Victoria · 58 sites
Mornington Peninsula dive sites
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.
- Sites
- 58
- Wrecks
- 0
- Shore
- 35
- Boat
- 11
- Beginner
- 32
- Deepest
- 32 m
Conditions outlook · Late September – October 2026
Written 27 September 2026The bay-side piers (Blairgowrie, Portsea, Rye) are diveable year-round on a northerly and are the reliable option while the Heads are murky in spring. Water 12–13 °C, so a hood and gloves. Flinders Pier's seadragons are carrying eggs from October; the back beaches need a rare north-easterly.
Getting there
Ninety minutes from Melbourne. All the piers are walk-in shore dives with parking; the back beaches need swell under 1 m.
When to go
Year-round on the piers (best after northerlies); autumn for the bay, late winter for cuttlefish, May–June for spider crabs.
Water & suit
Summer 18–21 °C · winter 10–13 °C. 7 mm wetsuit or semi-dry with hood and gloves; drysuit preferred June–October
Nearest chamber: The Alfred (Melbourne)
Most recorded marine life in Mornington Peninsula
- Old wife 39
- Magpie perch 35
- Leatherjackets 33
- Blacklip abalone 32
- Southern fiddler ray 29
- Maori octopus 27
- Decorator crab 25
- Sand flathead 24
- Zebrafish 24
- Bluethroat wrasse 23
- Weedy seadragon 23
- Southern rock lobster 20
- Giant cuttlefish (winter) 19
- Sponges 19
Plan a dive trip to Mornington Peninsula →Find your diveCompare the top 4 side by sideNew diver? Start here
The most-dived sites in Mornington Peninsula
Suggested trip
A 3-day dive trip to Mornington Peninsula
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 Mornington Peninsula plan: pick days, level and must-dive sites →Day 1 · Settle in
Start with Mornington Peninsula's easier shore dives: check your weighting, get used to the water temperature and dive the sheltered side of the coast.
- Blairgowrie PierJetty/Pier · Max 7 m · Open Water
- Flinders PierJetty/Pier · Max 6 m · Open Water
Day 2 · The signature dives
A charter day on the sites people travel to Mornington Peninsula for.
- South Channel FortIsland · Max 12 m · Open Water
- Toms ReefReef · Max 24 m · Advanced Open Water
Day 3 · Deeper or further
For divers with the certification and the weather: the deeper walls, pinnacles or less-visited sites of Mornington Peninsula.
- Cape Schanck West (Pulpit Rock)Reef · Max 7 m · Advanced Open Water
- Crawfish RockPinnacle/Bommie · Max 32 m · Deep/Advanced + experience
Dive centres and charters in Mornington Peninsula
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
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
Extreme Watersport
ListedConfirmed Sept 2026
Capel Sound · Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay · VIC
A Victorian business listed among operations associated with technical diving services.
extremewatersportshop.com · (03) 5982 3432
RetailTechnicalTraining3 services
Map of Mornington Peninsula dive sites
Click a pin for the site.
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58 pinned sites. Pins marked approximate on their pages show the general area only; not for navigation.
All 58 Mornington Peninsula dive sites
All Mornington Peninsula sites at a glance
58 sites in Mornington Peninsula · click a column to sort
| Back Beach Cray Reef | Reef | Max 20 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Rare |
| Balnarring Reef | Reef | Max 8 m | Open Water | Shore | Rare |
| Beacon Reef, Daveys Bay | Reef | Max 5 m | Snorkel/Any | Shore | Rare |
| Birdrock Beach, Mount Martha | Reef | Max 6 m | Open Water | Shore | Rare |
| Blairgowrie Pier | Jetty/Pier | Max 7 m | Open Water | Shore | Daily |
| Bridgewater Bay, Blairgowrie | Reef | Max 8 m | Advanced Open Water | Shore | Rare |
| Cape Schanck Cray Reef | Reef | Max 20 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Rare |
| Cape Schanck West (Pulpit Rock) | Reef | Max 7 m | Advanced Open Water | Shore | Rare |
| Coral Cove, Mornington | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 8 m | Open Water | Shore | Rare |
| Crawfish Rock | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 32 m | Deep/Advanced + experience | Boat | Rare |
| Diamond Bay, Sorrento | Reef | Max 10 m | Advanced Open Water | Shore | Rare |
| Dromana Pier | Jetty/Pier | Max 5 m | Open Water | Shore | Weekly |
| Dromana Shellfish Reef | Artificial Reef | Max 9 m | Open Water | Boat | Rare |
| Fingal Beach, Cape Schanck | Reef | Max 10 m | Advanced Open Water | Shore | Rare |
| Fishermans Beach and Point Linley Reef | Reef | Max 10 m | Open Water | Shore or Boat | Occasional |
| Flinders Cray Reef | Reef | Max 20 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Rare |
| Flinders Ocean Beach (Flinders Back Beach) | Reef | Max 8 m | Advanced Open Water | Shore | Rare |
| Flinders Pier | Jetty/Pier | Max 6 m | Open Water | Shore | Daily |
| Fossil Beach, Mornington | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 8 m | Open Water | Shore | Rare |
| Fosters Beach, Mornington | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 8 m | Open Water | Shore | Rare |
| Frankston Pier | Jetty/Pier | Max 6 m | Open Water | Shore | Occasional |
| Frankston Reef, Olivers Hill | Reef | Max 6 m | Open Water | Shore | Rare |
| Geoffs Scallop Hole | Muck/Sand | Max 17 m | Open Water | Boat | Occasional |
| Hastings Pier | Jetty/Pier | Max 5 m | Open Water | Shore | Rare |
| JL's Scallop Beds | Muck/Sand | Max 17 m | Open Water | Boat | Occasional |
| Jubilee Point, Sorrento | Reef | Max 10 m | Advanced Open Water | Shore or Boat | Rare |
| Koonya Ocean Beach | Reef | Max 5 m | Advanced Open Water | Shore | Rare |
| London Bridge, Portsea | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 7 m | Advanced Open Water | Shore | Rare |
| Marina Cove, Mornington | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 8 m | Open Water | Shore | Rare |
| Mornington Pier | Jetty/Pier | Max 12 m | Open Water | Shore | Daily |
| Mount Martha, Burdoo Way | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 5 m | Open Water | Shore | Rare |
| Mount Martha, Deakin Drive | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 5 m | Open Water | Shore | Rare |
| Mount Martha, Hearn Road | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 5 m | Open Water | Shore | Rare |
| Mount Martha, Ian Road | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 5 m | Open Water | Shore | Rare |
| Mount Martha, Stanley Crescent | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 5 m | Open Water | Shore | Rare |
| Mushroom Reef Marine Sanctuary | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 12 m | Open Water | Shore | Occasional |
| Number Sixteen Beach, Rye | Reef | Max 5 m | Advanced Open Water | Shore | Rare |
| Pearses Beach, Blairgowrie | Reef | Max 10 m | Advanced Open Water | Shore | Rare |
| Pelican Point Reef, Daveys Bay | Reef | Max 5 m | Snorkel/Any | Shore | Rare |
| Point Franklin Reef, Portsea | Reef | Max 15 m | Open Water | Shore | Occasional |
| Point Leo | Reef | Max 8 m | Open Water | Shore | Rare |
| Portsea Pier | Jetty/Pier | Max 7 m | Open Water | Shore | Daily |
| Portsea Pier East Reef | Reef | Max 11 m | Open Water | Shore | Occasional |
| Ranelagh Beach, Mount Eliza | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 6 m | Open Water | Shore | Rare |
| Rosebud Pier | Jetty/Pier | Max 8 m | Open Water | Shore | Occasional |
| Rosebud Reef | Reef | Max 10 m | Open Water | Boat | Rare |
| Royal Beach, Mornington | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 10 m | Open Water | Shore | Rare |
| Rye Pier | Jetty/Pier | Max 7 m | Open Water | Shore | Daily |
| Rye Scallop Beds | Muck/Sand | Max 17 m | Open Water | Boat | Occasional |
| Sorrento Back Beach | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 20 m | Advanced Open Water | Shore | Rare |
| Sorrento Boat Moorings | Muck/Sand | Max 15 m | Open Water | Shore | Rare |
| Sorrento Pier | Jetty/Pier | Max 7 m | Open Water | Shore | Weekly |
| South Channel Fort | Island | Max 12 m | Open Water | Boat | Weekly |
| Spray Point Caverns, Blairgowrie | Cave/Cavern | Max 15 m | Advanced Open Water | Shore | Rare |
| St Pauls Rock, Sorrento | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 6 m | Advanced Open Water | Shore | Rare |
| Stony Point Pier | Jetty/Pier | Max 9 m | Advanced Open Water | Shore | Rare |
| Tankerton Jetty, French Island | Jetty/Pier | Max 8 m | Open Water | Shore | Rare |
| Toms Reef | Reef | Max 24 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Occasional |
Mornington Peninsula diving FAQ
How do I get to the dive sites in Mornington Peninsula?
Ninety minutes from Melbourne. All the piers are walk-in shore dives with parking; the back beaches need swell under 1 m.
When is the best time to dive Mornington Peninsula?
Year-round on the piers (best after northerlies); autumn for the bay, late winter for cuttlefish, May–June for spider crabs.
How many dive sites are there in Mornington Peninsula?
58 documented sites and 35 that can be dived independently from the shore. The deepest reaches 32 m.
Are there beginner dive sites in Mornington Peninsula?
Yes, 32 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 Mornington Peninsula?
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; drysuit preferred June–October.
Which dive centres operate in Mornington Peninsula?
The Scuba Doctor, Diveline Scuba Centre, Aquability, Bay City Scuba, Scuba Culture, Ocean Divers and others are recorded as running sites in Mornington Peninsula. Each site page lists the operators known to go there.
Where is the nearest recompression chamber to Mornington Peninsula?
The Alfred (Melbourne). In an emergency call 000, then DAN Asia-Pacific on 1800 088 200.