 Dive Sites |
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Discover Scuba Divers at
Port Fairy's South Beach
Lighthouse reef |
Port Fairy
There are several good dive sites located in and around Port Fairy, each with spectacular underwater views. You can dive the Lighthouse Reef, Mills Reef, the 'Thistle' wreck site or our fabulous South Beach/Pea Soup Bay. South Beach/Pea Soup is a great dive site for beginners or for divers who have been inactive for a prolonged period of time; only 3-5 metres deep on average, and protected by an outer reef, it offers an abundance of kelp forests, several sea grass beds abundant with fish, the occasional Eagle ray or Australian fur seal and not forgetting the unique bottle cemetery. Bottles dating back to as early as 1912 have been found here. Our 'Discover Scuba' program is ideal for school groups or people looking for something different to do this Summer and we run this program out of this protected Bay.
Mills Reef is approximately 10-14 metres deep and boat access is required. It will take about 10 minutes by boat to reach this dive site and conditions will dictate where to drop off divers. You must be a certified Open Water Diver or higher to dive here. Prone to strong currents and winds so planning your dive is paramount. Also accessible by boat is the Lighthouse Reef behind Griffith Island, this is approximately 8-10 metres deep and you will see many fish and rays here. When mooring boats at dive sites please be considerate of our underwater environment and take extra care. Click here to access GPS coordinates for wreck/dive sites along our Coast.
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Ewen Ponds
Ewen Ponds is located 10 kilometres east of Port MacDonnell and access is via a dirt road which is well sign posted. Ewen Ponds is a series of 3 shallow basin shaped ponds approximately 10 metres deep fed continuously by fresh water springs; each pond connected by a shallow channel. For Open water divers or snorkellers without cave qualifications Ewen Ponds beckons. The Ponds can be dived all year round however the best diving is on a sunny day with no wind and it is recommended to wear a thick protective suit as the water temperature is a chilly 10-15 degrees.
The highlight of the Ponds is the visibility! - It is not uncommon to be able to see from one side of the pond to the other - approximately 80 metres. There is a slight current that runs through the ponds that will help carry you through the shallow channels that connect the ponds together. The narrow channels are located at the southern end of each pond. Drifting through the ponds you will see aquatic weeds, plants and the rare Ewen's pygmy perch. Entry is via a pontoon with a ladder in Pond 1 and exit is via a ladder to a pontoon in Pond 3. It is suggested that you get there early to avoid the visibility being compromised by other divers who may stir up the bottom.
You can only dive the Ponds from pond 1 to pond 3; you cannot come back upstream! After exiting at Pond 3 there is a short walk back to the car park via a dirt walking track. In summer, please be careful to watch your step when walking back to the car park as there could be the odd red belly brown snake or two sunbaking on the track and they are venomous. Click here to access GPS coordinates for wreck/dive sites along our Coast.
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Stingray Bay
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Warrnambool
Well known for its sheltered pristine beaches and perfectly moderate climate, Warrnambool is a wonderland for certified Scuba Divers who are searching for the ultimate underwater adventure. Some of the popular diving sites that can be found in Warrnambool are Eagle Rock, Helen's Rock, Penguin and Middle Islands, Pickering Point, Stingray Bay, the Banks, the La Bella Wreck and Thunder Point.
Thunder Point is only suitable for experienced divers; its depth ranges from 5 to 150 metres from shore to off shore and it has a very rough sea terrain. Thunder Point should only be explored during favourable diving conditions. Just west of Thunder Point is Eagle Rock, a diving site popular for having the roughest sea terrain in the vicinity and where you will find marvellous underwater flora and fauna. Seasoned Scuba Divers appreciate the magnificent sea life that can be found at Penguin and Middle Islands - an excellent shore diving experience.
For divers who like to explore wrecks, the La Bella will not disappoint, this wreck site features a cargo ship that sunk in 1905 and is 10-12 metres below the surface. Or for divers, who prefer photo opportunities, try Helen's Rock. Helen's Rock is approximately 1km out to sea and lies at a depth of 20 metres but is best dived during good conditions. Another exceptional underwater photo location is Stingray Bay. This is a secluded bay with a depth of between 5-12 metres and carries an interesting assortment of fishes with several kelp forests. Click here to access GPS coordinates for wreck/dive sites along our Coast.
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Lee Breakwater
Leafy Sea Dragon |
Portland
One of the many secrets of Portland is its great diving experience. Explore the fascinating caves and colourful sponge gardens, guide your way around the beautiful kelp forests and be mesmerised with wall drops of up to 70 metres. Enjoy the artificial shipwrecks of Saxon and Emily, deliberately sunk to form an artificial reef or enjoy one of the many other great diving sites such as, Bridgewater Bay, Nunn's Bay, Southwest Bay, Lee Breakwater, Lighthouse Reef or Minerva Reef.
Lee Breakwater is a great dive for Open Water beginners as it is easy to orientate oneself with the wall. There are over 50 different species of fish including Morwongs, Sweep, Nudibranchs, Moonlighters and it is home to the amazing leafy sea dragons. A couple of times a year you can see the angel sharks in the sand at the bottom. Lee Breakwater is 1-14 metres deep. Entry is off the Breakwater wall over the rocks and care should be taken to avoid damage to equipment and yourself. Click here to access GPS coordinates for wreck/dive sites along our Coast. |
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