Berrys Reef is the shore dive at the western end of Berrys Beach, a kilometre of sand and grassy bluffs on Phillip Island's south coast between Wild Dog Bluff and Redcliff Head. Scuba Doctor lists it as a 2–12 m shore reef suitable for snorkelling as well as scuba and describes extensive areas of rock platforms, channels and smaller reefs on the eastern side of Wild Dog Bluff. The reef is basalt, weathered into flat-topped platforms cut by channels that run seaward, and it is those channels that give the dive its structure: a diver follows one out from the platform, passing kelp-covered walls, undercut ledges and sand-floored gutters, to the outer edge of the reef at 10–12 m, then crosses to a neighbouring channel and returns.

The ledges hold crayfish, abalone and Port Jackson sharks; the walls are coloured with sponge, zoanthids and sea stars; and the fish are typical of the island's south coast – wrasse, morwong, sweep, leatherjackets, old wives and zebrafish, with schools of salmon along the beach in autumn. Further east the reef breaks up into smaller patches with sand between them, and in extremely calm weather the dive can be extended a long way towards Redcliff Head, although the return is a serious swim. Berrys is popular with surfers and walkers and the clifftop car park gives a fine view of Pyramid Rock; the wooden steps make the access reasonable.

The hazard is the rips, which run permanently against the reef at each end of the beach and which Scuba Doctor's advice – let the sea take you back to the beach – is designed to use rather than fight. Dived on the right morning it is a scenic and varied reef with more relief than Kitty Miller Bay and less effort than Pyramid Rock, and it is a good second Phillip Island shore dive for anyone who has done the bay and wants something with more structure.

From Cowes take Ventnor Road then Back Beach Road and turn south into Berrys Beach Road, following it to the gravel car park on the clifftop at its end (about 12 km, 15 minutes from Cowes). Wooden steps descend to the beach; the carry is 100–200 m including the steps. Walk west along the sand to the end of the beach under Wild Dog Bluff and enter over the rock platform onto Berrys Reef.

Exit by letting the swell carry you back onto the beach. Under extremely calm conditions strong divers can extend east to Redcliff Head, but the return swim is long.

The beach faces south, so it is best dived with an offshore northerly wind and calm seas, at high tide. Berrys is a surf beach with strong permanent rips against the reefs at each end, and any south-westerly swell above about 1 m makes both the entry and the return dangerous. Choose a morning after two or three days of northerlies, check the Pyramid Rock swell forecast, and dive early.

Visibility is best in autumn and clear winter spells. Snorkelling is practical in the same conditions.

Enter at the western end of the beach, swim out along the rock platform under Wild Dog Bluff and follow Berrys Reef seaward through the channels to 8–12 m. Work the reef with the bluff on your right, turn at half gas, and return along the inner platforms, then let the swell push you back onto the sand in the middle of the beach, well clear of the rip against the rocks.

No dive shop or dedicated dive charter is based on Phillip Island. Sites are dived by Melbourne clubs (VSAG, Melbourne University Underwater Club, Frankston/Peninsula clubs) and private boats launched at Newhaven or Rhyll; Mornington Peninsula shops (Dive Victoria Group, Portsea; The Scuba Doctor, Rye) run occasional Phillip Island days. Ocean Adventures Phillip Island (Cowes) runs seal-snorkel tours only.