Rich in marine life, some of the underwater residents you’re bound to encounter during your freedive session at the caves include octopus, crabs, shrimp, morays, eels, damselfish and nudibranch, shell less and uncoiled gastropods, well-known for their brilliant colours and different kinds of sponges. The rock formations here are also spectacular, while there are a number of boulders and arches. A popular activity at the Santa Maria Caves is feeding the banded sea beams. The entire dive site is filled with these types of fish, which have grown accustomed to being fed so they expect bits of food.
Santa Maria Caves
Comino
Maximum depth
10
10
Access
Boat / Shore
Boat / Shore
Underwater Topography
Sand / Rocks
Sand / Rocks
Experience Level
Beginner
Beginner
Wreck name
NA
NA
Swimthroughs
Plenty!
Plenty!
How to get there
The Santa Maria Caves are located on the north side of Comino, the smallest of the Maltese Islands, close to Santa Marija Bay. You can get to Comino via a ferry service either from Cirkewwa, the northernmost tip of Malta or from Mgarr Harbour, Gozo. The stop on Comino is usually at San Niklaw Bay on the north side of the island, alternatively, we can make arrangements so that a boat can take you right to the diving site.
Explore Santa Maria Caves
One of the most fascinating cave systems the Maltese Islands have to offer, the dive site is made up of around 10 caves, each featuring its unique characteristics and beauty. Some are known to have great swim-throughs, others have large underwater tunnels, while a number of them have captivating views into the sea through their entrance. Indeed, the dive spot is so magnificent that the location has been used during the filming of the movie The Count of Monte Cristo.
The caves are quite shallow, typically no more than 8 metres deep, while some are just half immersed into the water which makes the dive site ideal for any freediving level.
What to look out for
What to look out for
How to dive this site
You can start off your dive at the entrance of the north cave, which extends 30 metres all the way through the headland and connects to another cave. Around 5 metres underwater, you’ll spot a small tunnel which gives way to a wide open area where you’ll find an exit to the brilliantly azure beyond. Once you exit the cave, you’ll notice a Z-shaped swim-through and if you follow the coast at a depth of around 6 metres, you’ll find the whole headland which from this point of view appears as if it resting on three pillars or rock with a large horizontal crevice brimming with corals, sponges and tube worms.
Whether a beginner, an intermediate or an advanced diver, the Santa Maria Caves make for a spectacular freedive.
Bonus tip: This is a highly popular spot for both divers and swimmers so an early start during peak summer season is highly recommended. Also, be extra cautious when diving in the caves.
How to dive this site
About Comino
At just 3.5 square kilometres, the island of Comino is the least densely populated out of all the Maltese Islands, with a permanent population of just two residents. A bird sanctuary and nature reserve, it took its name from the cumin seed that once flourished here. Featuring mostly rocky wilderness, largely underdeveloped, with jagged cliffs, two small sandy beaches and coves, Comino is the place to swim in pristine waters, with most of its visitors flocking to the famed Blue Lagoon, however, the island has a lot more to offer.
A ramblers’ paradise, consider hiking along the rugged countryside, which is thick with wild herbs and flowers during the springtime. And if you’re up for a bit of an adventure, hit the water with a kayak. The island is small and manageable enough that you could easily kayak around Comino to take in the beauty of its coastline.
If swimming is a must, Blue Lagoon is not the only beach available. On the northside of Comino you’ll find Santa Marja Bay, a beautiful and peaceful beach, while close by, there’s the San Niklaw Bay.
Offering a complete change of pace from the neighbouring islands of Malta and Gozo, Comino is a great place to get away from it all.