Did We Ever Sail Into a Cave? Yep—Twice!

Nobody ever asks us: "Have you ever sailed into a cave?" Too bad, because the answer would be: Hell yes we have. Twice, to be exact.

(Want to see us entering a cave in action? Scroll to the end of this post for some epic clips from past trips.)

The Cave: Painted Cave, Santa Cruz Island

This isn’t some easy-peasy sea arch you float a dinghy through. This is Painted Cave, one of the largest and most dramatic sea caves in the world. Located on the northwest face of Santa Cruz Island..

From the outside, it’s an eerie mouth in the volcanic cliffs. Inside? Shadowy walls streaked with reds, blues, purples, and greens—hence the name Painted Cave. It’s wild, raw, echoey, and straight-up otherworldly.

Now here’s the kicker:

The entrance is barely wider than our catamaran. Throw in some tricky swell, unpredictable surge, and dark, tight conditions… and you’ve got yourself a legit adrenaline moment.

The First Time: Lagoon 380

We did it the first time on a 38-foot Lagoon catamaran. The mast stood just under 60 feet, and the beam was about 21 feet wide. Painted Cave’s entrance? Around 25 feet wide at best, and not always even that, depending on tides and swell.

We crept in slow, hugging the throttle, eyes darting from the cave ceiling to the rock walls to the surge pushing us sideways. The light vanished behind us. Water echoed and slapped around the hulls. The whole cave rumbled like a beast.

Everyone on board held their breath—and then let out a huge yell when we backed out clean. Unforgettable.

The Second Time: Beneteau Oceanis 45

A few seasons later, we upped the ante. This time on a 45-foot Beneteau Oceanis monohull, with a mast pushing 70 feet and a beam around 14 feet. Sleeker? Sure. Easier? Not even close.

If you’ve ever driven a monohull in tight quarters, you know the pain: prop walk. That sneaky sideways kick when you put the engine in reverse. In open water, it’s just a quirk. Inside a narrow sea cave? It’s a full-on problem.

As we eased into reverse, the Oceanis wanted to swing off-course. It took precise throttle pulses, firm rudder control, and a few deep breaths to hold a straight line. Inside the mouth of the cave, the light vanished, the acoustics kicked in, and the rock walls seemed just feet away. Everyone aboard went quiet.

Once we were deep enough in, we paused, soaked in the colors, the echo, the pure madness of where we were. Then we shifted to forward, eased the bow out into daylight, and cruised out smooth as silk.

It was one of those moments that sticks. Tight quarters, tight crew, and a big win for the sailing memory bank.

So... Should You Try It? 

Painted Cave is no joke. It's narrow, loud, and surgy. You’ve gotta be razor focused, know your vessel, and have a sharp eye on the tides and swell. But if the stars align—and the ocean plays nice—it’s a trip you’ll never forget. Just ask the crew. They still talk about it.

P.S. This isn’t your average tourist cruise. Red Coral Escapes is about real moments with good friends in jaw-dropping places. Sailing into Painted Cave? That’s just one of 'em.

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