Popeye Cave Collapse at Crystal Lagoon, Comino: November 2026 Update
Published: 8 November 2026
A large section of Popeye Cave at Crystal Lagoon on Comino collapsed on 8 November 2026. Our local information puts the rockfall at approximately 9:30–9:40am Malta time. The cave is also known as L-Għar ta’ Bla Saqaf, or the Roofless Cave.
According to our local information, nobody was inside the cave when it happened, and no injuries or boat damage have been reported to us. The entrance arch remains standing, but it is visibly cracked.
For now, we recommend staying out of Popeye Cave. Crystal Lagoon can still be visited as of our local update on 8 November, with visitors keeping clear of the affected cave and rock face.
Popeye Cave collapse: the key facts
| Question | Local update on 8 November 2026 |
|---|---|
| When did it happen? | Approximately 9:30–9:40am, Malta time |
| What collapsed? | A large section of rock inside Popeye Cave |
| Is the entrance arch still standing? | Yes, but cracks are reported |
| Was anyone affected? | Nobody inside; no injuries or boat damage reported to us |
| Can Crystal Lagoon still be visited? | Yes, according to our local update; keep clear of the affected cave |
Is it safe to go inside Popeye Cave now?
For now, our advice is to stay out of Popeye Cave and avoid passing beneath its arch. A large section has just fallen, and visible cracks remain in the standing arch. Treat it as potentially unstable and keep clear of the entrance, overhang and fallen boulders.
Do not rely on how solid a cave looks. Transport Malta warns that rockfalls can happen without warning around caves, arches and cliff faces. gov.mt
- Do not swim, snorkel, kayak or take a boat into the affected cave.
- Do not anchor beneath the overhang or climb onto the fallen rocks.
- Keep back from cliff edges if visiting on foot.
- Follow official notices, signs and buoyed boundaries.
Check Transport Malta’s current Local Notices to Mariners before a visit.
What collapsed, and how has Popeye Cave changed?
Our local account describes a smaller rockfall earlier in the 2026 season. On 8 November, a much larger section fell from inside the cave.
Popeye Cave was already roofless before this latest collapse. Its open ceiling let daylight reach the water inside, framed by pale limestone walls. That natural light and blue water made it one of the views guests most wanted to photograph on our trips around Comino. um.edu.mt
The photograph supplied after the latest fall shows a huge boulder at the cave’s base, with other blocks around it. Part of the dark opening remains visible behind the rock. The collapse has changed the cave’s appearance, while part of its entrance remains standing.
Earlier photographs preserve the cave’s former appearance. For those of us who work around Comino, it is sad to see another part of this familiar place lost.
Where is Popeye Cave / L-Għar ta’ Bla Saqaf?
Popeye Cave is beside Crystal Lagoon on Comino, the small island between Malta and Gozo. L-Għar ta’ Bla Saqaf, Roofless Cave and Popeye’s Cave are names for the same place.
Popeye Village is a separate attraction at Anchor Bay on the main island of Malta. The map identifies the Comino cave affected by this rockfall. Keep clear of the cave and its surrounding rock face when visiting the area.
View L-Għar ta’ Bla Saqaf, Comino, on Google Maps.
For background on the island’s other cave formations, see our guide to Comino’s sea caves.
Can you still visit Crystal Lagoon after the collapse?
Yes. Crystal Lagoon can still be visited according to our local information on 8 November 2026. Keep clear of Popeye Cave and the affected rock face. Access to the lagoon does not establish that its caves or overhangs are stable.
Any boat stop or swim still depends on wind, swell and current restrictions. A skipper should check the latest notices and choose an appropriate stopping place for the conditions. Visitors on self-drive boats, kayaks and paddleboards should follow the same restrictions and keep away from the affected cave.
What caused the Popeye Cave collapse?
The cause of this particular collapse has not been established. The morning was not windy, according to our local account, but that observation alone does not identify what triggered the fall.
Comino’s coast is formed from limestone. Transport Malta’s general coastal warning describes how erosion involving waves, strong winds and rainfall can contribute to rockfalls. A geological assessment would be needed to link this particular collapse to summer heat or subsequent rain. um.edu.mt
The earlier Kissing Elephants Arch collapse
On 27 June 2026, a different formation on Comino, the Kissing Elephants Arch, collapsed. A man travelling on a jet ski lost his life. The Malta Police Force’s statement, published on 28 June, confirmed the death following the arch collapse the previous evening. The Malta Police Force
Our thoughts remain with his family and everyone affected. The June tragedy and this November rockfall happened at separate formations. In our local report of the Popeye Cave collapse, nobody was inside the cave and no injuries were reported.
Read the earlier iMalta account of the Kissing Elephants Arch collapse for the background to that incident.
What does this mean for Comino boat trips?
A Comino boat trip should keep clear of the affected cave and follow current official restrictions. A stop elsewhere in Crystal Lagoon may still be possible when conditions allow.
Crystal Lagoon is still part of our private boat trips, sea conditions permitting. Our skippers keep the boat well clear of Popeye Cave, its cracked arch and the fallen rocks. You can still see the collapse from a safe distance, but we do not enter the cave, anchor beneath the cliff or swim nearby.
Every morning our skippers check the wind, swell and Transport Malta notices and plan the route around them. When the north side of Comino is rough, we use sheltered bays on Gozo instead.
If you’re planning a visit, our private boat charter to the Blue Lagoon, Comino and Gozo includes Crystal Lagoon. Ask us about the current route before you book. We depart from Ċirkewwa in Malta or Mġarr Harbour in Gozo.
Frequently asked questions
Is the arch at Popeye Cave still there?
Yes. The entrance arch is still standing, but it is visibly cracked. We recommend treating it as potentially unstable and avoiding the area beneath it.
Did the whole of Popeye Cave disappear?
No. A large section fell from inside the cave, and part of the opening remains visible. The latest rockfall has substantially changed its appearance.
Is Popeye Cave the same as L-Għar ta’ Bla Saqaf?
Yes. Both names refer to the roofless sea cave beside Crystal Lagoon on Comino.
Was anyone injured in the November collapse?
No injuries or boat damage have been reported to us. According to our local information, nobody was inside the cave when it happened.
About this local update and its sources
The November incident details come from Sam’s local account and the photograph supplied for this article. The reported time is approximate. The Crystal Lagoon access information reflects our local update on 8 November 2026 and can change.
- Transport Malta, Local Notice to Mariners No. 205 of 2026: general coastal rockfall guidance, published before this incident.
- Malta Police Force, statement dated 28 June 2026: the fatal June arch collapse.
Comino Caves Guide – iMalta Boat Trips
We will update this article when further verified information becomes available.
