Dive Site Selection

Considerations for dive site selection near Melbourne

The Scuba Doctor uses these resources to plan our dives near Melbourne:

• Weather, Tides, Conditions etc.
• Melbourne Web Cams
• Melbourne Dive Sites
• Melbourne Dive Site GPS Marks
• Diving in Melbourne Currents
• Diving the Back Beaches

If boat diving you should be aware of the advice and guidance in the Harbour Master's Directions and Port Information Guide so as to be able to plan dives in accordance with the regulations and practices that govern vessel operations within the port waters of the Port of Melbourne.

Considerations for Melbourne Dive Site Selection

Melbourne Wind Direction and Strength

• Low Northerly Winds of 5-10 knots will make snorkelling both inside the bay and out pleasurable.
• High Northerly Winds exceeding 15 knots will usually cause the bay to be quite rough.
• Southerly Winds of up to 15-20 knots won't affect the bay too badly, but will generate quite a large swell outside the heads and on the back beaches.

Melbourne Tides and Tidal Streams/Flows

• Tides and Tidal Streams/Flows are strongest near Port Phillip Heads while the top (Melbourne) end of the bay is less prone to strong currents.
• Tidal Currents are extremely strong near bay openings (Flinders, Point Nepean and Point Lonsdale) and are best dived at slack water (the period in which there is little to no tidal activity). See Diving in Melbourne Currents.
• Back Beaches (or the Surf Beaches) are prone to rip currents where the surface water will be turbid, foamy, discoloured and generally moving out seaward. See Diving the Back Beaches.
• Tide times can be checked online, or with your local dive shop. See Weather, Tides, Conditions etc..

Melbourne Diving Conditions Through The Year

• November–March: (Summer) Has the warmest waters, but visibility may be compromised with plankton growth.
• April–July: Has the best visibility due to low plankton growth, but the water temperature also drops considerably.
• August–October: You may have challenging weather conditions above water, but good and relatively clear diving conditions below. Rains wash out dirt and materials into Port Phillip dive sites which affects visibility. It usually take about 2 days to return to previous visibility levels.

Melbourne is a world class temperate water scuba diving destination. Water temperatures typically peak in the range 16�C to 20�C (61�F to 68�F) on around the middle of February. They are at their coldest on about the middle of August, in the range 10�C to 14�C (50�F to 57�F). Most local divers use a 7 mm full-length wetsuit in summer, adding a hood and gloves plus extra layers of warmth underneath their wetsuit in winter. Some local divers switch to using a drysuit in winter. While the water is colder in winter, the visibility is typically better, which is why so many people dive in Victoria all year round.

If the dive site conditions cause any doubt, use your best judgement and avoid diving in areas that are suspect. You can always come back another day.