water Diver courses open up. Paradise Diving notes that children from 10 receive a junior certification, which converts to adult status at the diver's 15th birthday without further action.

Bubble Maker: the youngest entry point (age 8+)

Blue Waters Dive Cove in Gozo offers the PADI Bubble Maker for €70 per person, lasting about 3 hours. Everything the child needs is included — equipment is tailored for younger divers. The session takes place in a shallow protected bay or pool. Minimum age is 8.

Scuba Life Malta in Mellieħa offers the Bubble Maker for €80 per person, lasting 1 hour. Minimum age is also 8.

Dive Systems Malta in Sliema offers the SSI Try Scuba for €85 per person (including VAT) from age 8. No prior experience is needed, and the session stays in shallow, confined water; the open-water dive to 12 metres belongs to the SSI Basic Diver (€135, from age 10).

Discover Scuba Diving: the first real dive (age 10+)

PADI Discover Scuba Diving with Scuba Life Malta in Mellieħa costs €110 per person for a half-day experience. Minimum age is 10. No prior experience is required.

The same program at Blue Waters Dive Cove in Gozo is €70 per person, lasting about 3 hours, including all equipment. Minimum age 10.

At Utina Diving in Xlendi Bay, Gozo, a single try dive is €90 per person (2.5–3 hours), and a double try dive is €165 per person (5–6 hours); the double can be comfortably split over two days. Depending on your comfort, the dive goes to a maximum of 12 metres. Minimum age is 10.

Certifying courses for children 10+

If your child wants a permanent certification, the PADI Scuba Diver course (2 days) starts at €330 at Blue Waters Dive Cove in Gozo and €345 at Scuba Life Malta; the PADI Open Water Diver course (3 days) starts at €460 at Blue Waters and €540 at Scuba Life. At Blue Waters, both include tuition, online manual, certification and full equipment. Utina Diving describes the Scuba Diver as diving under a professional's supervision to 12 metres and the Open Water as certifying you to 18 metres.

At Utina Diving in Gozo, the Open Water Diver course is €560 for one person, €530 each for two, and €490 each for three or four — a useful group discount if siblings or parents are learning together. The course takes 3 days and includes e-learning, theory, 5 confined-water sessions, and 4 open-water dives. Minimum age is 10.

Private boat charters with children

Comino Ferries offers private boat charters from Ċirkewwa. A 2-hour private charter costs €200 per boat for up to 6 people (€10 for each extra person). A 4-hour charter is €290 for up to 6 people (€20 extra per person). Both include a skipper, fuel, water, snorkelling gear, all taxes and port fees, and life jackets. Hotel transfer and food are not included. After the charter, the family can remain at the Blue Lagoon and return to Malta on the regular Comino ferry at any time until 7 PM — free of charge.

What is not suitable for young children

Night diving starts at 12: Blue Waters' Night Diver course requires age 12 and an Advanced Open Water certification, and Paradise Diving's Night Diver course also starts at 12. The PADI Advanced Open Water course requires age 12. Rescue Diver requires age 12 at Scuba Life Malta and Blue Waters, and 15 at Utina Diving. At Blue Waters, technical courses (Tec40 and up) require age 18.

JoyRide Watersports' self-drive boats in Gozo require the driver to be at least 21. On its jet skis, riders must swim confidently in open water, and the activity is not suitable for anyone over 160 kg. Island Fishing Malta says its fishing trips suit most ages, but children must be accompanied by an adult and participants should be comfortable on a boat.