Diving in Bass Strait

Guide to diving in Bass Strait on Victoria's coastline

If you intend to go diving, snorkelling or boating in Bass Strait you must be appropriately trained and qualified. Always analyse the weather forecasts and make your own mind up about what you consider to be safe conditions.

Note: The western border of Bass Strait is a line from Cape Otway to King Island. The Victorian coastline to the west of Cape Otway faces into the Southern Ocean.

Bass Strait Warning

We recommend you don't go diving in Bass Strait if any of the following conditions are likely to occur within a 24 hour period:

A Strong Wind Warning (or above - Gale, Storm, Hurricane) has been issued by the Bureau of Meteorology for Port Phillip and/or Bass Strait (Central Coast);
Wind strength exceeding 20 kn (37 kpm) from the direction: NW, NNW, N, W, NE, NNE;
Wind strength exceeding 15 kn (28 kpm) from the direction: SW, SSW, S;
Wind strength exceeding 10 kn (19 kpm) from the direction: SE, SSE, E;
Swell Height exceeding 2 metres (6.56 feet);
Any swell exceeding 1 metre (3.28 feet) with a period less than 5 seconds;
A weather change is due which may cause any of the above conditions to occur.

At some shore dive sites on the Victorian coast even the above conditions could be too extreme. Weak or average swimmers should not consider diving at most Bass Strait shore dive sites. Keep a watch out for swells and bad weather coming in. At some shore dive sites this may require surfacing periodically throughout your dive. When doing a shore dive in Bass Strait you are diving on the Great Southern Reef.

Scuba diving is an inherently dangerous activity and appropriate training and experience in scuba equipment, decompression diving, deep diving, mixed gas diving and wreck penetration diving are all mandatory skills for safely diving the shipwrecks of Bass Strait.

Stay Safe

If you are not experienced with diving in Bass Strait, make sure you go with an experienced local dive guide or dive buddy who can read the conditions and advise you accordingly. Most of all, stay safe and enjoy your Bass Strait diving.

We accept no responsibility or liability for the accidental or intentional misuse of information portrayed on this website, or misadventure resulting from its use.