Victoria · 118 sites
Port Phillip Heads dive sites
The entrance to Port Phillip Bay is a 3 km gap through which the whole bay drains and fills twice a day, and the currents have carved walls, canyons and caves in the limestone: Lonsdale Wall, Nepean Wall, the Boulders, the Cave, the Canyons and Popes Eye. Outside the Heads lies the Ships' Graveyard, with more than 40 scuttled vessels including the J1, J2, J4 and J5 submarines, the SS Coogee and the Eliza Ramsden. Every dive here is on slack water and every dive is from a charter.
- Sites
- 118
- Wrecks
- 63
- Shore
- 1
- Boat
- 107
- Beginner
- 11
- Deepest
- 103 m
Conditions outlook · Late September – October 2026
Written 27 September 2026Spring is the shoulder: the water is at its coldest (11–13 °C, drysuit or 7 mm semi-dry with hood) and the spring plankton bloom starts to knock visibility back through October and November. The Heads still run on every slack; pick the morning slack after a settled westerly night and expect 8–12 m rather than the 20 m of autumn. Canberra and Graveyard charters are running; check the swell against Point Lonsdale before booking the outside wrecks.
Getting there
Charters from Queenscliff, Portsea and Sorrento, timed to the slack. Ninety minutes from Melbourne.
When to go
Year-round on slack water; February to May for the warmest water and best visibility. Advanced certification and recent cold-water experience are the norm.
Water & suit
Summer 17-20 °C · winter 11-14 °C. 7 mm semi-dry with hood and gloves, or drysuit; drysuit strongly preferred May–November
Nearest chamber: The Alfred Hospital hyperbaric unit (Melbourne)
Most recorded marine life in Port Phillip Heads
- Southern rock lobster 88
- Sponges 60
- Southern blue devil 42
- Old wife 37
- Bluethroat wrasse 36
- Butterfly perch 36
- Ling 35
- Zoanthids 34
- Bullseyes 33
- Boarfish 32
- Leatherjackets 30
- Australian fur seal 28
- Silver sweep 26
- Yellow zoanthids 26
Plan a dive trip to Port Phillip Heads →Find your diveCompare the top 4 side by sideNew diver? Start here
The most-dived sites in Port Phillip Heads
Suggested trip
A 3-day dive trip to Port Phillip Heads
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 Port Phillip Heads plan: pick days, level and must-dive sites →Day 1 · Settle in
Start with Port Phillip Heads's easier shore dives: check your weighting, get used to the water temperature and dive the sheltered side of the coast.
- Cottage by the Sea ReefShore/Rock Platform · Max 10 m · Open Water
- Point Lonsdale LightShore/Rock Platform · Max 5 m · Snorkel/Any
Day 2 · The signature dives
A charter day on the sites people travel to Port Phillip Heads for, including ex-HMAS Canberra.
- Party PointWall · Max 45 m · Technical (decompression)
- ex-HMAS CanberraArtificial Reef · Max 32 m · Deep/Advanced + experience
Day 3 · Deeper or further
For divers with the certification and the weather: the deeper walls, pinnacles or less-visited sites of Port Phillip Heads.
- Boarfish ReefReef · Max 25 m · Advanced Open Water
- Portsea HoleWall · Max 33 m · Deep/Advanced + experience
Dive centres and charters in Port Phillip Heads
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
Scubabo Dive Victoria (Queenscliff)
ListedConfirmed Sept 2026
Queenscliff · Geelong & Bellarine · VIC
A Queenscliff operation, strategically located for access toward Port Phillip Heads.
dive.scubabo.com · (03) 5258 1188
TrainingCharter3 services35 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
Map of Port Phillip Heads dive sites
Click a pin for the site.
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118 pinned sites. Pins marked approximate on their pages show the general area only; not for navigation.
All 118 Port Phillip Heads dive sites
All Port Phillip Heads sites at a glance
118 sites in Port Phillip Heads · click a column to sort
| 12lb Reef | Wall | Max 20 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Weekly |
| 16lb Reef | Wall | Max 18 m | Open Water | Boat | Weekly |
| Artefacts Flood | Drift | Max 15 m | Open Water | Boat | Occasional |
| Auriga | Wreck | Max 57 m | Technical (decompression) | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| Awesome Reef | Reef | Max 40 m | Deep/Advanced + experience | Boat | Occasional |
| Batman | Wreck | Max 46 m | Technical (decompression) | Boat (day trip) | Occasional |
| Beverwijk 19 | Wreck | Max 46 m | Technical (decompression) | Boat (day trip) | Occasional |
| Boarfish Reef | Reef | Max 25 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Daily |
| Boarfish Reef Drift | Drift | Max 32 m | Deep/Advanced + experience | Boat | Weekly |
| Brunette | Wreck | Max 70 m | Technical (decompression) | Boat (day trip) | Expedition |
| Buckleys Cave | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 10 m | Advanced Open Water | Shore | Rare |
| Bunyip | Wreck | Max 58 m | Technical (decompression) | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| Burke | Wreck | Max 50 m | Technical (decompression) | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| Campana | Wreck | Max 58 m | Technical (decompression) | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| Captain Nitro Drop Off | Wall | Max 60 m | Technical (decompression) | Boat | Occasional |
| Casablanca | Wreck | Max 57 m | Technical (decompression) | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| Castle Rock | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 20 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Weekly |
| Catch Bag Reef Drift | Drift | Max 24 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Occasional |
| Cattle Jetty Drift | Drift | Max 18 m | Open Water | Boat | Occasional |
| Chinamans Hat | Artificial Reef | Max 12 m | Open Water | Boat | Daily |
| Conside | Wreck | Max 5 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| Corsair Rock | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 30 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Occasional |
| Cottage by the Sea Reef | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 10 m | Open Water | Shore or Boat | Occasional |
| D McLennan | Wreck | Max 58 m | Technical (decompression) | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| Deep Pinnacles | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 25 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Occasional |
| Devils Drop Off | Wall | Max 55 m | Technical (decompression) | Boat | Weekly |
| Don Diego | Wreck | Max 72 m | Technical (decompression) | Boat (day trip) | Expedition |
| Dunloe | Wreck | Max 46 m | Technical (decompression) | Boat (day trip) | Occasional |
| Edward Northcote | Wreck | Max 52 m | Technical (decompression) | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| Eliza Ramsden | Wreck | Max 22 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Weekly |
| Empress of the Sea | Wreck | Max 7 m | Open Water | Boat | Occasional |
| Euro | Wreck | Max 50 m | Technical (decompression) | Boat (day trip) | Occasional |
| ex-HMAS Canberra | Artificial Reef | Max 32 m | Deep/Advanced + experience | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Fawkner | Wreck | Max 46 m | Technical (decompression) | Boat (day trip) | Occasional |
| Foggy Reef | Wall | Max 30 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Weekly |
| George Roper | Wreck | Max 6 m | Open Water | Shore or Boat | Rare |
| Glaneuse | Wreck | Max 6 m | Open Water | Shore | Rare |
| H.C. Piggot | Wreck | Max 48 m | Technical (decompression) | Boat (day trip) | Occasional |
| HMAS Bayonet | Wreck | Max 82 m | Technical (decompression) | Boat (day trip) | Expedition |
| HMAS Goorangai | Wreck | Max 15 m | Open Water | Boat | Occasional |
| Holyhead | Wreck | Max 10 m | Open Water | Shore or Boat | Rare |
| Inner Corsair Wall | Wall | Max 60 m | Technical (decompression) | Boat | Occasional |
| J1 Submarine | Wreck | Max 38 m | Deep/Advanced + experience | Boat (day trip) | Occasional |
| J2 Submarine | Wreck | Max 39 m | Deep/Advanced + experience | Boat (day trip) | Occasional |
| J4 Submarine | Wreck | Max 28 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Weekly |
| J5 Submarine | Wreck | Max 36 m | Deep/Advanced + experience | Boat (day trip) | Weekly |
| John Nimmo | Wreck | Max 68 m | Technical (decompression) | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| Kelp Beds Reef | Reef | Max 23 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Weekly |
| Knawesome Bommie | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 40 m | Deep/Advanced + experience | Boat | Occasional |
| Lady Cheryl | Wreck | Max 14 m | Open Water | Boat | Weekly |
| Leeuwin | Wreck | Max 62 m | Technical (decompression) | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| Light of the Age | Wreck | Max 6 m | Open Water | Shore or Boat | Rare |
| Lonsdale Arches | Reef | Max 18 m | Open Water | Boat | Weekly |
| Lonsdale Bommies | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 18 m | Open Water | Boat | Weekly |
| Lonsdale Rock | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 15 m | Open Water | Boat | Rare |
| Lonsdale Wall | Wall | Max 38 m | Depth-qualified, experienced divers | Boat | Daily |
| Lonsdale Wall Shallow | Wall | Max 25 m | Route-dependent — confirm with operator | Boat | Daily |
| Nepean Bay | Reef | Max 12 m | Open Water | Boat | Weekly |
| Nepean Bay Inner East – Radar | Reef | Max 5 m | Snorkel/Any | Boat | Occasional |
| Nepean Bay Inner West | Reef | Max 5 m | Snorkel/Any | Boat | Occasional |
| Nepean Reef (Time and Campbell wrecks) | Wreck | Max 9 m | Open Water | Boat | Rare |
| Nepean Wall | Wall | Max 65 m | Technical (decompression) | Boat | Weekly |
| North Wall | Wall | Max 60 m | Technical (decompression) | Boat | Occasional |
| North Wall Corner | Wall | Max 66 m | Technical (decompression) | Boat | Occasional |
| Olympic Wall | Wall | Max 18 m | Open Water | Boat | Rare |
| Outer Corsair Wall | Wall | Max 65 m | Technical (decompression) | Boat | Occasional |
| Paradise Wall | Wall | Max 30 m | Route-dependent — confirm with operator | Boat | Weekly |
| Party Point | Wall | Max 45 m | Technical (decompression) | Boat | Daily |
| Petriana | Wreck | Max 6 m | Open Water | Boat | Rare |
| Pioneer | Wreck | Max 50 m | Technical (decompression) | Boat (day trip) | Occasional |
| Point Lonsdale Back Beach | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 10 m | Advanced Open Water | Shore | Rare |
| Point Lonsdale Jetty | Jetty/Pier | Max 12 m | Open Water | Shore | Rare |
| Point Lonsdale Kelp Forest | Kelp Forest | Max 5 m | Open Water | Shore | Rare |
| Point Lonsdale Light | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 5 m | Snorkel/Any | Shore | Occasional |
| Popes Eye | Artificial Reef | Max 14 m | Open Water | Boat | Daily |
| Popes Eye Anchor Farm | Artificial Reef | Max 11 m | Open Water | Boat | Weekly |
| Portsea Back Beach Wall | Wall | Max 26 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Occasional |
| Portsea Cray Reef | Reef | Max 12 m | Open Water | Boat | Occasional |
| Portsea Hole | Wall | Max 33 m | Deep/Advanced + experience | Boat | Daily |
| Portsea Hole Wreck | Wreck | Max 27 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Weekly |
| PS Hygeia | Wreck | Max 62 m | Technical (decompression) | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| Quarantine Station Anchor | Wreck | Max 12 m | Open Water | Boat | Occasional |
| Quarantine Station Reef | Drift | Max 22 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Weekly |
| Rip Bank | Wall | Max 60 m | Technical (decompression) | Boat | Occasional |
| RMS Australia | Wreck | Max 8 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Rare |
| Shortland Bluff Bommie | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 20 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Rare |
| Sierra Nevada | Wreck | Max 7 m | Open Water | Shore or Boat | Rare |
| Sir William McPherson | Wreck | Max 57 m | Technical (decompression) | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| Sponge Garden Drift | Drift | Max 20 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Weekly |
| Spot G | Wall | Max 40 m | Deep/Advanced + experience | Boat | Occasional |
| SS Alert | Wreck | Max 75 m | Technical (decompression) | Boat (day trip) | Expedition |
| SS Buninyong | Wreck | Max 54 m | Technical (decompression) | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| SS Cheviot | Wreck | Max 7 m | Open Water | Boat | Rare |
| SS Coogee | Wreck | Max 35 m | Deep/Advanced + experience | Boat (day trip) | Weekly |
| SS Courier | Wreck | Max 42 m | Technical (decompression) | Boat (day trip) | Occasional |
| SS Malaita | Wreck | Max 65 m | Technical (decompression) | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| SS Milora | Wreck | Max 43 m | Technical (decompression) | Boat (day trip) | Occasional |
| SS Rotomahana | Wreck | Max 39 m | Deep/Advanced + experience | Boat (day trip) | Occasional |
| Sweep Reef | Reef | Max 9 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Rare |
| The Abyss | Wall | Max 40 m | Deep/Advanced + experience | Boat | Occasional |
| The Cave (Lonsdale Wall) | Wall | Max 60 m | Technical (decompression) | Boat | Occasional |
| The Far Side | Wall | Max 60 m | Technical (decompression) | Boat | Occasional |
| The Links | Wall | Max 60 m | Technical (decompression) | Boat | Occasional |
| The Mall | Wall | Max 45 m | Technical (decompression) | Boat | Weekly |
| The Other Playground | Wall | Max 50 m | Technical (decompression) | Boat | Rare |
| The Playground | Wall | Max 50 m | Technical (decompression) | Boat | Occasional |
| The Swim Through | Wall | Max 30 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Weekly |
| Toms Cave | Wall | Max 30 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Weekly |
| Trimix Corner / Entrance Deep | Wall | Max 103 m | Technical (decompression) | Boat | Rare |
| Twin Bommies | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 18 m | Open Water | Boat | Weekly |
| VHB 53 | Wreck | Max 57 m | Technical (decompression) | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| VHB 54 | Wreck | Max 54 m | Technical (decompression) | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| Victorian | Wreck | Max 45 m | Technical (decompression) | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| Wareatea | Wreck | Max 48 m | Technical (decompression) | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| Werfa | Wreck | Max 65 m | Technical (decompression) | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| White Pine | Wreck | Max 57 m | Technical (decompression) | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| William Salthouse | Wreck | Max 12 m | Open Water | Boat | Rare |
| Wills | Wreck | Max 55 m | Technical (decompression) | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
Port Phillip Heads diving FAQ
How do I get to the dive sites in Port Phillip Heads?
Charters from Queenscliff, Portsea and Sorrento, timed to the slack. Ninety minutes from Melbourne.
When is the best time to dive Port Phillip Heads?
Year-round on slack water; February to May for the warmest water and best visibility. Advanced certification and recent cold-water experience are the norm.
How many dive sites are there in Port Phillip Heads?
118 documented sites, including 63 wrecks and 1 that can be dived independently from the shore. The deepest reaches 103 m.
Are there beginner dive sites in Port Phillip Heads?
Yes, 11 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 Port Phillip Heads?
Typically 17-20 °C in summer and 11-14 °C in winter. Most divers wear 7 mm semi-dry with hood and gloves, or drysuit; drysuit strongly preferred May–November.
Which dive centres operate in Port Phillip Heads?
The Scuba Doctor, Diveline Scuba Centre, Aquability, Bay City Scuba, Scuba Culture, Scubabo Dive Victoria (Queenscliff) and others are recorded as running sites in Port Phillip Heads. Each site page lists the operators known to go there.
Where is the nearest recompression chamber to Port Phillip Heads?
The Alfred Hospital hyperbaric unit (Melbourne). In an emergency call 000, then DAN Asia-Pacific on 1800 088 200.