Crystal Lagoon — Comino Anchorage Guide

The Anchorage

Very shallow inner cove adjacent to the main Blue Lagoon. Suitable for small boats (LOA under 10m, draft under 1.5m) only. Excellent sand holding in 2–5m. Outstanding water clarity — the sand bottom is visible from the surface. Protected from most directions except E and NE. Extremely popular with day-trip dinghies and small motorboats. Arrive early to secure a spot in peak season.

Setting Your Anchor

The bottom at Crystal Lagoon — Comino is primarily sand with reliable holding when properly set.

1. Monitor VHF Ch 16 (Malta Radio) — VHF patrol operates in summer around Comino and the Blue Lagoon. Mooring buoy enforcement patrols call all vessels on Ch 16 during peak season.
2. Anchor in 2–5m. Malta's tidal range is negligible (<30cm) — no tidal depth correction needed. Wind-driven sea level variation up to 0.5m possible in strong winds.
3. Deploy at least 5:1 scope (25m chain at 5m depth). Verify the bottom is sand — check for Posidonia seagrass (EU protected) before dropping the anchor. In the Blue Lagoon, use mooring buoys provided.
4. Set firmly in reverse — 30–60 seconds at moderate throttle. Use the scope calculator to confirm adequate chain.

Recommended anchor types: Danforth, Spade, Fortress.

Overnight Anchoring & Anchor Alarm

Overnight stays at Crystal Lagoon — Comino are best in settled conditions — the anchorage is exposed to E and NE winds. In the Blue Lagoon area, the critical overnight consideration is ferry and tourist boat wash (09:00–17:00) and ensuring mooring buoy pendants are sound before sleeping. After 17:00, the lagoon becomes one of the Mediterranean's most peaceful overnight anchorages.

Set your GPS anchor alarm to 50m radius before going below. 50m radius in 2–4m clean sand. Excellent holding. Small boats only (draft under 1.5m). Very shallow — check draft carefully on entry. Extremely busy in summer daytime with dinghies and tenders from anchored boats.

May–October. Peak season (July–August) is extremely busy during the day but magical in the evening once day-trippers leave. April and November are peaceful with cool but swimmable water.

Navigation Hazards

• Very shallow — carefully check draft before entering; shoals on approach to inner cove
• Busy with day-trip dinghies and tenders — expect congestion in summer daytime hours
• NE exposure — uncomfortable and should be vacated if NE swell develops

Rules & Regulations

• EU member (not Schengen): No customs formalities for EU boats arriving from EU ports. Non-EU boats: clear customs at Grand Harbour (Malta) or Mġarr Harbour (Gozo) before visiting Comino. EES biometric recording required for non-EU crew since October 2025.
• Posidonia: EU protected throughout Maltese waters — anchor only in sand patches. Fines apply. In the Blue Lagoon swimming zone, mooring buoys are mandatory to protect the Posidonia meadows below.
• Cominotto: No landing on Cominotto island — designated nature reserve. Fines apply.
• Anchoring fee: Free
• Restrictions: Small boats ONLY — maximum draft approximately 1.5m. No large yachts. No anchoring on Posidonia — sandy areas only. Check depth carefully on approach.

For a full overview, see our overnight anchoring rules by region guide.

Facilities

• Fresh water: Not available on Comino — bring from Malta or Gozo
• Fuel: Not available — nearest: Mġarr, Gozo (3.6nm)
• Restaurant: None — nearest at Mġarr, Gozo (3.6nm)
• Provisions: None on site — Mġarr, Gozo (3.6nm)

Skipper's Tips

1. Small boats and tenders only — largest yachts can use as a tender destination from Blue Lagoon mooring buoys
2. Arrive before 09:00 for a quiet morning swim before the day-trip boats arrive
3. The water clarity here is extraordinary — snorkeling in 2m of water feels like being in an aquarium
4. Bring shade — the low cliffs provide little shelter from the Mediterranean sun