St. Julian’s: Jet Ski Rental in St. George’s Bay

The best part of this St. Julian’s experience is simple: you take control of a jet ski and head across St. George’s Bay, with Malta’s Mediterranean scenery spread around you. It is a short, high-energy water activity rather than a guided sightseeing cruise, so you set the pace after the safety briefing.

I like the clear setup: an English-speaking instructor explains how to handle the craft and covers local maritime rules before you leave. I also like the choice of ride length, from a quick 15-minute burst to a full hour, plus the fact that fuel, a life jacket, and fully comprehensive insurance are included. The main catch is the first-come, first-served system, which can mean waiting, especially later in the day.

Key points before you book

• Self-drive across St. George’s Bay: You operate the jet ski yourself after a safety briefing, with the option to ride alone or take a passenger.
• Flexible ride length: Sessions range from 15 minutes to one hour, so you can choose a quick thrill or spend longer on the water.
• €100 cash deposit for one hour: Each jet ski requires a refundable security deposit, paid in cash before a one-hour rental.
• Morning is the smart time: Arriving between 9:00 AM and noon may help you avoid a longer wait.
• Strict age and health rules: Drivers must be at least 18, and the activity is not suitable for children under five, pregnant women, people with several listed health conditions, or anyone over 130 kilograms.
• Bring ID and leave electronics behind: A passport or identity card is required, while cameras and cellphones are not allowed.

What this St. Julian’s ride is really like

This is a compact adventure based at the water in St. George’s Bay. You are not joining a long boat trip with a set route and several sightseeing stops. Instead, you arrive at the base, complete the required paperwork, listen to the safety instructions, receive your life jacket, and then take a jet ski onto the bay.

That difference matters. If you want a calm look at Malta’s coastline, a boat cruise may suit you better. If you want to feel the engine, steer your own craft, and add a shot of adrenaline to a day in St. Julian’s, this rental gives you that in a tidy package.

The ride is available for 15 minutes to one hour. A 15-minute session is best viewed as a quick taste. It gives you time to experience the speed and movement of the jet ski without taking a large part of your day. The one-hour option offers more time to enjoy the bay and its open-water views, but it also requires the €100 cash deposit for each jet ski.

The booking price is listed at $47 per person. That can be fair value if your main goal is an active water ride and you choose a longer session. For only 15 minutes, the cost feels higher on a per-minute basis, so check the exact duration and availability before you commit. Fuel, insurance, the instructor briefing, and a life jacket are included, which helps keep extra charges from piling up.

Finding the jetty behind the marina hotel

The meeting point is at the jetty behind the Verdi St. George’s Bay Marina Hotel, formerly called Marina Hotel Corinthia Beach Resort. The address is 8, Ix-Xatt Ta’ San Ġorġ, St. Julian’s.

The entrance can be easy to miss if you are simply walking along the hotel frontage. Look near the entrance to the underground parking lot for a black iron gate. Go through the gate, walk down the ramp, turn left, and follow the yellow line painted on the ground. That line leads you to the jetty, where the boats and jet skis are kept.

Allow a little extra time to find the base. The activity does not include hotel pickup or drop-off, so you make your own way to St. George’s Bay. Once you arrive, you can check in any time from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Do not assume that arriving at 4:45 PM guarantees a ride right away. Rentals operate on a first-come, first-served basis, and the staff warn that waiting can occur. The best practical tip is to plan for the morning, especially between 9:00 AM and noon, when the base may be less crowded.

The briefing, paperwork, and safety rules

Before you touch the throttle, an English-speaking instructor gives you a safety briefing. You learn how to use the jet ski correctly and hear the maritime rules and regulations that apply to the ride.

This briefing is important even if you have driven a jet ski before. The goal is not only to explain the controls. It also gives you the basic rules for operating safely in the bay and helps first-time riders understand what to expect once they leave the jetty.

All riders must sign an indemnity form before renting. Drivers must also show a valid, legally binding identification document, such as a passport or identity card. Bring the original document with you. If you cannot show the required ID, you can lose the booking without a refund.

A life jacket is included. Fuel is included too, so you do not need to plan for a separate fuel payment after the ride. Fully comprehensive insurance is also part of the package, though you should still read the rental terms and indemnity form carefully before signing.

For a one-hour rental, bring €100 in cash for each jet ski as a refundable security deposit. Cards are not accepted for this deposit. This is one of the most important details to handle before you arrive, since an ATM stop or card payment will not solve the problem at the base.

Riding alone or with a passenger

The experience allows you to ride solo or with a passenger. That gives you a choice based on comfort, confidence, and the kind of outing you want.

Riding alone gives you full control of the craft and may appeal to someone booking the activity for the speed and handling. Taking a passenger makes the ride a shared activity, but the driver remains responsible for operating the jet ski and meeting the age and identification rules.

Drivers must be at least 18 years old. Passengers under five are not allowed. The supplied information does not give a separate maximum age for passengers, so ask the operator directly if your group includes an older passenger or someone with a health concern.

The activity is not suitable for pregnant women, people with back problems, mobility impairments, heart problems, or motion sickness. Wheelchair users cannot take part. It is also not suitable for anyone over 130 kilograms, or 287 pounds, and drivers under 18 are not permitted.

These restrictions are not minor footnotes. A jet ski combines speed, vibration, spray, and sudden movement. If you have any of the listed conditions, choose a gentler activity instead of hoping the ride will be manageable on the day.

St. George’s Bay from the water

The ride gives you a different view of St. George’s Bay than you get from the shore. From the jet ski, you can take in the open Mediterranean, the bay’s seascapes, and the natural surroundings while moving across the water under your own control.

The scenery is part of the appeal, but this is still an adrenaline activity. You will likely spend more time concentrating on steering, speed, and the movement of the craft than you would on a sightseeing boat. That makes the experience active rather than restful.

The bay also keeps the setting straightforward for a short rental. You do not spend the session sitting through a long transfer to a distant part of Malta. You arrive at the jetty, receive instruction, and get out on the water. For a visitor with only a few hours in St. Julian’s, that efficient format is useful.

Do keep your expectations in line with the duration. A 15-minute ride is not a full coastal tour. It is a concentrated burst of fun with a chance to see the bay from the water. The one-hour version gives you more time to enjoy the setting, but it still should not be treated as a broad tour of Malta’s shoreline.

What to pack, and what to leave behind

Wear swimwear and comfortable clothes. Bring comfortable shoes, a towel, and cash. The towel is especially useful after the ride, while comfortable clothing makes the walk from the hotel area to the jetty and the time around the base easier.

Bring your passport or identity card, not just a booking confirmation. You may also want motion sickness prevention if you are prone to feeling unwell on moving water, although the activity is specifically not suitable for people with motion sickness.

The rules about electronics are strict. Cameras and cellphones are not allowed, and alcoholic drinks cannot be taken into the vehicle. Intoxication, alcohol, and drugs are prohibited.

That means you should not plan on filming the ride from your phone. Put your electronics somewhere secure before you arrive, rather than carrying them to the jetty and discovering that you cannot take them on the water. The tradeoff is clear: you lose personal video, but you can focus on handling the jet ski and enjoying the views.

Food and drinks are not included. Since the ride lasts from 15 minutes to one hour, this is not a major problem, but plan a meal or drink separately if the activity is part of a longer day in St. Julian’s.

Is $47 a fair price?

The value depends heavily on the duration you select. At $47 per person, the price is easier to justify for a longer ride, particularly because fuel, the instructor briefing, a life jacket, and fully comprehensive insurance are included.

A short 15-minute rental gives you a quick introduction without tying up your afternoon. That may be exactly what you want if you are fitting the activity between other plans. Still, the shorter the session, the more important it becomes to consider the waiting time. A 15-minute ride can feel brief if you spend a similar amount of time waiting at the base.

The one-hour rental offers the strongest experience for someone who enjoys water sports. It lets you settle into the controls and spend more time looking across the bay instead of feeling that the ride is over just as it begins. Remember to budget the €100 refundable cash deposit per jet ski.

The deposit is not part of the advertised activity price, but it affects your practical budget for the day. You need the money in cash before riding, and a card will not work. Keep the deposit separate from your spending money so you do not accidentally use it at lunch or on transport.

Who will enjoy this most?

I would recommend this for adults who want a fast, hands-on activity in St. Julian’s and who are comfortable being responsible for a powered craft. It suits confident beginners as well as people with previous jet ski experience because the instructor provides a briefing before every rental.

It is also a good fit for couples or friends who want to share the water without joining a large organized excursion. The small group limit is 10 participants, although the first-come, first-served system means the flow at the base can vary.

Families need to read the age rules closely. Children under five cannot take part, and drivers must be 18 or older. The activity is not a good choice for anyone with back, heart, mobility, or motion sickness concerns.

You should also skip it if your ideal Malta experience involves quiet observation. The jet ski is about motion, control, and excitement. The Mediterranean views are a welcome part of the ride, but they come with engine noise, spray, and physical movement.

Timing, cancellation, and practical planning

You can arrive between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM, but this is not a timed sightseeing tour with a guaranteed immediate departure. Since rentals are first come, first served, you may need to wait before a jet ski becomes available.

For the best chance of a shorter wait, plan for the morning, ideally between 9:00 AM and noon. Leave room in your schedule rather than booking another activity immediately afterward.

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The reserve-now-and-pay-later option also keeps your plans flexible, since you can book the place without paying on the day of booking. The €100 deposit is a separate cash requirement for the one-hour rental and should not be confused with the booking price.

The operator is Robert Arrigo & Sons Limited. Instruction is provided in English, and the group size is limited to 10 participants.

Should you book the St. George’s Bay jet ski?

Book it if you want a short, energetic break from Malta’s streets and beaches, and you like the idea of driving your own jet ski rather than sitting on a boat. The included fuel, insurance, safety briefing, and life jacket make the price easier to understand, especially for a longer session.

Choose the one-hour rental if you want the best chance to settle into the ride and enjoy the bay. Choose 15 minutes if you mainly want a quick thrill and have a packed schedule. In either case, arrive early, bring your passport or identity card, and carry €100 cash per jet ski if booking one hour.

Skip it if you cannot meet the age, weight, or health requirements, dislike motion and engine noise, or want a slow coastal sightseeing experience. For the right rider, this is a simple and lively way to experience St. George’s Bay from the water.

FAQ

Where does the jet ski rental leave from?

The departure point is the jetty behind the Verdi St. George’s Bay Marina Hotel at 8, Ix-Xatt Ta’ San Ġorġ, St. Julian’s. Enter through the black iron gate near the underground parking entrance, walk down the ramp, turn left, and follow the yellow line to the jetty.

What are the available rental durations?

You can rent a jet ski for 15 minutes to one hour. The available start times and duration options should be checked when booking.

How much does the experience cost?

The listed price is $47 per person. A one-hour rental also requires a refundable €100 cash security deposit for each jet ski.

Is the security deposit refundable?

Yes. The €100 deposit for a one-hour rental is refundable. It must be paid in cash, and credit or debit cards are not accepted for this deposit.

What identification must the driver bring?

Drivers must bring a valid, legally binding identification document, such as a passport or identity card. Failing to present the required document can result in losing the trip without a refund.

How old must the driver be?

Drivers must be at least 18 years old. Drivers under 18 cannot take part.

Can a passenger ride on the jet ski?

Yes. You can ride alone or with a passenger. Passengers under five years old are not allowed.

Is fuel included?

Yes. All fuel costs are included in the rental price.

Is a life jacket provided?

Yes. A life jacket is included, along with a briefing from an English-speaking instructor.

Can I bring my phone or camera?

No. Cameras and cellphones are not allowed during the activity. Alcoholic drinks are also not allowed in the vehicle.