Comino Blue Lagoon & Crystal Lagoon – 3 Bay Cruise

Clear water, good space, and three proper swim stops. This six-hour cruise from Marfa Bay gives you a relaxed way to see Comino’s best swimming spots without packing onto a floating bus. I especially like the limited passenger numbers and the generous four hours set aside for swimming and snorkeling. The main catch is simple: Blue Lagoon itself can be extremely crowded, and the sea crossing may feel bouncy if you get motion sick.

I also like the choice built into the day. At Blue Lagoon, you can step ashore and explore Comino, or stay on the boat and swim from a quieter position nearby. The crew, including Danny and Ali on some departures, earns frequent praise for being friendly, helpful, and willing to adjust the route when conditions or crowds make another bay a better choice.

Quick points before you book

• A smaller boat feel: The vessel can hold 70 people, but numbers are limited to 45, leaving more room on the lower and upper decks.
• Four hours in the water: You get one hour at Crystal Lagoon, two hours around Blue Lagoon, and one hour at Ħalfa Rock.
• Blue Lagoon choice: Go ashore for a look around, or stay onboard to swim without joining the thickest shore crowds.
• Useful facilities onboard: Toilets, a fresh water shower, sunbathing areas, and a bar selling drinks and snacks.
• Flexible route planning: The captain may change a stop for safety or to find a less crowded swimming area.
• Best for active swimmers: This is a boat-and-water day, not a sightseeing tour with only quick photo stops.

Why the passenger limit matters

Many Comino boat trips focus on packing in as many people as possible. This one takes a different approach. The boat has a stated capacity of 70, but the operator limits bookings to 45. In practice, several departures had roughly 30 to 40 people onboard, which left room to sit, move around, and spread out on the upper deck.

That matters most during a six-hour outing. You are not simply stepping off after a short transfer. You will spend a large part of the day on the boat, drying off between swims, eating snacks, using the bathroom, and finding shade or sun. Extra space makes the whole day easier.

The vessel has both lower and upper areas, with places to sit and sunbathe. The boat is also small enough to keep the atmosphere friendly, but large enough to offer useful facilities. This middle ground is one of the strongest reasons to choose it over a much larger party boat or a tiny vessel with little room to move.

Music is part of the atmosphere, and several departures had a lively but comfortable feel. It is not presented as a silent nature outing. Families, couples, and older visitors can fit in, while people looking for a bit of music and a social mood will not feel out of place.

Crystal Lagoon gives you the first real swim

The boat leaves from the Bluewaves Watersports office at Marfa Bay, facing Comino. The departure point is only a few minutes from the island, so you reach the main swimming area without spending half the morning on a long transfer.

Crystal Lagoon is the first stop. The boat anchors for about one hour, giving you time to swim and snorkel directly from the vessel. This is a useful opening stop because you can settle into the water before the busiest part of the day.

The water is the star here. Malta’s rocky coast produces bright, clear swimming areas, and the view from the boat lets you appreciate the color without needing to claim a tiny patch of beach. You can use the hour for an easy swim, try snorkeling, or simply stay onboard and enjoy the scenery.

Bring your own mask if you have one. A mask can also be rented onboard for €3, according to the information provided. Snorkeling is pleasant, though you should keep expectations sensible. The water is clear, but this is not a specialist marine wildlife trip. You may see fish, and one person even spotted a moray eel, but the main attraction is the rock, light, and visibility.

Blue Lagoon works best from the water

The two-hour Blue Lagoon stop is the center of the day. You have two choices, and this choice can make a big difference.

You can leave the boat at the Blue Lagoon pier and explore Comino on foot. This gives you a chance to walk around the island and see the famous lagoon from shore. You can also look for food on land, though the area becomes considerably crowded, especially in the warmer months.

The other option is to remain onboard. After letting people ashore, the boat anchors nearby, where you can swim and snorkel while still enjoying the famous water. This is the choice I would seriously consider. The view remains excellent, you avoid spending time in shore crowds, and you keep access to the boat’s seats, toilet, shower, and bar.

The lagoon can be beautiful and packed at the same time. That is the central trade-off of visiting Comino. Staying onboard does not make the water private, but it can give you a more comfortable base and a better chance to enjoy the color without fighting for space on land.

Two hours is generous. You can swim, dry off, have a drink, return to the water, and still have time to watch the boats move through the lagoon. This is far more satisfying than a quick ten-minute photo stop.

If the sea or crowd levels change, the captain may adjust the route. On one highly praised departure, the captain went to Blue Lagoon first to avoid the worst crowds, then replaced a later overcrowded stop with a quieter swimming area. That flexibility is valuable, though you should understand that exact timing and locations can change for safety or local conditions.

Ħalfa Rock is the quieter final swim

The third main stop is Gebla ta Halfa, also called Ħalfa Rock, to the south of Gozo. The boat anchors for about an hour of swimming and snorkeling.

This stop gives the day a different rhythm. After the excitement of Blue Lagoon, a rocky swimming area can feel more open and less pressured. The location is also suited to people who enjoy jumping from the boat or looking for good places to practice freediving, as long as they follow the crew’s advice and stay within safe conditions.

The exact experience depends on the sea and the captain’s decision. A rougher day can make the ride and the swim more demanding. One past passenger felt the final stop was less necessary, while others loved the extra bay and the chance to swim away from the main crowds. I would see it as a useful bonus rather than the single reason to book.

You get a full hour here, not just a quick pause for photographs. That gives active swimmers time to make the most of the water while anyone who is tired can remain onboard and relax.

Santa Maria Caves add scenery on the return

After the final swim, the boat cruises back toward Bluewaves Watersports. The return route includes sightseeing around places such as the Santa Maria Caves, with other rock formations and coastal views along the way.

This part is less structured than the swimming stops. You are not being taken ashore for a long cave walk. Instead, you see the formations from the water while the boat moves along the coast. It is a good chance to dry off, take photographs, and enjoy the parts of Comino and Gozo that are difficult to reach on foot.

Some departures also included extra locations beyond the core stops. The exact route is not fixed, and that can work in your favor when the crew spots a quieter cove or a better swimming area.

The boat facilities make six hours easier

The cruise includes a toilet and fresh water shower. These are not minor extras on a day built around swimming. You can rinse off salt and sunscreen, change your comfort level after several hours in the sea, and avoid ending the trip feeling sticky and tired.

There is also a bar or small café onboard. Food and drinks are not included in the price, but you can buy water, soft drinks, coffee, cocktails, snacks, and other refreshments. Examples given by past passengers include water at about €1.50, soft drinks near €2, and an Aperol Spritz at €5. Prices may change, but the onboard options were generally considered reasonable.

I would still bring food if you need a proper meal. You can find food ashore at Blue Lagoon, but that means leaving the boat and dealing with the busiest part of the day. Bringing snacks lets you stay in your preferred spot and keeps the schedule simple.

Pack a towel, swimwear, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a sun hat. Biodegradable sunscreen is specifically requested, a sensible choice in a busy marine area. The upper deck is useful for sunbathing, but you should also plan for strong sun during four hours in and around the water.

Is $47 good value?

At $47 per person, this is a reasonable price for a six-hour outing with three swimming stops, sightseeing, onboard toilets, a shower, and a bar. You are paying not only for transport between bays, but also for long stretches of usable water time.

The value is strongest if you plan to swim at every stop. You receive about four hours for swimming and snorkeling, plus the cruise between locations. That works out better than a short boat trip that spends most of its time moving and only allows brief swims.

The price is less attractive if you mainly want to walk around Comino. Only the Blue Lagoon stop offers the option to disembark and explore on foot, and the main purpose of the day is swimming from the boat.

Food, drinks, and mask rental cost extra. Keep that in mind when setting your budget. Still, the passenger limit gives this trip a meaningful advantage over cheaper boats that may carry far more people. A few saved dollars are not much use if you spend the day squeezed into a crowded deck.

Sea conditions and practical limits

Boarding closes 15 minutes before departure, so do not arrive at the last moment. You meet at the Bluewaves Watersports office at Marfa Bay, facing Comino.

The captain can cancel or alter the cruise because of weather, sea conditions, or other safety concerns. If the trip is canceled, you are offered another date or a refund. You can also cancel up to 24 hours ahead for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option keeps your plans flexible.

This is not suitable for wheelchair users. Unaccompanied minors are not allowed, and the operator also prohibits high heels, bikes, scooters, weapons, sharp objects, explosives, and intoxication. Those rules are straightforward, but they are worth checking before you arrive.

The ride may bounce in rougher water. If you often get seasick, choose a seat in the more stable central part of the boat if the crew permits it, and bring whatever remedy you normally use. That practical concern is the main physical drawback of the experience.

Who will enjoy this cruise most?

I would recommend it to you if you want a full swimming day with comfortable boat space and a choice at Blue Lagoon. Couples, families with older children, active swimmers, and small groups should all find something useful here.

It is especially good for people who dislike crowded boats. The limit of 45 passengers is repeated throughout the experience, and it shapes the day in a real way. You can sit down, move to the upper deck, buy a drink, and return from a swim without feeling trapped in a mass of people.

You may want another type of outing if your main goal is a quiet nature trip, a long walk, or a serious snorkeling expedition. Music, motor noise, changing sea conditions, and other boats are part of the Comino experience. The snorkeling is enjoyable, but the tour is not built around expert marine guiding.

Should you book the 3 Bay Cruise?

Book it if you want three proper swim stops, enough time to enjoy each one, and a boat that does not use every available inch for passengers. The Blue Lagoon choice is a major plus: you can step ashore for a look, or stay onboard and swim near the lagoon without joining the thickest shore crowd.

I would book in advance during the warmer months, especially if you care about the smaller passenger limit. Bring snacks, arrive early, and treat the route as flexible rather than fixed. For $47, this is a strong value for an active day on Malta’s water, provided you are comfortable with swimming, sun, and the possibility of a bumpy ride.

FAQ

How long does the Comino 3 Bay Cruise last?

The cruise lasts six hours, with about four hours set aside for swimming and snorkeling.

Where does the boat depart?

You meet at the Bluewaves Watersports office at Marfa Bay, facing Comino Island.

Which bays does the cruise visit?

The planned swimming stops are Crystal Lagoon, Blue Lagoon, and Gebla ta Halfa, also known as Ħalfa Rock. The return route includes sightseeing near Santa Maria Caves.

Can I get off the boat at Blue Lagoon?

Yes. You can leave the boat at the Blue Lagoon pier and explore Comino on foot. You can also remain onboard and swim nearby.

Are food and drinks included?

No. Food and drinks are not included, but refreshments and snacks are available to purchase from the onboard bar.

What should I bring?

Bring sunglasses, a sun hat, swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, and biodegradable sunscreen. Boarding closes 15 minutes before departure.

Can wheelchair users join the cruise?

No. The experience is not suitable for wheelchair users.