Anchor Bay (Popeye Village)

Shallow bay dive with a cave and famous film set.

- Access
6m Avg Depth
12m Max Depth

About this dive site

This dive site is located in Anchor Bay, near Mellieha on Malta's northwest coast. This sheltered bay is renowned for its association with the film set of Popeye Village and offers a variety of diving experiences suitable for beginners. The maximum depth reaches approximately 12 meters, while average depths are around 6 meters. Shore access is easy via a concrete jetty. Anchor Bay’s appeal extends beyond diving; it's also a popular spot for swimming, snorkeling, and sunbathing. The dive site features several key areas: a large anchor and its chain, a beautiful cave known as Scorpion Cave, a varied reef teeming with marine life, and a shallow training area. A boat dive is available to the wreck of MV Scotscraig, located approximately 500 meters northwest of Anchor Bay. Visibility can be variable, often poor in bad weather; currents should also be considered. Scorpion Cave presents a particularly interesting experience, offering a large cavern entrance with an air pocket and a dome-shaped ceiling – ideal for exploration even for less experienced divers. The dive site is frequently dived when the north-easterly wind is strong.

Diving Freediving Snorkeling

Site Ratings

Big Marine Life Poor
Macro Marine Life Very Good
Landscape Quality Excellent
Water Visibility Good Viz
Famousness Famous

Plan Your Visit

beginner friendlyshore divecavernreefshallowtraining divemacro photographywreck

Marine Life

OctopusMoray eelNudibranchCuttlefishParrotfishBreamWrasseFirewormStarfish

Things to Note

Difficulty:

Beginner

Shallow depths (max 12m), easy shore access, and sheltered conditions make it ideal for new divers and training.

Hazards:
currentboat trafficpoor visibility
Current Strength:

Variable

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