Malta, Gozo and Comino sit in the middle of the Mediterranean, with wrecks on the seabed and the Blue Lagoon on Comino. The question is how you get out there and what you do once you are on the water. A round-trip ferry to Comino costs €15 per adult. A day cruise with lunch and drinks is €50–65 with Hera. A self-drive boat from Gozo starts at €100 for three hours. A jet ski in Gozo is €50 for 20 minutes. A first scuba dive is €85–110. A shared fishing trip is €80 per person for four hours. Below is each format with its price, duration, what is included and what is not.
Day cruises to Comino and around Malta
On a day cruise you board in Sliema, swim at the Blue Lagoon or circle the islands, eat on board and return in the late afternoon. Hera Cruises and Luzzu Cruises run different formats.
Hera Cruises — Turkish gulet, lunch and open bar included
Hera Cruises sails the Hera, a Turkish gulet. The cruise price includes a cold buffet lunch, beer and wine, and an open bar with soft drinks and water throughout the day; Maltese ftira is served in the morning. Cave tours are not included. Children up to 6 go free. Transport costs €10 per adult or child and €5 per infant.
| Cruise | Schedule | Adult | Child 7–12 | Infant ≤ 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Comino Direct Cruise | 09:30–17:00 | €50 | €25 | Free |
| Coastal Highlights & Grand Harbour | 09:30–15:30 | €55 | €30 | Free |
| 3-Bay & Blue Lagoon | 09:30–17:30 | €65 | €33 | Free |
| Round Malta Cruise | 09:30–18:00 | €65 | €33 | Free |
All prices include VAT. The Round Malta Cruise departs Sliema Ferries, passes the Dingli Cliffs, stops at Fomm il-Riħ for a swim, then stops at the Blue Lagoon on Comino before returning via Mellieħa Bay and St. Julian's. The Comino Direct goes straight to the Blue Lagoon. In bad weather the captain may change or cancel the cruise; you are then offered another date or a full refund.
Important
Blue Lagoon access pass: Hera cites a new Government of Malta directive: everyone who wants to go ashore at the Blue Lagoon must obtain an access pass in advance, and daily passes are limited. Hera asks Comino Direct passengers to choose the morning slot, and 3-Bay and Round Malta passengers the afternoon slot.
Hera also runs a Fireworks Festival Cruise (€70 adult, €35 child 7–12, infants free) from Sliema Ferries with boarding at 18:45, departure at 19:00 and return by 23:00. It includes a welcome glass of Prosecco, buffet dinner, water, soft drinks, beer and wine.
Luzzu Cruises — Comino, Gozo and the Two Harbours
Luzzu Cruises sails from Sliema ferries. On the 2 Harbours Cruise, commentary is in English only.
| Cruise | Schedule | Adult | Child 4–11 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gozo, Comino & Blue Lagoon | 10:00, return 17:00–17:30 | €45 | €30 |
| Comino & Blue Lagoon Day Cruise | 10:00, return 17:00–17:30 | €40 | €30 |
| 2 Harbours Cruise | 10:30, 12:30, 14:30, 16:00 (all year) | €20 | €15 |
Luzzu's Comino cruise includes a stop at the Crystal Lagoon (seasonal, May–October), the Blue Lagoon and the Comino sea caves. Toilet and bar facilities are on board. The 2 Harbours Cruise sails inside 10 creeks around Marsamxett and Valletta harbours. For its Comino cruises, Luzzu asks you to register in advance for a Blue Lagoon landing pass (QR code) and choose the afternoon slot, 13:30–17:30.
Comino ferry from Malta's north
Comino Ferries has operated the daily Malta-to-Comino service since 1990. Round-trip ferries run from Marfa (from 08:30) and Ċirkewwa (from 08:40) to the Blue Lagoon. The crossing takes approximately 20 minutes each way.
| Ticket | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Adult round trip | €15 | Includes free trip to the caves |
| Child under 10 round trip | €7 | Includes free trip to the caves |
Book the Comino ferry. Tickets are valid for 3 months from purchase and can be used on any scheduled departure. No separate QR code or time slot booking is required — the ticket includes Blue Lagoon landing access. During summer, additional trips may run at the operator's discretion. A charge of €5 may apply per bulky item (bicycles, inflated mattresses, camping equipment). Comino Ferries can also drop you on Gozo; from there you return to Malta by the Gozo Channel Line ferry (€4.65) or the Gozo High Speed Ferry (€7.50, May to September).
Private boat charters from Malta and Gozo
If you want to set your own schedule, two options exist: a skippered private charter (the skipper drives) or a self-drive boat (you drive).
Skippered charters — Comino Ferries and Sea Adventure Excursions
Comino Ferries offers private charters from Ċirkewwa for up to 6 people. The price is per boat and includes skipper, fuel, water, snorkelling gear, all taxes and port fees, and life jackets. Pickup service, hotel transfer, and food and drinks are not included.
| Duration | Price (per boat) | Extra person |
|---|---|---|
| 2 hours | €200 | €10 each |
| 4 hours | €290 | €20 each |
| 6 hours | €450 | €20 each |
| 8 hours | €519 | €20 each |
| Sunset | €289 | €10 each |
After the charter, you can stay at the Blue Lagoon and return to Malta on the regular Comino ferry at any time until 19:00, free of charge.
Sea Adventure Excursions runs the SEA Explorer, a full-day private charter for up to 38 passengers at €1,250 per boat, departing from the MOLL in St. Paul's Bay. It includes skipper, cushioned seats, toilet, shaded area, drink cooling facilities, USB music, and a freshwater shower. Day charter runs from 09:00 with arrival before 17:00; night charter from 18:00 with arrival before 23:00.
Self-drive boats from Gozo — JoyRide Watersports
JoyRide Watersports operates from Hondoq Bay in Qala, Gozo. Drivers must be at least 21 years old. No boating licence is needed for most boats, but boating experience is important; the larger boats (115 hp and 200 hp) require a nautical licence. A €200 cash security deposit is required and refunded if the boat is returned undamaged. Fuel is not included and is measured at the end of the trip. Alcohol is strictly prohibited on board.
| Boat | Max pax | Half day (3 h) | Full day (6 h) | Extra hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 hp / 13 ft | 4 | €100 | — | €40/h |
| 50 hp / 13 ft | 5 | €120 | €180 | €40/h |
| 80 hp / 16.5 ft | 7 | €140 | €200 | €40/h |
| 90 hp / 17.5 ft | 7 | €150 | €220 | €40/h |
| 115 hp / 17.5 ft | 7 | €160 | €240 | €50/h |
| 115 hp / 19 ft | 7 | €180 | €270 | €50/h |
| 200 hp / 20 ft | 9 | €250 | €400 | €50/h |
Book a self-drive boat from Hondoq Bay. All boats include life jackets, first aid box, fire extinguisher, canopy, cushioned seats, anchor, swimming ladder and cooler box. Arrive 30 minutes before your slot for the briefing.
Boat trips from Gozo to Comino
JoyRide also runs shared boat trips from Hondoq Bay to Comino.
- Direct to Blue Lagoon: €10 per adult, €5 per child. Multiple departures daily 09:00–18:00.
- Comino & Cave Tour: €15 per adult, €7.50 per child. Multiple departures daily 08:30–19:00.
- 3-hour Around Comino & parts of Gozo: €300 per boat (private), up to 8 guests. Covers the Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon, Santa Maria Caves, Elephants Rock, and Mġarr ix-Xini.
Important
For its trips to the Blue Lagoon, JoyRide asks you to book the landing ticket separately if you want to go ashore.
Jet skis
JoyRide Watersports — Gozo
Jet ski rental from Hondoq Bay, Gozo. Price is per jet ski and includes fuel and life jacket. Not suitable for anyone over 160 kg. Participants must be able to swim confidently in open water.
| Duration | 1 person | 2 persons |
|---|---|---|
| 20 minutes | €50 | €60 |
| 30 minutes | €70 | €80 |
| 40-minute Adventure Tour | €90 per jet ski (includes snorkelling masks, water, photos) | |
Jet skis on Malta itself
On Malta itself, jet skis are rented out in Mellieħa and Marsascala — check who the actual operator is, and whether a licence is needed, before you book.
Fishing charters
Fishing Malta operates year-round from Creek Yacht Marina, Pontoon Gate "K", Ta' Xbiex. No experience is required. Both private and shared trips are available.
| Trip | Duration | Private (per boat) | Shared (per person) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fun Reef Fishing | 4 hours | €380 | €80 |
| Deluxe Combo Tour | 5 hours | €480 | €175 |
| Extended Tour | 8 hours | €795 | €275 |
Pelagic species by season: Bonito Tuna (February–April), Albacore Tuna (May–July), Amberjack (May–September), Dorado (August–November), Skipjack Tuna (October–December). Each shared trip is limited to a small number of persons to ensure the boat is never overcrowded.
Scuba diving — try dives and beginner courses
Dive Systems Malta speaks of visibility of up to 30 metres year-round; Utina Diving in Gozo gives water temperatures of 14–16°C in winter and 24–28°C from June to October. Two centres on the main island make an easy start for non-divers.
Dive Systems Malta — Sliema
Dive Systems Malta is an SSI Diamond Dive Centre on the waterfront in Sliema. Their SSI Try Scuba costs €85 per person (minimum age 8, no experience needed, in shallow, confined water, with basic equipment and instructor included). The SSI Basic Diver course costs €135 per person (minimum age 10) or €220 for two people with the couples offer (saving €50). After diving, you should leave a minimum of 12 hours before your flight.
Scuba Life Malta — Mellieħa
Scuba Life Malta is a dive centre in Mellieħa with PADI 5-Star status, five minutes from Ċirkewwa. A Bubble Maker session (age 8+, 1 hour) is €80. PADI Discover Scuba Diving (age 10+, half day) costs €110. The Discover Scuba Diving Plus (half or full day) is €155. The full PADI Open Water Diver Course (3 days, age 10+) is €540. Guided dive packs for certified divers start at €105 for 2 dives with tanks and weights, or €120 for 2 dives with full equipment rental included.
Tip
Tip for certified divers: Scuba Life Malta offers a Gozo Day Supplement of €25 a day. The format is two dives with a surface interval on the island; transport, tanks, weights and the ferry are included.
Putting it together — what fits your day
- A day on a budget: Comino Ferries return (€15 adult / €7 child), bring your own snorkel and spend the day at the Blue Lagoon.
- Full day, no effort: Hera Comino Direct (€50 adult, lunch and drinks included) or Luzzu Gozo, Comino & Blue Lagoon (€45 adult, with a bus tour on Gozo).
- Full day, your own schedule: self-drive boat from Hondoq Bay (from €180 for 6 hours + fuel), exploring Comino's coves at your own pace.
- Short adrenaline hit: jet ski from Hondoq Bay, Gozo (€50 for 20 minutes, one rider).
- First dive: SSI Try Scuba in Sliema (€85) or PADI Discover Scuba in Mellieħa (€110).
- Fishing: Shared reef fishing (€80 per person for 4 hours) from Ta' Xbiex.
