Diving in Comino – Malta’s Underappreciated Diving Jewel

It is no secret among divers that Malta is the European wreck diving capital and that Gozo tempts divers with the Blue Hole – and yet, few people talk about scuba diving in Comino, the third largest island of the country. And let me tell you that this is more than surprising, as the underwater world around Comino has a lot to offer and is not to be missed.

There are sea caves with light beams, a wreck, and reef dives, whereby the first two dive sites of Comino are the most impressive. In fact, a dive instructor whose opinion I trust and who has been diving in the country for more than 20 years, told me that the Santa Maria Caves (Santa Marija Caves) are his favorite dive site in the entire country.

I was fortunate enough to dive in Comino during my two months in Malta and loved it. Therefore, I can only encourage you to include at least two dives here in your diving itinerary. After all, skipping Comino means missing out on a fantastic time.

Disclosure: This post about diving in Comino is based on collaborations with dive centers. As always, all opinions expressed in this post are my own and not influenced in any way.

This post may contain affiliate links(*), which means I may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase through a link. Please see the full disclosure for further information.

About Diving in Comino

When it comes to diving in Comino, there are several things to keep in mind while planning your trip. For one, there are no dive centers on Comino, so you have to choose a dive center on Malta or Gozo that offers boat diving and trips to Comino. Hereby, you need to know that Comino diving is not year-round, as the dive boats tend to be out of the water in the winter months.

And as a bonus, you will likely get a surface interval on the boat at the island’s famous Blue Lagoon or the Crystal Lagoon right next to it.

The Best Time to Dive in Comino

While it is possible to dive in Malta year-round, diving in Comino is limited to the time frame during which the boats of the dive centers are in the water. Some dive centers, such as Dive System,s start boat diving as early as March if the weather allows it, while others wait until May. The boat diving season ends between October and November, whereby the exact time once again depends on the individual dive centers and the weather.

Given this limitation, the best time for scuba diving in Comino is from May to September, as all dive centers will have their boats in the water and can therefore take you to Comino. It is the time when the water is the calmest, and these months also have the warmest water temperatures.

Water Temperatures

Please keep in mind that the listed temperatures are usually only indicative for the first 10 to 15 meters, and that the temperature can drop up to 3 or 4°C at a depth of 30 meters. The difference is at its peak in August and September, but even in May, you can usually expect it to be at least a degree colder at a depth of 12 meters. Therefore, you should choose your exposure gear for your diving trip accordingly.

Comino Dive Sites

Comino might be a small island, but it offers a variety of dive sites. Hereby, some dive centers offer a larger variety than others, but most include the following five. Of these, Santa Maria Caves and the P31 Wreck are the most popular ones. The other dive sites in Comino are mostly reef dives, although the Crystal Lagoon does have a cave that can be explored.

P31 Wreck

The P31 is a former East German river patrol boat ‘Pasewalk’ turned minesweeper that now rests at a depth of 18 – 20 meters. Built in 1960 at the Peene Werft, this 52-meter-long Condor 1-class ship is a sister ship of the P29 in Ċirkewwa. After the German reunification, it was decommissioned and disarmed, before being sold to Malta in 1992. It was bought by MTA (Malta Tourism Authority) in 2004, which scuttled it in 2009.

Thanks to its rather shallow depth compared to other wreck dives, it is suitable for open water divers and allows nudibranch lovers to spend a good amount of time looking for the small sea slugs that can be found all over the wreck.

While it is a sister ship of the P29, there is significantly less growth on this wreck despite being scuttled only 2 years later. Additionally, the mast and ship screw of the P31 have been removed, which gives it a different appearance. There are several parts through which you can swim including the main hull which can be accessed via the back and front.

The visibility is usually good, which allows you to see the wreck from the surface. A fact that is quite good, as the ship now rests 25 meters away from its buoy as it moved during a storm in the winter of 2010/2011.

Santa Maria Caves

Santa Maria Caves (or Santa Marija Caves) was first recommended to me by Mark (of Dive Systems), and after hearing his description of this dive site in Comino, I knew that I had to see it. In total, there are four geological features in close proximity to each other, so it is obvious that this dive site is a real highlight if the conditions are right.

With a maximum depth of 15 meters, this dive site is rather shallow, and the caves themselves are no deeper than 10 meters. The first one has a main chamber with a sandy bottom, and there is a smaller side tunnel. Know that boats can enter this cave and that they, combined with waves, can stir up the sand.

The second cave has two exits and a side tunnel in the middle. There is an opening in the main chamber through which light enters the cave. On very sunny days, you can see light beams that resemble those of the Cenote Tajma Ha dive in Mexico. Keep your eyes open for nudibranchs while inside the caves and snap a few photos of the fan worms with the cave opening as a backdrop.

However, the most famous feature of this dive site is likely the “z”-shaped swim through that looks like Zorro himself paid Comino a visit. Alongside wrecks, it can often be seen in magazine spreads about diving in Malta. Aside from this, there is also an arch at a depth of around 10 meters.

Depending on the conditions above the surface, the water in the caves can be milky, and there might be suction near the smaller hole in the second cave. Therefore, I highly encourage you to follow a guide unless you already know the dive site. I experienced both the sand out in the first cave and the suction in the second cave, so it is safe to say that I more than want a redo for this Comino dive.

Other Dive Sites in Comino

Lantern Point – a dive site that combines an ‘L’-shaped chimney through which you can swim, a series of swim-throughs, and a drop-off that marks the edge of the Malta-Gozo Channel. The chimney drops down to 18 meters, while the swim-throughs are around the 30-meter mark. Therefore, it is recommended to be at least AOWD certified to make the most of this dive.

Cominotto Reef (Anchor Reef) – this dive site in Comino is a wall dive with big boulders. It is named after a WWII anchor that is encrusted in soft coral and sponges and that lies at a depth of 35 meters. There are overhangs, ledges, a swim through, and a drop-off.

Crystal Lagoon – a shallow dive site (5 to 8 meters) with a sandy bottom & a 30-meter-long tunnel which makes a nice photo motive

Which Dive Center is best for diving in Comino?

Given how popular diving in Malta is, and that it is considered the diving capital of Europe, there are plenty of dive centers to choose from. And while many of them are good options, I particularly recommend the following dive centers as they are incredibly professional, well equipped, have knowledgable teams, and it is an all-around pleasure to dive with them.

Dive Systems (Sliema, Malta)

Dive Systems are located right at Exile’s Bay in Sliema and are the perfect dive center if you want to dive in Comino from the main island. The team is amazing and so are their facilities, and it is a pleasure to dive with them. They are among the selected dive centers that are licensed to take divers to historic wrecks that require permission from UCHU (Underwater Cultural Heritage Unit).

And if that is not enough to convince you to book your dives with them, the fact that their boat has a diver elevator should seal the deal. After all, it is amazing if you do not have to climb back on the boat and can just step into an elevator instead.

St. Andrew’s Divers Cove (Xlendi, Gozo)

St. Andrew’s Divers Cove is another fantastic dive center that is located right at the bay of Xlendi. This dive center caters to all kinds of divers ranging from DSD to technical diving, and the team is fantastic.

In fact, there is an instructor or guide that is perfect for everything you might be looking for during a dive – be it someone that has more than impressive nudibranch spotting skills which is perfect if you are diving in Comino to see the P31 or someone that can find a spot if the conditions are not ideal.

Diving the other Maltese Islands

Given that there are no dive centers on Comino and you have to do boat dives from the islands of Malta or Gozo. If you are diving for more than one day while in the country, you will likely also explore some of the dive sites of Gozo and Malta. Here is what you should know about diving beyond Comino:

Diving in Malta

Diving on the main island of Malta is all about scuttled and historic wrecks. While there are some reefs, the highlights for recreational divers are wreck dives. These include the Um El-Faroud oil tanker wreck and the Cirkewwa dive sites including the Tug Boat Rozi Wreck and the P29 Wreck.

Diving in Gozo

There is no denying that the Blue Hole is Gozo’s most famous dive site, and there is a good reason for it. However, there are many more amazing dive sites all around the island that are more than worth exploring.

Packing List

If you travel with your own scuba diving equipment, you need to pack the usual gear consisting of a mask, snorkel, BCD, dive computer, and regulator. Aside from that, you will need either a drysuit to a 5mm wetsuit depending on the time of the year, a hood and gloves (which also protect you from jellyfish that can accumulate in areas), and boots with thick soles (as the other two main islands have a lot of shore dives).

Comino Diving Costs

There is no denying that the dives in Comino are the most expensive recreational dives in the country, as all dive centers add an upcharge for the boat trip.

Hereby, it is understandably more expensive if you are based in Malta. On the main island, the base fee for 2 dives is between 85 and 100€, and then there is an additional Comino boat trip upcharge between 35 and 40€. Take note that the base fee is less expensive if you book more dives with a dive center (up to 15% off when you book 10 dives).

If you are based in Gozo, the base fee for two dives without a bigger dive package is between 70 and 80€. The Comino upcharge varies from 20 to 40€, depending on the location of the dive center.

FAQ – Diving Comino

Roundup: Diving in Comino

As you can see, diving in Comino is excellent and more than worth the upcharge for the boat trip. The dive sites here – Santa Maria Caves in particular – are different than those of the two bigger islands of Malta, and skipping Comino means you do not get to see the full range of what the country has to offer in terms of diving.

I, for one, think that at least one day of diving here is more than worth it, and I hope you feel the same way after reading this article about diving there.