The breakwater at Popeye Village, also known as Sweethaven Village, is collapsing, and looks like it will not last much longer.

The breakwater protects the movie set-turned-theme park, which was built in 1979 for the shooting of Popeye, which featured Robin Williams. The Scot Craig, a former car ferry serving on the Thames, was used as Popeye’s boat. It was sunk in 1989 to protect construction of the current breakwater. Once the film was concluded, it was then moved 500 metres out to sea. It is one of Malta’s lesser known dive attractions.

Popeye Village is one of Malta’s tourist attractions, and the breakwater protects Anchor Bay from the waves that could pulverise it if gales blow straight in from the sea. But there are other concerns. Anglers use the jetty to set up for the day and dive teams use the area as a staging post for dives on the Scot Craig, or the nearby cave and reef system.

The breakwater is now over 30 years old and as the photograph shows is well past its best and probably not all that safe. Given that Transport Malta has undertaken the rebuilding of roads in the region, it is high time that some attention was paid to this breakwater. The only issue that we foresee is that it should not be replaced by some modern monstrosity. How about one decorated as a proper pier – in theme design?