This spot has been added by

PHILDD
PHILDD

18 spots added - 512 photos shared

Other contributors You can help us keep this page up-to-date by uploading your pictures to the photo gallery, or by sending us your comments via the contact form

Last updated on

Mistra Bay is a just decent snorkeling spot on the north coast of Malta, but it has the advantage of being easily accessible from a pretty beach. Its well-sheltered location is an added bonus when the whole coast is too windy. On the shallow rocky beds, you will easily encounter saddled seabream, wrasse, combers and salema.

Painted comber at Mistra Bay
A painted comber in Mistra Bay.

How to get to Mistra Bay snorkeling spot?

Mistra Bay is a small bay nestled on the north coast of Malta. It can be reached in a few minutes by car from Mellieħa and San Pawl il-Baħar (St Paul’s Bay), the two closest towns. A small paved road leads to the bay, in which you can park near the beach.

Mistra Bay snorkeling map, Malta

Water entrance for snorkeling Mistra Bay

Water entrance is very easy, from a gently-slopping pebble beach. Mistra Bay is suitable for beginners and kids.

Mistra Bay snorkeling exploration tips

You can snorkel throughout the bay, which is less than 250 meters wide. The seabed features rocks and seagrass meadows, and the depth does not exceed 16 feet/5 meters in the middle of the bay.

Seabed at Mistra Bay
The seabed at Mistra Bay features rocks and Posidonia patches.

You will see the first fish in the shallows, very close to the beach. Saddled seabream, peacock wrasses and schooling salema porgy swim above the pebbles, between which are fixed small sea anemones. In the deepest areas, large groups of damselfish swim above the seagrass beds.

Crab at Mistra Bay
A crab well-camouflaged in the rocks.

Restaurants and accommodation nearby

Margo’s Mistra Bay restaurant is located on the beach.

 

  • Level required Beginner
  • Maximum depth16ft/5m
  • Water entranceFrom a pebble beach
  • Potential DangersBoat traffic
  • Visitor numbersLow
  • Access costsFree
  • Restaurants nearbyYes

MAP Spot

These snorkeling spots are accessible to beginners and kids. You will enter the water gradually from a beach, or in a less than 3ft. deep area. The sea is generally calm, shallow, with almost no waves or currents. These spots are usually located in marked and/or monitored swimming areas. It is not necessary to swim long distances to discover the sea life.

This level only apply when the spot experiences optimal sea and/or weather conditions. It is not applicable if the sea and/or weather conditions deteriorate, in particular in the presence of rough sea, rain, strong wind, unusual current, large tides, waves and/or swell. You can find more details about the definition of our snorkeling levels on our snorkeling safety page.