Comino Anchorages: Blue Lagoon, Santa Marija & Quiet Spots

Comino anchorages force a simple choice: the Blue Lagoon for the iconic shallow, sandy overnight (pick up a yellow mooring buoy and expect crowded daytime traffic) or one of the north/south coves for a quieter night with cleaner swing room and better holding. The Blue Lagoon’s swimmers’ zone is formally buoyed with precise Transport Malta coordinates; Santa Marija Bay has its own inner and outer swimmer zones. Plan to arrive early for buoys, bring water and fuel from Gozo (Mġarr), and never anchor on Posidonia — it’s protected across the Natura 2000 sites around Gozo and Comino.

Anchoring Options in the Blue Lagoon

The Blue Lagoon (the channel between Comino and Cominotto) is shallow, spectacular and — by day in high season — extremely busy. You can use mooring buoys on the Cominotto side for overnight stays, or anchor outside the marked swimmers’ zone in sand where permitted.

Depths and Holding Conditions

• Typical depths: roughly 3–6 m inside the main channel; shallow patches and a shallower inner fringe exist nearer the sandbars. Holding is generally good in sand; small patches of Posidonia occur and must not be anchored on. Use your echo sounder and visually confirm sand before setting a hook.
• Draft guidance: vessels with draft >2.5 m should remain in the main channel and avoid the inner shallows; confirm on your charts and echosounder before committing. (This is safety guidance based on local bathymetry rather than a precise statutory limit.)
• Exposure: protected from northerly sectors; exposed to strong W/SW swell which can penetrate the mouth in unsettled weather — be prepared to move if the forecast shifts.

Transport Malta publishes a formally buoyed swimmers’ zone for the Blue Lagoon with exact WGS‑84 positions; buoys, fairways and a minimum safety distance are enforced — approach with caution and obey the markers. The primary swimmer‑zone coordinates (sample points from the official Local Notice to Mariners) include 36°00.893′N 14°19.281′E and adjacent points defining the polygon. Enforcement officers routinely patrol in season; offenders face fines under the Small Ships Regulations.

Mooring Buoy Fees

• Typical summer charge: about €10–15 per night for a mooring buoy in the Blue Lagoon (paid locally or by an attendant). This range is commonly reported by on‑water guides and local boating services; operators and exact rates can vary by year and season. If a buoy is available, prefer it over anchoring inside the swimmers’ zone — buoys were installed to protect Posidonia and manage traffic.
• Availability: limited in July–August. Day‑time traffic (ferries and excursion boats) usually clears after late afternoon; arriving after the last ferry improves your chance to pick up an overnight buoy.
• Practical note: do not secure to Transport Malta swimmer‑zone markers or fairway buoys — the notice explicitly forbids this and marks are for navigation/safety only.

Santa Marija Bay: A Detailed Overview

Santa Marija (St Mary) Bay sits on Comino’s north coast and is the natural alternative to the Blue Lagoon when you want more space and easier anchoring.

Anchoring Details

• Typical depths: commonly 3–8 m across the bay, with reliable sand holding in the inner reaches. These depths make Santa Marija suitable for a wide range of boats seeking an overnight stay away from the busiest daytime traffic.
• Suitability: good for mid‑size yachts and charterers wanting cleaner swing room than the Blue Lagoon; there are fewer commercial day‑vessels operating directly inside the bay. Plan to set stern‑to only if space is tight — many boats prefer an all‑chain scope of 4:1 in the confined parts. (Scope depends on conditions; judge by wind and swell.)

Designated Swimmer Zones

Transport Malta issues swimmer‑zone polygons for Santa Marija (inner and outer zones). Representative points from official notices include (WGS‑84):

• Inner zone sample coordinate: 36°00.996′N 14°20.180′E.
• Outer zone sample coordinate: 36°01.089′N 14°20.289′E. Respect buoy lines and the fairway; a minimum safety distance applies where stated in the local notices. Enforcement officers patrol these zones; fines are imposed for infringements under Maltese small‑ships law. Always consult the current Transport Malta notices before approach.

Quieter Overnight Spots Near Gozo

If you want to avoid the late‑afternoon congestion that still follows ferry schedules or prefer less swing risk and fewer lights at night, consider these sheltered or less visited coves. The table below compares practical on‑deck decisions.

Arrive before dusk if you want choice and room to manoeuvre. The practical trade‑off: Blue Lagoon gives the view and easy swimming from the boat but costs buoy fees and requires managing ferry wash; Santa Marija and Cominotto trade the show for calmer nights and more scope room.

Mooring Options and Practical Tips

• Buoys: available mainly on the Cominotto side of the Blue Lagoon for overnight use — limited numbers, usually collected locally and priced in the €10–15/night band in summer. If none are free, anchor outside the marked swimmers’ zone on clean sand.
• Arrive early: in July/August you should plan an early morning arrival (before 09:00) to claim a good position, or arrive after the late‑afternoon ferry run (typically after ~17:00) for overnight quiet.
• Swing room: keep alarms set to a tighter radius than usual in the Lagoon (many guides recommend 50–60 m) because of neighbour density and ferry wake; check pendants before leaving the boat.

Environmental Regulations and Considerations

The marine areas around Comino fall within Malta’s network of Natura 2000 sites and national marine protections aimed at habitats such as Posidonia oceanica and breeding seabirds. That legal framework produces concrete, enforceable measures you must follow when anchoring or visiting by tender.

• Posidonia protection: Posidonia meadows are protected by EU and Maltese law; anchoring on Posidonia is prohibited where marked and buoys have been placed to avoid damage. In practice this means: pick up marked moorings when present, anchor only in clear sand patches, and avoid setting an anchor if seagrass is present.
• No‑landing and restricted approach areas: Cominotto and several Comino cliffs/caves form part of protected bird and habitat sites; landing or approaching certain little islets and caves is restricted, especially during breeding seasons. Notices to mariners and local signage specify the exact areas. Landing on Cominotto is widely managed as a restricted activity.
• Penalties and enforcement: Transport Malta’s Local Notices to Mariners establish swimmer‑zones, fairways and prohibited behaviours; the notices state offenders are liable to fines under the Small Ships Regulations and that enforcement officers patrol the areas. The fines are applied on conviction according to the statutory schedule. Avoid any attempt to moor to Transport Malta gear, enter the swimmer polygon, or land on restricted islets.
• Best practice aboard: use an anchor snubber and short scope in crowded bays, recover anchor only after visually checking for Posidonia, carry a grab bag of provisions and water (Comino has minimal shore services), and take all rubbish ashore or back to Gozo/Malta — authorities actively discourage on‑shore littering in MPAs.

Facilities Available in Comino's Anchorages

Comino itself has very limited services: seasonal kiosks and no regular fuel or public fresh‑water supply for yachts. The nearest reliable marine services are in Gozo.

• Fresh water and fuel: there is no regular yacht fuel pontoon on Comino. The nearest marine fuel station and topping/berthing services are at Mġarr Harbour (Gozo) where a commercial marine fuel station provides petrol/diesel and typically supplies freshwater on request when practical. Plan fuel and water lifts at Mġarr before you head out to Comino.
• Waste and provisions: refuse collection and limited beach kiosks operate seasonally — do not expect 24/7 provisioning. If you plan to stay several nights, stock water, food and spare fuel in Gozo or Malta.
• Emergency and clearance: Mġarr Harbour is the official entry/clearance point for Gozo and retains ferry traffic and a 24/7 presence; monitor VHF and follow ferry lanes when entering or leaving the harbour.

Final Practical Checklist (what to do before you go)

• Download and read the latest Transport Malta Local Notices to Mariners for Comino (swimmers’ zones and fairways) and copy the WGS‑84 coordinates into your plotter. Enforcement is active.
• If you want an overnight Yellow buoy in the Blue Lagoon, expect a summer fee in the €10–15/night range and limited availability; carry a dinghy to pay/collect an attendant if required.
• Fill fuel and fresh water at Mġarr Harbour on Gozo before you commit to multi‑night stays around Comino. There is no marina fuel at Comino.
• Never anchor on Posidonia. If you see seagrass, move to a clear sand patch or use a mooring buoy. Respect no‑landing areas on Cominotto and official swimmer polygons.
• Set short, conservative anchor alarms (50–60 m) in the Blue Lagoon and check pendants and shackles before you leave the boat. Expect ferry wash until late afternoon during peak season.

Plan your next anchorage in Comino with confidence: pick the Blue Lagoon if you want the view and can manage crowds and a buoy fee; choose Santa Marija or Cominotto North for a quieter night with reliable sand holding. If you need help booking a skippered option, arranging a buoy or checking current Transport Malta notices before departure, contact your charter base or local agent — they’ll have the most recent on‑water arrangements and buoy availability.