Phillip Island Dive Sites

TSS GEORGE KERMODE (max 23m) Advanced Open Water / Wreck 

Scuttled in 1976, approximately 1 nautical mile south of Cunningham Bay, the TSS George Kermode was a twin-screwed steam powered bucket dredge.  She now lies upside down on the sea bed, and is largely intact, rising eight metres off the bottom at the stern. The ship is full of heavy machinery and massive gears, and the huge dredge buckets are littered over the sea floor at the point of the bow. A large variety of fish life swarm around the wreck, particularly the mid section, and Snapper and Yellowtail Kingfish are not an uncommon site.

 

For those suitably qualified, the George Kermode offers some excellent penetration, with accessible points of interest including the 2 massive boilers, the chain lockers and a large section of the bow.

(Note: Minimum AOW qualification and experience requirements apply)

  

An absolutely awe inspiring dive site. The Pinnacles consists of two vertical spires of rock rising from the depths to within 8 metres of the surface. Covered with sponges, zoanthids, gorgonian fans and a variety of soft corals, the pinnacles are surrounded by schools of fish, and often visited by large pelagics. It is definitely one of Victoria's premier dive sites.

  

This is a site that has a little something for everyone. Beginning where the base of a high granite cliff meets the sandy bottom, the depth ranges from 6m down to a maximum of 19m over the course of about two hundred metres. Large boulders covered in growth give way to large channels in the deeper section. This site is like a fish highway, and on any given day you might come across rays, Draughtboard and Port Jackson sharks, schools of Australian Salmon, numerous types of Leatherjacket, as well as a couple of resident Weedy Sea Dragons. A great site because you never know what you are going to find!

  

GULL ISLAND (max 8m) Open Water  

A relaxing dive site with plenty to look at, Gull Island is a large rocky outcrop situated in a sheltered bay. Perfect for when the Sou' Westers are howling, the site has plenty of nooks and crannies to explore, and a nice wall section covered with soft corals. Wrasse, leatherjackets and morwong all call this rock home, and if you look close, you might also find a few juvenile crayfish, Port Jackson sharks asleep in a hole, and a large blue Conger Eel.

  

When the swell is small, this is a good site to look for critters. A long section of reef shaped like two buses end to end, the “bus stop” has vertical walls ranging from four to six metres high with several large undercuts.

  

A rugged bommie that protrudes several metres above the surface, Budgie's has a ledge at 6m which drops down a sheer wall to 22m. An excellent dive when the swell is down. Feel free to ask the crew just how this site got its name!!!

  

A large bay littered with all sizes of round granite boulders, that provide hiding places for a variety of marine life.

  

TWO CAVE BAY (max 16m) Open Water  

A popular dive site, Two Cave Bay offers some spectacular topography both above and below the water. With a mainly rocky bottom covered in kelp, the best diving is around the perimeter of the bay, with some magnificent rock formations and deep channels carved by the pounding waves.

  

Pyramid Rock is a well known landmark and is actually surrounded by several good dive sites, offering steep walls, boulders, ledges, and a number of bommies further out .

 

The WHITE GATES (max 12m) Open Water  

The White Gates is a site that reminds you how stunning the underwater world can be. The location of this site makes it hard to get onto as the swell needs to be dead flat. It consists of a shallow reef which winds its way along the base of a steep cliff. It leads down to a swim-through created by a HUGE boulder which bridges across a section of the reef, about 10 metres deep.

 

Looking into the swim-through, all you see is a small circle of light on the other end. It's quite tight, but you emerge on the other side into a spectacular chasm with shear smooth granite walls rising almost to the surface. A site that must be dived when you get the chance!

 

These are just a few of the dozens of superb dive sites we visit - watch this space as we will be adding to the list in the near future.

 

 

LOCATION: Flinders back beach near the golf course (VIC)

DIVER RATING: Open Water    

MAX DEPTH: 5 Metres AVG DEPTH: 3 Metres

AVERAGE VIZ: 15 Metres ACCESS VIA: SHORE

 

This is an area off the back beach at Flinders. You take a right instead of driving down to the jetty. Drive along the golf course until you see parking areas and the toilet block. From this high vantage point you can look out and see the dive site.

 

There is a large reef section starting quite close to shore. There is a sandy passage out to the main reef area and the whole thing forms a T shape if you use your imagination.  We waded out along the passage until it was deep enough to dive and swam out to the T part turning left. The other choice is to turn right but left is recommended, as you'll see.

 

Along this section of the reef you will see heaps of fish, wrasse, scalyfin, bullseyes, toadfish, marblefish and many more. We have encountered a large curious ray without a sting in this area too. But interestingly if you look in the right spot there is a lovely old anchor out on this left hand part of the reef. It is a shallow but very pleasant dive.

 

The return trip can be back along the edge of the reef making navigation easy, or straight out over the seagrass heading back to shore. Either way you may fnd some interesting critters to look at.  Be careful though. It is a back beach dive and conditions can be quite unpredictable. We have only dived it at low tide, turning to a flood and on days with no wind and no swell. If conditions are at all questionable go dive somewhere else.  Having dived this reef a couple of times, we would recommend it as a really interesting dive. Definitely worth a look.

J1 or New Deep Sub - Depth: 38 metres
Diverswho were searching for the J4 with their echo sounder set on the wrongscale discovered this Submarine shortly after the J4. Also known as the"New Deep Sub" or the "Winged Sub", she sits almost on her keel on thesandy bottom. Due to the fine sand in the area, she is prone tosilting. The J1 runs east-west, with her bow facing east. She pointstoward the surface and divers can actually swim under this section.Penetration is possible although very hazardous. Fine silt and tightdoorways add to the danger. Again, guide lines and good torches areneeded and twin independent or manifold scuba cylinders are highlyrecommended for this dive.

 

J2 or Broken Sub -Depth: 39 metres
Thisis the deepest of all the J Class Submarines, lying in 39metres ofwater. She is commonly referred to as the "Broken Sub". She lies on herkeel and is broken in two places and the section behind her conningtower has collapsed, making it the most hazardous of all the J ClassSubmarines to dive. She is subject to fine silting and penetration isnot recommended. The J2 supports prolific fish life and masses ofbrilliantly coloured benthic invertebrates. Due to her location, whichis subject to shipping traffic, she is rarely dived.

 

J3 - Depth: 6 metres
Actuallysitting on top of an old timber wreck called the SF Hersey, the J3 isin very shallow water. Most of the top deck lies above water and is aninteresting snorkel. Underwater, the old timbers of the SF Hersey inconjunction with the bow and stern of the submarine make for anexcellent dive or snorkel. This site is subject to strong currents, andis subsequently dived on slack water only. For a taste of wreck diving,the J3 is a fantastic appetizer.

 

J4 or 26m Sub - Depth: 26 metres
ThisSubmarine was discovered in 1984. Brass fittings and other artifactsgives divers a chance to see what it was like to be a sub-mariner. TheJ4 lies on her keel running north-south. Her bow section, which hasbroken away from the main body, lies facing south, while her sternfaces north.

 

The broken bow section of the submarine contains fourtorpedo tubes, which can be easily seen by using a torch andpositioning yourself between the bow and the main body. This is themost popular of the J Class Submarines due to its relatively shallowdepth, which enables good bottom times. This site is frequently used asa training ground for those on Wreck Diver courses.

 

J5 or Intact Sub - Depth: 36 metres
Thisunbroken submarine sits on her keel and leans slightly on her starboardside and runs east-west. Her bow faces east while her stern west.Penetration is possible however the stern section and the bow, whichcontains the torpedo tubes, is very tight and silting is a problem -reels and torches are highly recommended. On the stern of the J5,divers can admire the large rudder and drive shafts. Swimming throughthe rudder is easy. This is one of the most photographed of thesubmarines due to the yellow Zoanthids on the conning tower. To diveand or penetrate the J5, the proper certifications are required to beshown, and the use of twin independent or manifold scuba cylinders ishighly recommended.

 

Eliza Ramsden - Depth: 21 metres
TheEliza Ramsden was a three masted iron barque built in Clyde, Scotlandin 1874. She was around 45 metres in length, 8 metres wide and drew 4metres. During the night of July 1875, she struck Corsair Rock whileleaving the Heads for Newcastle. In an attempt to return to Melbourne,she sank in the South Channel where she sits upright on her keel. Overthe years the Ramsden has been blasted to minimize the hazard shecreated to shipping, but despite all this, she still presents anexcellent dive. Her bow, in particular, coming up from 21to 14 metresis the most popular section providing photographers with a wide arrayof marine life.

 

HMAS Goorangai - Depth: 16 metres
In1940, while returning to Portsea from Queenscliff, the minesweeperGoorangai was cut in two by the Duntroon. All 24 lives were lost andthe Goorangai is now a war grave. Only seven bodies were everrecovered. Permits are required to dive on the Goorangai which areprovided by the Charter. A great way to finish a days diving.

 

SS Coogee - Depth: 34 metres
TheCoogee was a bay steamer used in Port Phillip Bay until it was strippedand scuttled in 1927 just outside the Port Phillip Heads. The wreck nowlies in 34metres of water and is abundant with marine life and stillquite intact. The Coogee is a fantastic photographic dive.

 

SS Courier - Depth: 40 metres
TheSS Courier was a 728 tonne steel bay steamer originally designed as anaval dispatch vessel. She was a fast steamer and was regarded as thequickest of her day. She was scuttled in 1928 and found her waterygrave at 40 metres below. She lies on her keel, although she has threemajor sections. Her bow faces north and her stern to the south. Thestern section has a small penetration area (only if the conditions areright).

 

In this section there are some original tiles from the 1stClass smoking area on the floor that can be easily seen with a torch.The boilers are a large part of the wreck today, and are worth swimmingaround. Because of the depth, only a short bottom time is permitted soplan your dives to ensure you see everything over a few dives (youwon't see it all in one dive). An excellent dive, you won't regret it.Twin independent or manifold cylinders are highly recommended.

 

SS Gambier - Depth: 12 metres
TheSS Gambier was sunk in 1891 near Pope's Eye in the West Channel aftercolliding with the SS Easby. Because of the threat to shipping, theowners of the SS Gambier were ordered to remove her from the WestChannel. This was done with explosives. Subsequently, this dive siteoffers scattered wreckage over a sandy bottom. After you've divedeverything else in the Bay try this one, you'll love the change.

 

SS Milora - Depth: 45 metres
TheSS Milora was a 3347 tonne coal transport ship, which was built in1893. She was on route from Newcastle to Melbourne when she ran ashorenear Queenscliff. Due to the expense of the repairs that were needed,she was sold off as scrap and scuttled in 1935. She is the deepest ofall the wrecks in the Ships Graveyard outside Port Phillip Heads. TheSS Milora lies north/west - south/east, with her bow facing north/west.Her hull is still solid, so this dive is only for those who areexperienced with Melbourne diving. The conditions can change regularlywith little warning. This dive should be conducted with independent ormanifold twin cylinders.

 

SS Rotomahana - Depth: 38 metres
TheSS Rotomahana was a 1777 tonne clipper-bow steamer built in 1879. Shewas generally a passenger steamer and small cargo transport between NewZealand and Melbourne. She travelled this route for five years and wasthen transferred to the Launceston-Melbourne route. She was scuttled in1925, and over the years in her watery grave, she has broken down quiteconsiderably leaving only her boilers standing between the rubble. Twinindependent or manifold cylinders are highly recommended.

 

The Hurricane - Depth: 12 metres
TheHurricane was built in Clyde Scotland in 1853. She was an iron shipmeasuring 70 metres in length and weighing 1198 tones. She sank in1869, after hitting Corsair Rock while passing through Port PhilipHeads. She continued up the South Channel, while taking in water, andcame to rest off the coast of Rosebud. Although there is not much ofthe Hurricane left, her remains have provided an artificial reef for anabundance of fish life. Dive the Hurricane on an Ebbing tide and makesure you take your catch bag - this is one of the largest scallop areasin the bay. You're guaranteed a good feed.

 

William Salthouse - Depth: 12 metres
This251 barque (originally a brig) was built in 1824 and was 28 metres inlength, 8 metres wide and had a draft of 5 metres. On the maiden voyageto Melbourne from Canada in 1841, the William Salthouse came to griefat the entrance to Port Phillip Bay. After striking a reef, it sunk inthe West Channel in about 12 meters of water. Carrying cargo at thetime, the Salthouse makes for an interesting dive. Special permits arerequired which are supplied by the boat charter. Care must be takenbecause this is the oldest wreck in Port Phillip Bay.