Stand-Up Paddleboarding

Stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) suits Malta well. The islands have plenty of sheltered bays, and on a calm morning the water is clear enough to watch the seabed pass under the board. Beginners usually find their balance within a short session in flat water, and once you are steady you can follow the shoreline to coves and rocks that are hard to reach from land.

The long, shallow beach of Mellieha Bay (Għadira) near Mellieha is a good place to learn, with gently shelving sand and room to spread out. Other beach options include Golden Bay, and St George's Bay in St Julian's. Check hire availability before travelling. In Gozo, the narrow inlets of Mgarr ix-Xini and Xlendi Bay are sheltered and scenic paddling spots, and Ramla Bay is a wide sandy bay for calm days.

Hire, lessons and tours

Ask local watersports operators about board hire, lessons and guided tours, and confirm the location before travelling. A lesson covers standing up, turning and falling off safely, and guided tours add the local knowledge of where to paddle on the day. Experienced paddlers with their own boards can explore more widely, but should plan routes with the wind in mind.

• Want to cover more distance? Try sea kayaking to Comino.
• Add a mask and look below: see snorkelling.
• Sandy family beaches are compared in the best beaches in Malta.

Check the forecast before paddling, use a suitable leash and buoyancy aid as instructed by your provider, follow local signs for swimming zones and stay clear of boat channels, and be wary of offshore winds, which can push a board out to sea faster than you can paddle back.