The Steps is a surf break between Bird Rock and Bells Beach on the Surf Coast, named for the long flight of steps that leads from the Ocean Boulevard car park down to the beach, and it is, as The Scuba Doctor puts it, well known to surfers and rarely dived. On the rare days when the sea is flat, calm and swell-free it is fun for divers and snorkellers to explore, and the reef repays the wait. From the platform a shallow limestone reef with ledges and large holes runs out in 3-5 m, and beyond it offshore limestone reefs in 8-10 m present shelves, overhangs and holes that support a wide array of marine life.

This is the deepest of the Jan Juc shore dives and the one with the most cave-like structure; the soft calcarenite has been hollowed by the swell into caverns and undercuts whose roofs are covered in sponges, ascidians, bryozoans, sea tulips and jewel anemones, with crayweed and bull kelp on the exposed tops. Fish include blue-throat wrasse, magpie perch, leatherjackets, scalyfin, zebrafish, old wives, sweep, boarfish and, in the holes, Port Jackson sharks and southern rock lobster, with the occasional weedy seadragon along the weed line and rays on the sand between reefs. The site is entirely governed by swell.

A strong rip feeder current runs out past the headland whenever there is surf, the water is deep and rocky close to shore, and the Scuba Doctor's advice, look at the water before gearing up and go home if there is white water, is the whole safety plan. For experienced ocean divers watching the forecasts for a run of northerlies in autumn, The Steps, Bird Rock and Bells Beach make a memorable and almost never crowded day of Surf Coast shore diving.

From Torquay follow the Great Ocean Road and Duffields Road to Ocean Boulevard, Jan Juc, and continue south-west past Bird Rock to The Steps car park on Ocean Boulevard (free). Take the track and the long flight of steps down to the beach, a carry of about 150 m including steps, and pick an entry point on the rock platform after watching the water for several minutes. Exit at the same platform.

Bells Beach is 2 km further south-west.

Only on the rare days when the sea is flat and calm with no swell and a northerly wind. The Scuba Doctor warns that this can be a highly hazardous area with deep water, rocks and reefs and a strong rip feeder current running out past the headland, and advises checking the water before gearing up: if you see lots of white water, head home. Autumn and early winter give the most chances; visibility 5-15 m when clean.

Experienced divers only.

Enter from the platform on a flat day, swim out over the shallow limestone reef with its ledges and large holes at 3-5 m, continue to the offshore reefs with shelves, overhangs and holes at 8-10 m, work along them keeping the platform in sight, turn at half gas and return inside the reef to the platform.

No regular commercial operator – dived independently by experienced Geelong and Surf Coast divers and clubs on the rare flat days; Bay City Scuba (Geelong) is the nearest shop. Snorkel tours operate under Parks Victoria licence in summer.