Victoria · 44 sites
Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay dive sites
Melbourne's bayside suburbs, from Williamstown around to Frankston, have shallow, easy shore dives: Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary, Black Rock, Half Moon Bay and the Cerberus wreck, Frankston pier, and the artificial reefs and scuttled boats off St Kilda and Mordialloc. Visibility is modest but the life, especially at night, is good.
- Sites
- 44
- Wrecks
- 11
- Shore
- 31
- Boat
- 11
- Beginner
- 40
- Deepest
- 22 m
Conditions outlook · Late September – October 2026
Written 27 September 2026The bayside reefs (Ricketts Point, Black Rock, Beaumaris) are at their coldest and clearest before the spring bloom sets in; dive them on a northerly morning. Water 12–13 °C. Spider crab season at Rye and Blairgowrie is over; look for the first seadragon eggs.
Getting there
Suburban shore dives with parking; charters from St Kilda and Mordialloc for the bay wrecks.
When to go
Year-round; autumn (March–May) for calm, clear water; southerly winds flatten the eastern shore.
Water & suit
Summer 18-21 °C · winter 10-13 °C. 7 mm wetsuit or semi-dry with hood and gloves in summer; drysuit or 7 mm semi-dry with hood in winter
Nearest chamber: The Alfred Hospital Hyperbaric Service (Melbourne)
Most recorded marine life in Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay
- Leatherjackets 40
- Octopus 26
- Flathead 24
- Sea stars 21
- Sea urchins 20
- Nudibranchs 19
- Zebrafish 17
- Old wives 16
- Cushion stars 15
- Stingarees 15
- Dusky morwong 14
- Moonlighters 14
- Tasmanian blennies 14
- Wrasse 13
Plan a dive trip to Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay →Find your diveCompare the top 4 side by sideNew diver? Start here
The most-dived sites in Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay
Suggested trip
A 3-day dive trip to Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay
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 Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay plan: pick days, level and must-dive sites →Day 1 · Settle in
Start with Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay's easier shore dives: check your weighting, get used to the water temperature and dive the sheltered side of the coast.
- Ricketts Point Marine SanctuaryShore/Rock Platform · Max 8 m · Open Water
- Tea House Reef, Ricketts PointShore/Rock Platform · Max 5 m · Open Water
Day 2 · The signature dives
A charter day on the sites people travel to Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay for, including PS Ozone.
Day 3 · Deeper or further
For divers with the certification and the weather: the deeper walls, pinnacles or less-visited sites of Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay.
- SS City of LauncestonWreck · Max 22 m · Advanced Open Water
- J3 Submarine (Swan Island)Wreck · Max 8 m · Open Water
Dive centres and charters in Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay
All Victoria operators →Operators recorded as running sites in this region. Each profile lists the specific sites it goes to.
The Scuba Doctor
ProfiledConfirmed Sept 2026
Rye · 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
RetailFull service8 services191 sites
Diveline Scuba Centre
ListedConfirmed Sept 2026
Frankston · Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay · VIC
A Victorian business associated with technical training and gas support alongside recreational courses.
diveline.com.au · (03) 9783 7166
Full serviceTechnicalTraining8 services137 sites
Aquability
ListedConfirmed Sept 2026
Mordialloc · 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
TechnicalTraining2 services85 sites
Bay City Scuba
ListedConfirmed Sept 2026
East 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
Full serviceTechnicalTraining7 services54 sites
Scuba Culture
ListedConfirmed Sept 2026
Burwood · Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay · VIC
A Melbourne business providing training and equipment support for local divers.
scubaculture.com.au · (03) 9808 0033
TrainingFull service5 services36 sites
Divein2Scuba (Geelong Dive Centre)
ListedConfirmed Sept 2026
Geelong · Geelong & Bellarine · VIC
A Geelong business providing training, equipment and local diving support.
divein2scuba.com · (03) 5221 3342
Full serviceTraining5 services6 sites
Ocean Divers
ListedConfirmed Sept 2026
Bentleigh 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
Full serviceTechnicalTraining7 services1 site
Academy of Scuba
ListedConfirmed Sept 2026
Rye · Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay · VIC
A Melbourne training business offering recreational courses with technical pathways.
academyofscuba.com.au · (03) 9889 9952
TrainingFull serviceTechnical6 services
ADRENO Melbourne
ListedConfirmed Sept 2026
Cheltenham · 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
RetailFreediving1 services
All About Scuba
ListedConfirmed Sept 2026
Campbellfield · 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
TrainingTechnical3 services
Aquatic Adventures
ListedConfirmed Sept 2026
Rowville · Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay · VIC
A Melbourne operation providing recreational training and local diving support.
aquaticadventures.com.au · (03) 9755 5688
TrainingFull service4 services
Dive Gear Australia
ListedConfirmed Sept 2026
Hallam · Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay · VIC
A Victorian equipment business listed among operations relevant to technical diving equipment supply.
divegearaustralia.com.au · (03) 9702 3694
RetailTechnical1 services
Map of Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay dive sites
Click a pin for the site.
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44 pinned sites. Pins marked approximate on their pages show the general area only; not for navigation.
All 44 Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay dive sites
All Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay sites at a glance
44 sites in Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay · click a column to sort
| Altona Pier | Jetty/Pier | Max 5 m | Open Water | Shore | Occasional |
| Aspendale Rec Reef | Artificial Reef | Max 11 m | Open Water | Boat | Rare |
| Banksia Point, Ricketts Point | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 3 m | Snorkel/Any | Shore | Daily |
| Black Rock Jetty, Half Moon Bay | Jetty/Pier | Max 8 m | Open Water | Shore | Occasional |
| Black Rock Shoal | Reef | Max 10 m | Open Water | Boat | Rare |
| Clarence | Wreck | Max 5 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| Gem Pier | Jetty/Pier | Max 5 m | Open Water | Shore | Occasional |
| Green Point, Brighton | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 5 m | Open Water | Shore | Occasional |
| HMVS Cerberus | Wreck | Max 7 m | Snorkel/Any | Shore | Rare |
| Hurricane | Wreck | Max 12 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Occasional |
| J3 Submarine (Swan Island) | Wreck | Max 8 m | Open Water | Boat | Rare |
| J7 Submarine (Sandringham) | Wreck | Max 3 m | Snorkel/Any | Shore | Rare |
| Jawbone Marine Sanctuary | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 6 m | Snorkel/Any | Shore | Occasional |
| Joanna | Wreck | Max 7 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| Kerferd Road Pier | Jetty/Pier | Max 5 m | Open Water | Shore | Occasional |
| Lagoon Pier | Jetty/Pier | Max 4 m | Open Water | Shore | Occasional |
| McGregor Rock, Quiet Corner | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 5 m | Open Water | Shore | Daily |
| Middle Brighton Baths | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 6 m | Open Water | Shore | Occasional |
| Middle Brighton Pier | Jetty/Pier | Max 8 m | Open Water | Shore | Occasional |
| Middle Reef, Ricketts Point | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 3 m | Snorkel/Any | Shore | Daily |
| Mordialloc Pier | Jetty/Pier | Max 6 m | Open Water | Shore | Occasional |
| Point Cooke Beach | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 5 m | Snorkel/Any | Shore | Rare |
| Point Gellibrand | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 5 m | Open Water | Shore | Occasional |
| Point Ormond Reef | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 5 m | Open Water | Shore | Occasional |
| PS Ozone | Wreck | Max 4 m | Snorkel/Any | Shore or Boat | Weekly |
| Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 8 m | Open Water | Shore | Daily |
| Sandringham Pier Breakwater | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 6 m | Open Water | Shore | Occasional |
| Sea Scouts Jetty, Beaumaris Bay | Jetty/Pier | Max 5 m | Open Water | Shore | Occasional |
| Seaford Pier | Jetty/Pier | Max 5 m | Open Water | Shore | Occasional |
| Seaholme Reef, Altona | Reef | Max 5 m | Open Water | Shore | Rare |
| South Road Reefs and Bommie | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 6 m | Open Water | Shore | Occasional |
| SS City of Launceston | Wreck | Max 22 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| SS Kakariki | Wreck | Max 10 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| SS Uralba | Wreck | Max 18 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Occasional |
| St Kilda Pier | Jetty/Pier | Max 8 m | Open Water | Shore | Occasional |
| Table Rock, Ricketts Point | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 6 m | Open Water | Shore | Daily |
| Tea House Bay, Ricketts Point | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 4 m | Snorkel/Any | Shore | Daily |
| Tea House Reef, Ricketts Point | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 5 m | Open Water | Shore | Daily |
| Tedesco Reef, Seaford | Artificial Reef | Max 11 m | Open Water | Boat | Rare |
| The Jawbone, Williamstown | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 6 m | Open Water | Shore | Occasional |
| Triangle Reef, Ricketts Point | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 8 m | Open Water | Shore | Daily |
| Tyre Reef | Artificial Reef | Max 10 m | Open Water | Boat | Rare |
| Williamstown Beach Breakwater | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 5 m | Open Water | Shore | Occasional |
| Williamstown Beach Rotunda | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 6 m | Open Water | Shore | Occasional |
Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay diving FAQ
How do I get to the dive sites in Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay?
Suburban shore dives with parking; charters from St Kilda and Mordialloc for the bay wrecks.
When is the best time to dive Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay?
Year-round; autumn (March–May) for calm, clear water; southerly winds flatten the eastern shore.
How many dive sites are there in Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay?
44 documented sites, including 11 wrecks and 31 that can be dived independently from the shore. The deepest reaches 22 m.
Are there beginner dive sites in Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay?
Yes, 40 sites are 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 Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay?
Typically 18-21 °C in summer and 10-13 °C in winter. Most divers wear 7 mm wetsuit or semi-dry with hood and gloves in summer; drysuit or 7 mm semi-dry with hood in winter.
Which dive centres operate in Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay?
The Scuba Doctor, Diveline Scuba Centre, Aquability, Bay City Scuba, Scuba Culture, Divein2Scuba (Geelong Dive Centre) and others are recorded as running sites in Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay. Each site page lists the operators known to go there.
Where is the nearest recompression chamber to Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay?
The Alfred Hospital Hyperbaric Service (Melbourne). In an emergency call 000, then DAN Asia-Pacific on 1800 088 200.