Happy Dayz and Oki-Ko-Ki Banis

Spinola Bay is one of the prettiest corners of St Julian's, a small inlet lined with restaurants, with painted fishing boats in the water and apartment blocks rising behind. Tucked into the waterfront is Happy Dayz, the home of Oki-Ko-Ki Banis Watersports, which combines a boat and water sports operation with a café bar open from morning until late.

The business runs fast, small-group speedboat trips from the bay to Comino and Gozo, and offers rides and lessons close to shore in St Julian's. It is listed on VisitMalta.co.uk with the water sports operators in Malta, and it is an easy choice for UK visitors staying in the Sliema and St Julian's area who want a half day or full day on the sea.

Long experience on the water

The Oki-Ko-Ki name goes back to 1973, which gives the operation more than fifty years of experience on the water. Today Oki-Ko-Ki is a well-known Maltese water sports adventure brand, and the team is built around speed, sun and plenty of fun. Happy Dayz is the base that holds the activities and the bar together, so guests can book a trip and then relax with food and drink on the same quayside.

All of the boat trips depart from Spinola Bay by speedboat, with a skipper and guide, safety instructions and life jackets, and groups are kept small, with up to 12 passengers on the trips shown. You can book online and save 15% on all trips. Because the boats are fast speedboats rather than large ferries, the pace is quick, the groups are intimate and the skipper can point out caves, cliffs and landmarks along the coast. The same team looks after guests from the moment they check in at the bar until the boat returns, so there is one friendly point of contact for the whole day.

The Gozo Island Explorer

The longest outing is the Gozo Island Explorer, a full-day speedboat tour. Guests meet at 8:45 am and the boat leaves at 9:00 sharp, so arriving late can mean losing your booking. The boat cruises through the South Comino Channel to the west coast and into the Crystal Lagoon cave system, including Lovers Cave, with deeper access to a hidden sandy beach when sea conditions allow.

It then passes the Blue Lagoon and Cominotto Island, including the cave seen in the film Troy. This is a scenic pass only, with no swimming stop, before the boat continues to Mgarr Harbour in Gozo. There you have several hours of free time to explore, or you can add the optional hop-on hop-off bus tour of the island. The return runs via Santa Marija Bay, up to five caves, Elephant Rock, Coral Lagoon and Smugglers Cave, then past Mellieħa Bay, Selmun Bay and the St Paul's Islands. The online price is €67 per person, reduced from €79. Bring swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, water, comfortable footwear and cash or card for Gozo. Our Gozo guide helps you plan how to spend your time at Mgarr.

Blue Lagoon and Comino trips

Two Comino trips are offered, both at €50 per person when booked online, reduced from €59. The Early Blue Lagoon Explorer leaves at 9:00 am from the jetty at the Happy Dayz Shack. It visits Crystal Lagoon and Lovers Cave, drops guests at the Blue Lagoon for swimming and free time until a 12:30 pickup, and then moves on to the quieter Santa Marija Bay, with a final pickup at 14:45, before a full circuit of the north and east of Comino.

The Comino Flexible Explorer leaves at 10:00 am, with a 9:45 am meeting time, and returns at 15:30. It follows a similar route, but you choose a second bay after the Blue Lagoon: Hondoq Bay in Gozo or Santa Marija Bay on Comino. Pickup from Qawra is available on request. There are no restroom facilities on board, the boat is not wheelchair or stroller accessible, and pets are not allowed.

As of 1 May 2025, entry to the Blue Lagoon is only allowed with a valid pass, and a morning slot must be pre-booked. Read our Blue Lagoon guide for the latest practical notes. Cave access depends on sea conditions, and free cancellation is offered with 24 hours of notice.

Wakeboarding, banana boats and paddleboards

Closer to shore in St Julian's, the team runs a set of quick rides. The Crazy Sofa Ride pulls up to six people on an inflatable sofa behind a speedboat for around 10 to 20 minutes and costs €20 per person when booked online. The Banana Boat Ride uses a banana-shaped tube for the same length of time and also costs €20 per person. Both need a minimum age of 12, with a parent accompanying younger riders, and run with a minimum number of participants. Life jackets are provided and a quick safety briefing comes before each ride.

Wakeboarding is suited to both beginners and experienced riders. It comes with a motorboat and driver, water skis and a one-to-one instructor session, with prices from €75 for a 30 minute beginner session and €50 for a 20 minute session for experienced riders. The minimum age is 12. Stand-up paddleboards can be hired at Spinola Bay from €20, and a Sunset Coastal Experience on the speedboat is offered at €55. Arrive at Happy Dayz at least 15 minutes before a ride and show your booking to the bartender, then allow around five minutes for the team to prepare the boat. Wakeboarders should arrive 10 minutes early. Personal items can be stored during the rides, and a guide or skipper is on board throughout.

Happy Dayz bar and planning your day

Happy Dayz is also a beachside bar and café, open daily from the morning until late. The menu runs from breakfast bowls to gourmet pizzas, and the quayside makes a pleasant spot for lunch, dinner or drinks before or after a trip. Kiosks and sunbed rentals are available on Comino, so you can plan a relaxed day around the lagoon. Families can split the day sensibly, with older children trying the banana boat or sofa ride in the morning, and everyone meeting up for lunch at the bar. Anyone choosing between trips should compare the two Comino options: the early departure starts at 9:00 am and picks guests up from the Blue Lagoon at 12:30, while the later departure starts at 10:00 am, leaves time for a slower start and lets you choose between Hondoq Bay and Santa Marija Bay for your second swim. Both finish with the same scenic return along the north-east coast of Malta, so the choice mostly comes down to timing and which bay appeals.

St Julian's is easy to reach from most hotels in the area, and our guide to hotels in Sliema and St Julian's lists places to stay nearby. For wider planning, our things to do in Malta page, the best beaches in Malta and the Malta weather guide show how a boat day fits into a longer trip, and the Mellieħa guide covers the coast the boat passes on its return. UK visitors can check flights to Malta and our Malta holidays overview to organise the rest.

Some trips are not recommended for pregnant women or very young children, and guests should be in good physical health and able to swim. The Gozo tour is not recommended for guests with serious back problems. To ask about a trip, use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will pass your message to the team.