Horseshoe Bay at Port Elliot is one of the Fleurieu's most attractive and sheltered bays, a crescent of sand protected by Commodore Point and the granite Frenchman's Rock. Port Elliot was established in the 1850s as the ocean port for the Murray River trade before the harbour moved to Victor Harbor after shipwrecks exposed the anchorage's dangers. Today the bay is a family swimming beach with a surf club and kiosk.

The edges of the bay are rocky granite reef with kelp and mixed weed, gutters and boulders, which typically support sweep, magpie perch, wrasse, leatherjackets, zebrafish and blue devils, with crabs and sea stars in the crevices. The Marine Life Network describes Oliver's Reef as accessed from rocks near Port Elliot, suggesting kelp reefs of interest in the wider area. The bay's shelter makes it one of the few Encounter Bay spots usable when a moderate south-westerly swell is running, although visibility may be limited.

It suits snorkellers, families and new divers, and it is a good place for a relaxed shallow dive before lunch in Port Elliot. Stay inside the bay: the coast beyond Commodore Point and toward Middleton faces open Southern Ocean surf with strong rips. Keep clear of swimmers in the patrolled area during summer, and use a surface marker if diving near the headlands.

The bay is also a good place to watch for southern right whales passing in winter.

Port Elliot is about 1 hour 15 minutes south of Adelaide, 8 km east of Victor Harbor. Park on The Strand or near the Horseshoe Bay kiosk and surf club. Enter from the beach and snorkel or dive along the rocky edges toward Commodore Point (eastern side) or the western rocks; do not go beyond the headlands into open surf.

The walk from the car to the sand is short.

Horseshoe Bay is well sheltered by Commodore Point and Frenchman's Rock from the prevailing south-westerly swell, which is why it is a popular swimming beach. Even so, large southerly swells produce surge and rips near the headlands, and the open coast outside the bay is dangerous surf. Dive on calm days after northerly winds.

Visibility is reduced after rain and southerly blows.

Enter mid-beach and follow the rocky edge of the bay toward Commodore Point at 3-6 m, keeping inside the bay; turn at half gas and return along the same edge.

No dive operator.