Snorkelling in Malta: the 10 best spots for every level

Snorkelling in Malta: the honest picture

Malta is primarily known as a scuba diving destination, and that reputation is well-earned. But the same conditions that make it exceptional for divers — extraordinary water clarity, rocky coastline rich in fish, warm summer water — make it genuinely good for snorkellers too.

The key distinction that nobody mentions in the tourist brochures: Malta is 80% rocky coastline. The sandy beaches you see on promotional images (Mellieha Bay, Golden Bay, Ramla in Gozo) account for a small fraction of the total coastline. For snorkellers, this is actually positive news. Rocky coastline means structure, and structure means fish. The shallow limestone ledges, underwater caves and rock-cut channels that line Malta’s shoreline are exactly where marine life concentrates.

The flip side: access. Rocky-coast snorkelling requires some physical comfort entering the water from rocks or ladders rather than wading in from a beach. Most of Malta’s best snorkelling sites have metal ladders fixed into the rock or natural entry points at water level. But if you are used to walking into the water from a sandy beach, expect a different style of entry.

This guide covers 10 sites across the three islands, rated for ease of access, fish life, and suitability for children.

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Malta island: 6 snorkelling spots

1. Gnejna Bay, northwest Malta

Best for: families, beginners, calm water Access: sandy beach with rocky flanks — easy beach entry, rocky snorkelling Depth: 0.5–6 m Typical marine life: salema, bream, wrasse, sea urchins, octopus in rock crevices

Gnejna Bay is a small horseshoe cove with a narrow sandy beach and rocky headlands on either side. The beach provides an easy entry point, and snorkellers can work along the rocky flanks where fish densities are highest. The water is reliably calm — the bay faces southwest and is sheltered from the prevailing north-westerly winds. One of the best spots for families with children, as the water is shallow enough that adults can always stand while children float.

The rock face on the western headland has natural undercuts at 2–4 m that house grouper, moray eels and octopus. Patient snorkellers who hover quietly over these features will encounter surprisingly large fish for such a shallow site.

Honest note: Gnejna Bay gets busy with local families on summer weekends. Visit on weekday mornings for the best experience.

2. St Peter’s Pool, southeast Malta

Best for: experienced snorkellers, photographers, those comfortable with rock entry Access: rocky ledge, 1–2 m drop into water from natural rock Depth: 2–15 m Typical marine life: large grouper, damselfish, wrasse, barracuda in deeper water, nudibranchs

St Peter’s Pool is a natural swimming pool cut into the limestone shelf near Delimara Point on the south-east coast. The water is an electric turquoise blue, the surrounding rock is dramatic, and the fish life is among the richest of any snorkelling site on the main island. The deeper sections (8–15 m) are technically within the range of a freediver or confident breath-hold snorkeller, not a beginner at the surface.

Entry is from a flat limestone ledge approximately 1–2 m above water level — a straightforward jump for most adults, awkward with young children. There are natural handholds on the rock face to climb out. The rock entry and exit can be slippery when wet.

Getting there: St Peter’s Pool is reached via a 15-minute walk from the Delimara car park or by boat from Marsaxlokk. Several boat tours from Marsaxlokk include snorkelling at St Peter’s Pool as part of their itinerary — a much easier option for families than the rocky access on foot.

Boat tour to St Peter’s Pool from Marsaxlokk

3. Blue Grotto rock faces, southwest Malta

Best for: boat-based snorkellers, experienced swimmers Access: by boat from Wied Iz-Zurrieq, no independent shore snorkelling possible Depth: 3–20 m inside caves, 10–35 m outside Typical marine life: fish concentrations inside caves, gorgonians visible to breath-hold divers at depth

The Blue Grotto caves are most commonly visited on the 20-minute sightseeing boat from Wied Iz-Zurrieq, which takes tourists through the caves at surface level. What the tourist boats do not tell you: several operators run dedicated snorkel trips into the caves that stop inside and allow snorkelling in the crystalline cave water.

The light inside the caves (reflected blue from the light entering below the waterline) is otherworldly, and even at the surface you can see grouper resting on the cave floor at 8–12 m. Breath-hold snorkellers who can dive to 5 m will see the roof of the cave from inside at water level.

Note: independent snorkelling at Wied Iz-Zurrieq is possible but requires entry over jagged rocks in conditions that can be swell-affected. The boat-based snorkelling trip is significantly safer and more enjoyable.

4. Anchor Bay, northwest Malta (near Popeye Village)

Best for: beginners, families, combining with Popeye Village visit Access: protected bay, gentle rocky entry from the left side of the beach Depth: 1–10 m Typical marine life: sea bream, wrasse, damselfish, sea cucumbers, octopus

Anchor Bay is the sheltered cove adjacent to Popeye Village. The bay faces roughly south, is protected on three sides, and has the calmest conditions of any site in northwest Malta. The rocky flanks of the bay descend to 8–10 m and hold a typical Maltese rockfish community — not spectacular by the standards of St Peter’s Pool, but reliably calm and perfectly suitable for first-time snorkellers or snorkelling with children.

The area is used by dive shops for beginner pool-equivalent sessions, which means the entry points are well-marked and the bottom is clean. Visibility is typically 15–20 m.

5. Mellieha Bay (rocky flanks, north)

Best for: families, convenience, combining with beach day Access: from the beach, wade to the rocky margins Depth: 1–8 m Typical marine life: seagrass meadows (Posidonia), wrasse, bream, occasional seahorse in seagrass

Mellieha Bay is Malta’s largest sandy beach — a rarity on this mostly rocky island — and as such it is extremely popular in summer. The snorkelling is not in the middle of the bay (sandy, shallow, few fish) but along the rocky margins on both ends of the beach. Particularly on the northern end, rocky reefs begin at 2 m depth and support reasonable fish populations.

The seagrass (Posidonia oceanica) beds in the central-north part of the bay are protected habitat and are genuinely interesting for patient snorkellers: they shelter juvenile fish, sea cucumbers, starfish and occasionally sea horses.

Practical note: Mellieha Bay is extremely crowded in July and August. For snorkelling, the north rocky margin becomes a narrow strip shared with swimmers. Visit before 10:00 or after 17:00 for manageable conditions.

6. Sliema rocky foreshore

Best for: convenience, urban snorkelling, frequent travellers staying in Sliema Access: ladders at multiple points along the Sliema promenade Depth: 1–8 m Typical marine life: damselfish, wrasse, bream, occasional barracuda

The limestone foreshore that lines the Sliema waterfront has metal ladders for sea entry at regular intervals. This is “urban snorkelling” — not Malta’s most dramatic site, but extraordinary for the fact that you are entering the Mediterranean from the middle of a busy promenade and immediately encountering clear water and fish. Visibility is typically 10–20 m depending on wind direction. Good for an early-morning or late-afternoon session when staying in Sliema.

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Gozo: 3 exceptional snorkelling spots

7. Xlendi Bay, southwest Gozo

Best for: all levels, combining with lunch at Xlendi Access: from the beach, or from the rocks at either side of the bay Depth: 2–20 m on the rock faces Typical marine life: large grouper, moray eels, octopus, sea fans visible to breath-holders at 10–15 m

Xlendi is a narrow fjord-like inlet on Gozo’s southwest coast with an open Mediterranean outlook and excellent fish life concentrated in the undercut limestone walls. The main beach is small (a strip of sand and pebble) but both sides of the fjord have accessible rocky entries at water level.

The right-hand cliff face (facing the sea) descends in steps to 20 m, and even at the surface the clarity allows a clear view of the upper rock face at 8–10 m. Large grouper (3–4 kg) are resident here and approach snorkellers closely — Xlendi is the site on Gozo where you are most likely to have a genuinely memorable fish encounter as a surface snorkeller.

8. Dwejra Inland Sea, northwest Gozo

Best for: adventurous snorkellers, those doing a Dwejra day Access: calm lagoon, easy entry from the pebbly beach Depth: 1–8 m inside, 10–25 m outside the tunnel Typical marine life: sea bream, cardinal fish, wrasse, juvenile grouper, sea horses in rock crevices

The Inland Sea is a lagoon in a collapsed limestone cave, connected to the open Mediterranean by a 70 m tunnel used by traditional fishing boats. Inside the lagoon, the water is sheltered and crystal clear — ideal for snorkelling. The tunnel itself is wide enough to swim through as a snorkeller: you emerge into the open sea on the other side, where the landscape is dramatic but the water is more exposed.

Important note: swell from the northwest can make the tunnel passage and the open sea exit dangerous for snorkellers. Only snorkel the tunnel on flat, calm days. The lagoon interior is always safe.

9. Ramla Bay beach, north Gozo

Best for: families, beach snorkelling, combining with a Gozo day Access: from the sandy beach (Gozo’s only significant sandy beach) Depth: 0.5–6 m at the rocky flanks Typical marine life: typical shallow Mediterranean community, sea urchins, wrasse, bream

Ramla Bay is Gozo’s main sandy beach and one of the most beautiful beaches in the entire Maltese archipelago. The central beach area is sandy and shallow — pleasant for swimming but not exciting for snorkelling. The rocky outcrops at each end of the bay are the snorkelling hotspots, with clear water, low surge in moderate conditions, and typical Maltese rocky-reef fish life.

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Comino: the most famous and most crowded

10. Blue Lagoon and Crystal Lagoon

Best for: combining with a boat trip, spectacular scenery Access: from boats or the beach landing at Comino Depth: 1–8 m Typical marine life: surprisingly few fish (too crowded and disturbed in summer)

The honest truth about Blue Lagoon as a snorkelling site: the water is extraordinarily beautiful — turquoise, clear, photogenic — but the fish life is poor in peak season because the site hosts thousands of visitors per day from June to September. Motorised boat traffic churns sediment, and the constant presence of boats, paddleboards, swimmers and tourists effectively displaces the fish population.

Crystal Lagoon, immediately adjacent, is quieter and has better fish life. Both are most enjoyable as snorkelling sites in the early morning (before 09:00) or evening (after 17:00) when tour boats have gone.

For snorkelling with genuinely good fish life around Comino, the caves on the north side of the island (Santa Marija Bay area) are much better. Most Comino boat tours with snorkelling stops visit these caves as well as the lagoon.

Gozo and Comino boat and snorkelling adventure

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Gear guide: what to bring snorkelling in Malta

Mask and snorkel: if you are serious about snorkelling, bring your own — rental masks from beach kiosks are often poorly fitting and fog badly. A silicone skirt mask and a semi-dry snorkel (with splash guard) are the minimum. Full-face snorkel masks (the TikTok variety) are not recommended for anything below the surface.

Fins: optional but transformative for rocky-coast snorkelling. Fins allow you to hover over a feature without using your hands (which keeps you away from the rocks) and dramatically increase your range. Short freediving fins are better than bulky dive fins for surface snorkelling.

Wetsuit: unnecessary in July and August (water 25–26°C) but welcome in May, June, September and October (19–22°C). A 1 mm shorty or a lycra skin suit extends comfortable snorkelling time significantly in shoulder season.

Reef gloves: tempting but avoid them — gloves encourage touching the reef, which damages coral and the animals living in it. Better technique (buoyancy and awareness) protects you and the environment.

Snorkel vest: a brightly coloured inflatable vest is good for young children or non-swimmers who want to participate. Note that many tour boats require life vests rather than snorkel vests for children.

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Frequently asked questions about snorkelling in Malta

Do I need experience to snorkel in Malta?

No. Surface snorkelling requires only the ability to swim. The harder skills — clearing the snorkel, breathing through the mask — can be learned in minutes. The entry points vary in difficulty: sandy beach entry (Mellieha, Golden Bay) is appropriate for complete beginners; rocky-coast entry (St Peter’s Pool, Xlendi) requires confidence in water.

Can children snorkel in Malta?

Yes, at the right sites. Gnejna Bay, Anchor Bay, Mellieha Bay (northern margin) and Xlendi Bay all have shallow, calm conditions suitable for children 6 and older who can swim. Blue Lagoon is manageable but crowded. Avoid rocky-coast sites (St Peter’s Pool, Blue Grotto) with young children.

What is the best month for snorkelling in Malta?

May, June, September and October are ideal: warm water (19–24°C), calm seas, good visibility (20–30 m), and far fewer people than July–August. July and August are the warmest (25–26°C water) but the most crowded at every beach and snorkelling site.

Is there anything dangerous to watch out for?

Sea urchins (Paracentrotus lividus) are ubiquitous on rocky surfaces — common, painful if you stand or reach on them, but not medically dangerous in healthy adults. Remove spines with a needle and antiseptic. Weever fish (Trachinus draco) bury in sandy bottoms and sting if stepped on — avoidable by shuffling your feet on sandy beaches before lifting them. Jellyfish (particularly Pelagia noctiluca, the mauve stinger) appear in pulses in summer — not predictable, mildly to moderately painful, treat with warm water.

Can I rent snorkel gear in Malta?

Yes. Rental is available at most major beaches (Mellieha Bay, Golden Bay, Bugibba, Sliema) and from dive shops. Quality varies enormously. Budget rental (€5–10/day) usually means poor-quality masks that fog. Mid-range rental (€15–20/day) from dive shops is significantly better. Buying a basic mask-snorkel-fin set in Malta costs €40–70 from sports shops in Birkirkara or online before you travel.

Last reviewed: 2026-04-20