Hiring a boat without a licence in Malta: Hydra 530, Fiat 500 and skippered trips
In Malta, two boats can be hired without a licence on Malta Explorers: the Hydra 530, for six people, and the Fiat 500 boat, for four. You need to be 21 to drive them, and they leave from St Thomas Bay in Marsaskala. For a bigger group, or if nobody wants to drive, there are skippered trips. Here are the capacities, the fuel, the 2026 prices and the season, which is over for this year: bookings reopen in 2027.
No licence: the rules
No boat licence needed: a briefing on the controls is given before you set off, life jackets are provided, and then you stay within the permitted area. The driver must be 21; for the Fiat 500, photo ID is required.
Fuel isn't included for either boat: you buy it at the base before you leave. For the Hydra 530, Malta Explorers estimates it at €15 to €30 per trip.
The Hydra 530, for six
An open 17-foot motorboat (just over 5 metres) with a 60hp engine, for up to six people. It's available for 2 to 7 hours. On board: life jackets for everyone, a Bluetooth speaker and a map of the swimming spots along the south coast.
From St Thomas Bay, Malta Explorers describes two directions: to the east, sheltered coves for swimming; to the west, the Blue Grotto and the cliffs of the south coast. Food and drinks aren't included; snorkelling gear is available on site.
In 2026: €120 for 2 hours, €360 for 7 hours, for the whole boat, fuel extra.
The Fiat 500 boat, for four
The shape of the little Italian car, set on the water with an outboard motor: you steer it with a steering wheel, for up to four people, from 30 minutes to 7 hours, in St Thomas Bay.
It isn't built for speed: Malta Explorers puts it at around 10 to 15 knots. In 2026, it cost from €55 for half an hour and €80 for an hour, for the whole boat, fuel extra.
With a skipper: all ages and more room
The 28-foot open boat leaves St Thomas Bay with a skipper, fuel included, for up to fifteen people of all ages. South coast: 2 to 8 hours along the sea caves to the Blue Grotto, from €180 per boat in 2026. Gozo and Comino: an 8-hour day, leaving around 9am, from May to October, from €650 per boat in 2026. Bring your own food and drinks.
The Grand Harbour by Fiat 500: two hours with a skipper in Valletta's harbour, for up to four people, fuel included, €350 in 2026.
To land at the Blue Lagoon on Comino, even from a private boat, a booking and its QR code are compulsory, according to the Malta Tourism Authority.
Which boat for your group
Four of you: the Fiat 500, which you drive yourselves. Six: the Hydra 530. Up to fifteen: the 28-foot boat with a skipper. Beyond that, Malta Explorers' private catamarans take 10 to 45 people from Roland Marina, near Sliema, skipper and fuel included, from €520 per boat in 2026.
Boats are hired whole: the price is for the boat, split between you. The driver of a no-licence boat must be 21; if nobody in your group is that age, choose a skippered trip.
Departing from St Thomas Bay, Marsaskala
St Thomas Bay is a sheltered bay on Malta's south-east coast, about 20 minutes' drive from Valletta according to Malta Explorers, with free parking on site. The jet skis leave from the same spot.
No journey time from St Julian's is published: check the route before you choose your time slot. Bolt, Uber and eCabs all operate in Malta.
Season and booking
The boats go out from April to October, and from May to October for the Gozo and Comino day. The 2026 season is over: bookings reopen in 2027, on a date not yet announced, and 2027 prices haven't been published yet.
Each boat has its own booking link to Malta Explorers on our water activities page.