Dive slate · divesites.com.au · printed 8 Nov 2026
Stony Point Pier
Mornington Peninsula, Victoria · near Crib Point
| Depth | 5–9 m |
|---|---|
| Minimum level | Advanced Open Water |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Access | Shore |
| Entry | Beach entry at the end of Stony Point Road beside the pier; public (right-hand) side of the pier only |
| Current | Strong |
| Visibility | 2–6 m m |
| Water | summer 17–20 °C °C, winter 11–13 °C °C |
| Suit | 7 mm wetsuit or semi-dry with hood and gloves; drysuit preferred June–October |
| Best season | Autumn and winter at slack water after dry weather |
| Bottom time | 35 min |
| Position | -38.37217, 145.22452 (GPS) |
| Permit | None required |
| Nearest chamber | The Alfred (Melbourne) |
| Emergency | 000 · DAN Asia-Pacific diving emergency 1800 088 200 |
Stony Point Pier
Also known as Stony Point Jetty; Crib Point
A current-swept ferry pier on Western Port's main channel; a slack-water dive for tidal specialists with the French Island ferry alongside.
Near Crib Point · Mornington Peninsula, Victoria
- Depth
- 5–9 m
- Minimum level
- Advanced Open Water
- Access
- Shore
- Boat ride
- Shore entry
- Water
- 17–20 °C
- Visibility
- 2–6 m
Stony Point Pier5–9 m · Advanced Open Water · Shore
Dive factsDepths, conditions, location & safety
Season
Off-peak nowBest months: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October.
Autumn and winter at slack water after dry weather
- Best months
- Now (November)
Dive facts
- Depth
- 5–9 m
- Typical depth
- 7 m
- Certification
- Advanced Open Water
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Depth tier
- Easy (0–10 m)
- Access
- Shore
- Dive centre needed
- No – independently diveable
- Shore / independent
- Yes
- Current
- Strong
- Visibility
- 2–6 m
- Water temp (summer)
- 17–20 °C
- Water temp (winter)
- 11–13 °C
- Water
- Temperate
- Bottom time
- 35 min
- Dive traffic
- Rarely dived (private boat/club only)
- Night dive
- No
- Snorkel friendly
- No
Exposure suit
7 mm wetsuit or semi-dry with hood and gloves; drysuit preferred June–October
Location
Western Port west shore / Crib Point
-38.37217, 145.22452
Published GPS position.
Open in Google MapsPrimary source: scubadoctor.com.auMarine park & permits
None required
Nearest recompression chamber
The Alfred (Melbourne)
Diving emergency: call 000, then DAN AP 1800 088 200.
Trip planner
Build a trip around Stony Point Pier →
A day-by-day plan for Mornington Peninsula with this site locked in.
This guide is a planning aid. Conditions change daily — confirm with a local dive centre and dive within your training. Data & safety notes.
Dive profile
How this site rates
Scores are computed from the recorded data, not opinions. How?
At a glance
Stony Point Pier is a jetty / pier shore dive you can do independently in Mornington Peninsula, VIC, 5–9 m, suited to Advanced Open Water divers, strong current.
Rated intermediate because of strong current, boat traffic overhead, cold water.
Why dive here
- A current-swept ferry pier on Western Port's main channel; a slack-water dive for tidal specialists with the French Island ferry alongside.
- Rarely dived: expect to have the site to yourself, and plan your own logistics.
Conditions to avoid
- Strong southerly or south-east swell and wind
- Outgoing tide or run-off after rain (poor visibility)
- Any time other than slack water
About Stony Point Pier
Stony Point is the southern terminus of the Frankston railway and the mainland port for the French Island and Phillip Island ferries, a working pier at the end of Stony Point Road at Crib Point, in the shadow of HMAS Cerberus and the Crib Point fuel jetty. The Scuba Doctor lists it as a 5–9 m pier dive for Advanced divers, the rating reflecting not depth but tide: the pier stands on the edge of Western Port's main western channel, and the currents around the point and through the pylons are strong enough that the site is diveable only at slack water, preferably at the end of the flood when the incoming Bass Strait water is at its cleanest. Within that window the pier offers a deeper and more current-swept version of the Western Port pier habitat – pylons with hydroids, sponges and mussels, a bottom of sand, shell and seagrass, and fish that ride the tide: squid hanging in the shadow of the deck, King George whiting, Australian salmon, silver trevally, yellow-eye mullet, flathead and snapper, with rays and the occasional draughtboard shark on the bottom.
Only the public right-hand side of the pier is available; the left side is set aside for anglers and the ferry berth is a no-go area, so the dive is a narrow out-and-back along one row of pylons. Tankerton Jetty on French Island, 4 km east across the channel, is the companion site reached by the ferry from here. Stony Point is not pretty and its visibility is rarely better than a few metres, but for divers who enjoy the discipline of tidal diving it offers genuine current-swept life inside a bay, easy parking and a general store across the road.
It suits experienced divers with tide tables and a flag, and nobody else.
Getting there & entry
Working ferry pier for French Island and Phillip Island at the end of Stony Point Road, Crib Point, on the western shore of Western Port south of HMAS Cerberus, with a boat ramp and beach beside it.
From Frankston–Flinders Road turn onto Stony Point Road at Bittern and follow it through Crib Point to its end at the pier, 75 km from Melbourne; the terminus of the Stony Point railway is beside the car park. Park in the boat-ramp car park or the nearby parking areas and walk to the beach at the end of the road, less than 100 m. Enter from the beach and dive the public right-hand side of the pier; the left-hand side is reserved for anglers and the ferry berth is off limits.
Exit onto the beach. There is a general store across the road and public toilets at the ramp.
Entry: Beach entry at the end of Stony Point Road beside the pier; public (right-hand) side of the pier only
Facilities: Boat-ramp car park and nearby parking; public toilets at the ramp; general store across the road; railway station; ferry terminal; nearest air fills at Aquability or Diveline (Frankston), 30 km.
Weather, swell & tides
Stony Point sits on the main western channel of Western Port and strong tidal currents run around the point and through the pier on every tide; the source restricts diving to slack water, ideally at the end of the incoming flood, when the water is cleanest and the current drops for perhaps 20–30 minutes. Wind matters less than tide, but easterly and south-easterly winds put a chop across the channel onto the pier. Visibility is estuarine – a few metres at best – and falls after rain.
Ferry movements are frequent and the working pier is busy with anglers; dive early, at slack, and stay within the public side.
Best season: Autumn and winter at slack water after dry weather
If it's blown out
Sheltered or shore sites within 25 km that often work when Stony Point Pier doesn't.
- Flinders Pier · 21 km · Max 6 m
- Mornington Pier · 24 km · Max 12 m
- Dromana Pier · 23 km · Max 5 m
- Tankerton Jetty, French Island · 4 km · Max 8 m
How the dive is usually run
Enter from the beach 20 minutes before high-water slack, descend beside the inner pylons on the public side and work out to the head at 7–9 m, using the pylons for shelter and reference. Turn as soon as the ebb is felt, return along the pylons to the beach and exit; do not surface in the ferry berth or channel, and carry a flag throughout.
Marine life
- Southern calamari
- King George whiting
- Australian salmon
- silver trevally
- yellow-eye mullet
- sand flathead
- snapper
- hydroids
- sponges and mussels on pylons
- rays
- draughtboard shark (occasional)
Linked species have their own page listing every site where they are recorded. All marine life →
Training required
Shallow enough for snorkellers and for a first dive under supervision. Any certified diver can dive it.
Courses that help here
- Drift Diver – Current is a feature of the dive.
- Drysuit Diver – Cold water; locals dive dry for much of the year.
- Peak Performance Buoyancy – Silt and low visibility punish poor trim.
Depth tiers: 0–10 m easy · to 18 m Open Water · 18–30 m Advanced (25 m+ is a deep dive) · 30–40 m Deep specialty · 40 m+ technical. All courses
Hazards & warnings
Strong tidal currents around the point and through the pier – slack water only; commercial ferry traffic – stay clear of the berth and channel and fly a flag; fishing line from the angling side – carry a knife or line cutter; low visibility; naval and fuel-jetty exclusion zones nearby.
Dive centres that go here
No regular operator; independent divers and clubs with tidal-diving experience. Ferries to French Island and Cowes use the pier throughout the day.
Operators recorded for Stony Point Pier
The Scuba Doctor
ProfiledRye · Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay · VIC
A Victorian equipment and service business with an extensive retail presence, located to serve both Melbourne and Mornington Peninsula divers.
scubadoctor.com.au · (03) 5985 3322
Diveline Scuba Centre
ListedFrankston · Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay · VIC
A Victorian business associated with technical training and gas support alongside recreational courses.
diveline.com.au · (03) 9783 7166
Aquability
ListedMordialloc · Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay · VIC
A Victorian operation associated with technical diving training. Exact agency, course levels and gas support require verification.
aquability.com.au · (03) 9587 1811
Scubabo Dive Victoria (Dive Victoria Group)
Named by sitesQueenscliff · Port Phillip Heads · VIC
Rebranded as Scubabo Dive Victoria, Queenscliff; dive.scubabo.com is live for 2026 with active charter bookings.
dive.scubabo.com · (03) 5258 1188
Bayplay
Named by sitesPortsea · Port Phillip Heads · VIC
PADI dive resort and adventure tours.
bayplay.com.au · (03) 5984 0888
Other dive centres in Mornington Peninsula
Bay City Scuba
ListedEast Geelong · Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay · VIC
A Victorian business associated with recreational and technical training alongside equipment and gas services.
baycityscuba.com · (03) 5248 1488
Scuba Culture
ListedBurwood · Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay · VIC
A Melbourne business providing training and equipment support for local divers.
scubaculture.com.au · (03) 9808 0033
Ocean Divers
ListedBentleigh East · Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay · VIC
A Victorian operation associated with recreational and technical training and access to Port Phillip diving.
oceandivers.com.au · (03) 9579 2600
Academy of Scuba
ListedRye · Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay · VIC
A Melbourne training business offering recreational courses with technical pathways.
academyofscuba.com.au · (03) 9889 9952
ADRENO Melbourne
ListedCheltenham · Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay · VIC
An equipment retailer with a spearfishing and freediving emphasis. Primarily retail rather than a training centre.
adreno.com.au/pages/contact-us-melbourne · (03) 9584 7228
All About Scuba
ListedCampbellfield · Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay · VIC
A Victorian training operation listed among those associated with technical diving. Capability requires verification.
allaboutscuba.com.au · (03) 9939 4913
Map
7 pinned sites. Pins marked approximate on their pages show the general area only; not for navigation.
Satellite views


Stony Point Pier: frequently asked questions
How deep is Stony Point Pier?
Stony Point Pier reaches a maximum depth of 9 m, with the shallowest part at about 5 m; most of the dive is spent around 7 m.
What certification do I need to dive Stony Point Pier?
Advanced Open Water is the recommended minimum. Rated intermediate because of strong current, boat traffic overhead, cold water.
Can I shore dive Stony Point Pier?
Yes. Stony Point Pier is a shore dive that can be done independently: beach entry at the end of Stony Point Road beside the pier; public (right-hand) side of the pier only.
When is the best time to dive Stony Point Pier?
Autumn and winter at slack water after dry weather.
What marine life will I see at Stony Point Pier?
Regularly recorded: Southern calamari, King George whiting, Australian salmon, silver trevally, yellow-eye mullet, sand flathead, snapper, hydroids, sponges and mussels on pylons, rays, draughtboard shark (occasional).
What wetsuit do I need at Stony Point Pier?
7 mm wetsuit or semi-dry with hood and gloves; drysuit preferred June–October.
How cold is the water at Stony Point Pier?
Typically 17–20 °C in summer and 11–13 °C in winter.
What are the main hazards at Stony Point Pier?
Strong tidal currents around the point and through the pier – slack water only; commercial ferry traffic – stay clear of the berth and channel and fly a flag; fishing line from the angling side – carry a knife or line cutter; low visibility; naval and fuel-jetty exclusion zones nearby. See the hazards section above for the full list.
Where is the nearest recompression chamber to Stony Point Pier?
The Alfred (Melbourne). In an emergency call 000, then DAN Asia-Pacific on 1800 088 200.
Diving in Mornington Peninsula
The Mornington Peninsula's piers are among the best macro dives in the world. Blairgowrie, Rye, Portsea and Flinders piers have weedy seadragons, giant cuttlefish, spider crab aggregations in May and June, pyjama squid, frogfish and seahorses in 4–8 m of water, and are dived by night as much as by day. The back beaches (Sorrento, Portsea, Cape Schanck) have caves, ledges and bull rays on the rare flat days.
Getting there: Ninety minutes from Melbourne. All the piers are walk-in shore dives with parking; the back beaches need swell under 1 m.
All Mornington Peninsula dive sites and a suggested itinerary →
Sources
- scubadoctor.com.au/divesite.htm?site=Stony-Point-Pier
- scubadoctor.com.au/divesite.htm?site=Tankerton-Jetty
Data confidence: Medium · Being verified: Pylon life generalised. Last updated September 2026. Know this site better? How to send a correction











