Victoria · 4 sites
East Gippsland dive sites
Mallacoota and the far east of Victoria have clear water, Gabo Island's seals and the reefs of the Croajingolong coast, dived by locals and visiting clubs with their own boats.
- Sites
- 4
- Wrecks
- 1
- Shore
- 2
- Boat
- 2
- Beginner
- 1
- Deepest
- 30 m
Conditions outlook · Late September – October 2026
Written 27 September 2026Gabo Island and the Mallacoota reefs are charter dives on calm days out of Mallacoota, 14–15 °C in spring, with fur seals and, in October, passing whales. February–May is the main season.
Getting there
Six hours from Melbourne; private boats and the Mallacoota inlet shore dives.
When to go
Late summer to autumn.
Water & suit
Summer 18-21 °C · winter 13-15 °C. 7mm semi-dry or 5mm with hood in late summer; drysuit or 7mm in winter
Nearest chamber: Prince of Wales Hospital (Sydney) – contact DAN/000; The Alfred (Melbourne) is further by road
Most recorded marine life in East Gippsland
- Abalone 3
- Bull kelp 3
- Luderick 3
- Sea urchins 3
- Southern rock lobster 3
- Australian fur seals 2
- Dolphins 2
- Drummer 2
- Flathead 2
- Leatherjackets 2
- Little penguins 2
- Morwong 2
- Sea sweep 2
- Sweep 2
Plan a dive trip to East Gippsland →Find your diveCompare the top 4 side by sideNew diver? Start here
The most-dived sites in East Gippsland
Suggested trip
A 2-day dive trip to East Gippsland
Built from the sites in this region: an easy start, the signature dives, then something deeper or further. Swap days around the weather; the site pages say which winds and swell close each one.
Build your own East Gippsland plan: pick days, level and must-dive sites →Day 1 · Settle in
Start with East Gippsland's easier shore dives: check your weighting, get used to the water temperature and dive the sheltered side of the coast.
- Salmon Rocks / West Cape (Cape Conran)Shore/Rock Platform · Max 10 m · Open Water
- Bastion Point (Mallacoota)Shore/Rock Platform · Max 12 m · Open Water
Day 2 · The signature dives
A charter day on the sites people travel to East Gippsland for, including Beware Reef.
- Gabo Island (Santa Barbara Bay)Island · Max 20 m · Advanced Open Water
- Beware ReefReef · Max 30 m · Advanced Open Water
Dive centres and charters in East Gippsland
All Victoria operators →Operators recorded as running sites in this region. Each profile lists the specific sites it goes to.
Dive La Trobe
Named by sitesConfirmed Sept 2026
Bundoora · Wilsons Promontory · VIC
University dive club (est. 1968), not a shop; runs SDI courses.
divelatrobe.org.au
41 sites
SEADS
Named by sitesUnconfirmed
Bass Coast · VIC
No entity called SEADS found; the closest match is a South East Dive Facebook page at Cape Woolamai.
9 sites
Wilderness Coast Charters
Named by sitesUnconfirmed
Mallacoota · East Gippsland · VIC
Still listed by Visit Mallacoota as one of three Mallacoota charter boats for Gabo Island, but no website, socials or dated reviews found.
(03) 5158 0701
2 sites
Jeff Cross Diving Services
Named by sitesUnconfirmed
East Gippsland · VIC
No web presence, listing or review found.
1 site
Gabo Island Escapes
Reported closedEast Gippsland · VIC
TripAdvisor lists it as permanently closed with the last review in February 2020; the domain no longer resolves.
2 sites
Map of East Gippsland dive sites
Click a pin for the site.
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4 pinned sites. Pins marked approximate on their pages show the general area only; not for navigation.
All 4 East Gippsland dive sites
All East Gippsland sites at a glance
4 sites in East Gippsland · click a column to sort
| Bastion Point (Mallacoota) | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 12 m | Open Water | Shore | Rare |
| Beware Reef | Reef | Max 30 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Rare |
| Gabo Island (Santa Barbara Bay) | Island | Max 20 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Rare |
| Salmon Rocks / West Cape (Cape Conran) | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 10 m | Open Water | Shore | Rare |
East Gippsland diving FAQ
How do I get to the dive sites in East Gippsland?
Six hours from Melbourne; private boats and the Mallacoota inlet shore dives.
When is the best time to dive East Gippsland?
Late summer to autumn.
How many dive sites are there in East Gippsland?
4 documented sites, including 1 wreck and 2 that can be dived independently from the shore. The deepest reaches 30 m.
Are there beginner dive sites in East Gippsland?
Yes, 1 site is rated beginner. Look for the green Beginner tag in the list below, and check the weather notes on each page before diving.
How cold is the water in East Gippsland?
Typically 18-21 °C in summer and 13-15 °C in winter. Most divers wear 7mm semi-dry or 5mm with hood in late summer; drysuit or 7mm in winter.
Which dive centres operate in East Gippsland?
Dive La Trobe, SEADS, Wilderness Coast Charters, Jeff Cross Diving Services, Gabo Island Escapes are recorded as running sites in East Gippsland. Each site page lists the operators known to go there.
Where is the nearest recompression chamber to East Gippsland?
Prince of Wales Hospital (Sydney) – contact DAN/000; The Alfred (Melbourne) is further by road. In an emergency call 000, then DAN Asia-Pacific on 1800 088 200.