- Reading
- 3 min
- Access
- boat
- Difficulty
- hard
A dramatic sea cave with a partially collapsed ceiling that floods the interior with shafts of natural light — hence the Maltese name L-Għar ta' Bla Saqaf (the cave without a roof). Accessible only by boat or kayak from Comino's southern coastline. Nicknamed 'Popeye Cave' by tourists, though the 1980 Robin Williams film was shot in Anchor Bay, Mellieħa — not here.
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Robin Williams in the Cave
In 1980, Robert Altman was filming "Popeye" on Malta with Robin Williams in the lead role. Most scenes were shot at the famous Popeye Village (Anchor Bay on the main island), but one crucial scene — the fight with a giant octopus — needed a natural, dark grotto.
The film crew found the perfect spot in Comino's northern cliffs. A cave about 8 metres high and 15 metres long, accessible only by boat, provided the ideal dramatic effect. Williams, wearing his Popeye costume with prosthetic forearms, filmed the fight scene in cold water for three days.
Today
The cave is a popular stop on boat tours around Comino. Guides love telling anecdotes from the set — like how Williams improvised jokes between takes, entertaining the entire Maltese crew.
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Tip
Only accessible by boat or kayak. Cave entrance is on the western side of the island.
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Gallery
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