The Cathedral (Cathedral Cave)

The Cathedral sits on the open north face of the Akrotiri peninsula, looking out across the Sea of Crete, so it takes the full reach of the summer Meltemi (N-NW), which is why operators watch the north wind closely for this site. To the north-east and east, though, the peninsula's own north coast curves ahead of the site at roughly 0.3-4 km, so those sectors arrive heavily clipped rather than open. The peninsula bulk directly behind it shelters the S-SE-SSW landward sectors almost completely, while the W-WNW window stays fairly open toward the Gulf of Chania. There is no real tide or ocean swell in this basin, but a Meltemi blow builds surface chop and surge at the shallow cliff entrance even when the cavern interior stays calm.