Jones Bay is the small bay on the western flank of Cape Nelson, about 10 km south-west of Portland, facing west toward Cape Bridgewater across the open water of Bridgewater Bay. The Scuba Doctor lists it as a boat dive in 2–15 m for Open Water divers and beyond and states plainly that its primary appeal is the opportunity to catch abalone and crayfish; it is a local hunting ground rather than a scenic destination, and there is little published about its topography beyond that. What can be said with confidence follows from its position: the reef is the same basalt that forms the whole of Cape Nelson, weathered into ledges, gutters and boulder fields under kelp and mixed algae, with the encrusting sponge and ascidian growth of the cold Portland water on the shaded faces and the fish community of the cape – blue-throat wrasse, magpie perch, sea sweep, herring cale, banded morwong, leatherjackets – over it. Black-lip abalone graze the algal reef and southern rock lobster fill the crevices, which is why the bay is fished. Seals from the Cape Bridgewater colony 8 km to the west pass through and blue whales feed in the upwelling offshore in summer.

Its value to a visiting diver is as the western-side alternative when an easterly or north-easterly wind puts the Portland-side sites and Flat Rock out; then Jones Bay and the reefs toward Murrells Reef to the north are in the lee and can be dived comfortably in a small swell. The run from Portland Harbour rounds the cape and is long and exposed, and the alternative launch at Cape Bridgewater is shorter but conditions-dependent. No dive charter operates from Portland; the bay is dived by private boats and by arrangement with fishing charters, with Portland SCUBA the source of air and local advice. Victorian bag limits, size limits and the abalone and rock lobster seasons apply.

Boats launch at the Portland Harbour ramps on Lee Breakwater Road (North Ramp and South Ramp), both with trailer parking, inside the harbour breakwaters. From the harbour run south-west around Point Danger and right around Cape Nelson to its western side, about 18 km and 40 minutes, or launch at the Cape Bridgewater ramp on Bridgewater Bay and run 8 km east; Jones Bay opens on the western flank of the cape. Murrells Reef is 1.3 km to the north-north-west.

Cape Nelson tide and swell forecasts apply. Portland SCUBA in town supplies air; no dive charter operates from Portland.

Jones Bay lies on the western side of Cape Nelson and is in the lee when the wind is in the east or north-east, which is when the Portland-side sites are unworkable; it is fully open to the prevailing south-west swell and westerly winds, so it needs a swell under about 1 m and light offshore winds from the north to east. The Scuba Doctor's advice is good conditions with a low swell and light offshore winds. The boat run from Portland rounds the cape and is exposed; from Cape Bridgewater it is shorter but the Bridgewater ramp is itself conditions-dependent.

Cold upwelling water is common in summer; autumn is clearest.

Anchor on sand in 10–12 m, descend and work along the reef edge and ledges toward the cape in 8–15 m, checking crevices for crayfish and the algal reef for abalone, then return along the shallower reef in 2–6 m. Turn at half gas and return to the anchor for a slow ascent.

No dedicated dive charter operates from Portland. Portland SCUBA (PADI centre) runs courses and occasional day trips; local fishing charters take divers by arrangement; Portland dive club members use private boats. Warrnambool Diving visits occasionally.

Jones Bay is chiefly an abalone and crayfish dive for local boat owners.