Tea House Bay is the small protected bight directly in front of the Ricketts Point teahouse, enclosed on its seaward side by the reefs that make up the sanctuary's central section. Where Tea House Reef to the north is all channels and rock, the bay is more open: a sandy, weedy floor that deepens gently from the beach to about 4 m, ringed by reef edges and ledges. That mix is what makes it worth a separate visit.

The sand and seagrass hold the sanctuary's soft-bottom residents (flathead, flounder, fiddler rays, stingarees, sand crabs, pipefish and seahorses in the weed, and octopus and dumpling squid at night), while the reef edges have the usual dense zebrafish, snapper, wrasse, blennies and moonlighters. It is the most sheltered water in the central sanctuary, tucked behind reef, and it is the obvious choice for a first snorkel, a child's first look at fish, or a relaxed night dive with the teahouse lights as a reference. The parking, toilets, wheelchair ramp and accessible facilities of the teahouse precinct are within 100 m of the water, which also makes it the most accessible entry in the sanctuary for divers with mobility limits.

On summer weekends it is busy and the low-tide entry in front of the cafe is awkwardly shallow, so time the dive for the top of the tide. For a longer dive, enter here and work north around the reef onto Tea House Reef, then return the same way; the yellow sanctuary marker is a useful turning point and surface reference throughout.

Park in the ticketed car park just south of the Ricketts Point Beaumaris Cafe and Bar on Beach Road, or at the Beaumaris Yacht Club car park 200 m north. Walk 50 m down to the beach and enter just north of the teahouse; at low tide the entry opposite the teahouse is very shallow and it is easier to enter a little further south. Swim out at an angle toward the yellow sanctuary marker.

Exit on the same beach.

Best with offshore light northerly to south-easterly winds. Avoid moderate to strong onshore southerly through westerly to north-westerly winds, which raise chop across the shallow reef flats, stir the sand and make the rock entries unpleasant; if you see white water over the reef from Beach Road, go elsewhere (Quiet Corner is the fallback). Dive just before high tide for the clearest water and enough depth over the reef top, which is exposed or awash at low water.

Visibility 3-8 m on a good day, better in winter, poor for two or three days after rain. No swell. Boat traffic outside the swimming zone is constant in summer, so tow a flag.

Enter north of the teahouse, fin out toward the yellow marker, descend at 2 m and explore the bay floor and the reef edges enclosing it at 3-4 m, working north to link with Tea House Reef if desired, turn at half gas and return to the beach.

No commercial dive boat – shore site dived independently and by Melbourne dive shops for training and night dives (Scuba Culture in Cheltenham is the closest shop and uses the sanctuary regularly; Aquability and Melbourne Diving Services run club nights). Marine Care Ricketts Point runs guided snorkels in summer and Parks Victoria licensed tour operators run snorkel tours.