Pillar Point South is the shallow reef along the southern side of Pillar Point at the northern end of Norman Bay, the easiest of Scuba Doctor's Tidal River shore dives and the natural place to start diving the Prom. Listed at 2–10 m for Open Water divers, it is a slope of granite boulders running down to sand close to the shore, with small caves and hollows formed among the boulders and, about 200 m back from the tip of the point, a sheer rock face that is the highlight of the dive. The boulders carry kelp and mixed algae on top and sponges, ascidians and anemones in the hollows; abundant fish life is the listing's summary, meaning the western-Prom inshore community of wrasse, leatherjackets, morwong, old wives, sweep, zebrafish and magpie perch, with bullseyes and blue devils in the caves, crayfish and abalone (protected) in the deeper crevices, cuttlefish and octopus in the gaps, and stingarees and flathead on the sand.

Weedy seadragons occur along the kelp on Pillar Point. The dive is shallow enough for long bottom times and for snorkellers to enjoy from the surface, and the clear water and white sand make it one of the prettiest easy dives on the coast. Its constraints are the beach's exposure to the south-westerly swell – it needs an easterly-wind, low-swell day – and the surge and current that develop off the tip of the point, which is why the dive is kept to the inner 200 m.

Pillar Point Bommie lies 250 m offshore of the same point for divers wanting more depth and structure. For campers at Tidal River, Pillar Point South is the shore dive to do first, and the one to fall back on when the bommie or Norman Point are too rough.

From the Norman Bay car park at Tidal River walk north-west along the beach about 500 m to the rocks under Pillar Point. Enter from the sand beside the rocks and follow the southern side of the point seaward; about 200 m back from the tip a sheer rock face marks the most interesting spot. Exit back onto the beach.

This is the shortest walk of the Tidal River shore dives.

Best with calm seas, no swell and minimal wind; north-easterly to south-easterly offshore breezes are acceptable, south-westerly to north-westerly onshore winds are not. Strong surge and currents are possible away from the shore and at the tip of the point, so stay on the inner reef and dive at slack water. Norman Bay is a surf beach in any south-westerly swell.

Summer and autumn easterlies.

Enter beside the rocks at the northern end of the beach, follow the boulders seaward with the point on your right to the sheer rock face about 200 m short of the tip, exploring the small caves and hollows at 4–10 m, then turn and return along the same boulders to the beach. Stay inside the tip where surge and current build.

No operator. Shore dives and snorkels done by campers at Tidal River and by clubs (Dive La Trobe, VSAG, Melbourne University Underwater Club) on Prom camping trips; No air fills at Tidal River or Port Welshpool; the nearest compressor is roughly 100 km away (Melbourne's south-east or Inverloch/Leongatha area by arrangement) – bring all cylinders or a portable compressor