Blue Grotto, Malta

A series of interconnected sea caves in the cliffs of Malta's southwestern coast, accessible by traditional dgħajsa wooden boats from the small fishing village of Wied iż-Żurrieq. The caves get their name from the intense phosphorescent blue light that penetrates through submerged sea openings and illuminates the water inside, a phenomenon most vivid in the morning when sunlight enters from the east. The surrounding cliff coastline, with its stratified limestone terraces and sea arches, is itself a subject for coastal photography.