Hookah Dive System Types

There are two types of hookah dive systems: Dynamic and Static. A Dynamic system uses an air compressor to deliver air at the correct pressure. It has a holding or air reserve tank that provides constant pressure. As the air leaves the tank, more air is added to maintain the pressure. The compressor can be fixed or floating, and petrol or electric. A Static system uses a cylinder of compressed gas (often a scuba tank) as the air source.

A fixed compressor is placed on a dock or on a boat while in use. Floating means that the air source is on a floating platform that the diver pulls along with them.

Petrol vs Electric Hookah Dive Systems

Hookah systems are available in both petrol and electric-powered versions. Petrol systems typically power a higher output compressor, allowing one or two divers to dive and breathe easily. Most commercial hookah diving systems are petrol systems. Petrol systems do require more maintenance than electric versions. They're also a bit louder.

The more 'green' electric systems require less maintenance than petrol systems. They can be recharged on the boat, are quiet, easy to start and less prone to corrosion.

Electric units are more suited to families and fun, plus boat owners wanting to do some underwater maintenance at shallow depths. The petrol units are better suited for cray (lobster) and abalone hunting, plus commercial diving applications.

Please read Introduction to Hookah Diving for more information about things you need to consider with a hookah diving setup.

Frankston Pier

Pier Dive | Shore access

Frankston Pier
© Mornington Peninsula
Regional Tourism

Depth: 3 m (9.84 ft) to 6 m (20 ft)

Level: Open Water and beyond.

Frankston Pier runs 220 metres in a north-westerly direction out into Port Phillip waters from the Mornington Peninsula. Originally built closer to the base of Oliver's Hill in 1857, the pier was constructed at its current site and extended into deeper waters in 1863. It makes for a pleasant scuba diving and snorkelling site.

There's quite a bit of marine growth, both weed and sponges. Some natural and not so natural reef is common under Frankston Pier like trolleys, tyres and random bits and pieces. None the less this creates homes for some globefish, crabs, rays, seahorses, eleven arm starfish and sea biscuits.

Frankston Pier

You'll find the most marine life if you stay under or very close to Frankston Pier. Not a huge amount of fish life but interesting and worth doing still. Nice one for on the way home from the Mornington Peninsula, or something a little closer to the city.

Don't forget to check out the artificial reefs about 40 metres seaward from the end of Frankston Pier. It's home to a wide variety of fish. As they are more than 30 metres away from the pier, you can go spearfishing on them.

Public boat berthing is available on Frankston Pier for up to 48 hours at a time (vessels should be attended). Other restrictions are detailed on Parks Victoria signs.

Location: Frankston
MELWAY Ref: Page 100A A8

Ideal Conditions:
Easterly winds and high tide.

See WillyWeather (Frankston) as a guide for the tide times and the height of the tide.

Entry/Exit:
Entry points could be either lower landing, but if your taking the first lower landing option be prepared for some shallow depths initially (the possibility of crawling over sandbanks). You may also have to do a short snorkel before you get some depth.

Parking: Plenty of car parking off Nepean Highway, though a walk is involved to get to the entrance to the pier. There is a small cafe close by and plenty a small drive away! Toilet blocks are around.

Safety First: There can be a lot of boat traffic around particularly in summer so be sure to take a float and dive flag. A small knife to cut line is always a good idea too and there are usually fishermen around.

Frankston Pier is just a 45-minute drive from The Scuba Doctor Dive Shop. Please drop in and catch up with us before and/or after your dive.

Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) Shore Based Reefs in Port Phillip

The artificial Port Phillip Shore Reefs were installed with the aim of improving recreational fishing opportunities for shore based anglers. The reefs are in a water depth of between 3 to 4.5 metres.

The shore based artificial reefs are:

Altona Pier — Artificial reef 40 to 65 metres seaward from the end of Altona Pier.
Frankston Pier — Articial reef approximately 40 metres seaward from the end of Frankston Pier.
Portarlington Pier — Artificial reef 40 to 70 metres seaward of Portarlington Pier's rock wall section.

What Do The Reefs Look Like?

Each reef consists of 99 hollow dome shaped reef modules of different sizes arranged in three reef complexes of 33 reef modules each. The reef modules range between 170 and 340 kg in weight and 50 to 60 cm height, and have numerous external openings to allow movement of currents and fish through the modules.

See also, VFA: Shore Based Reefs.

Spearfishing is illegal within 30 metres of any pier or jetty and in Marine National Parks. See Spearfishing Laws.

Boon Wurrung / Bunurong country

Traditional Owners — This dive site is in the traditional Country of the Boon Wurrung / Bunurong people of the Kulin Nation. This truly ancient Country includes parts of Port Phillip, from the Werribee River in the north-west, down to Wilson's Promontory in the south-east, including the Mornington Peninsula, French Island and Phillip Island, plus Western Port. We wish to acknowledge the Boon Wurrung as Traditional Owners. We pay respect to their Ancestors and their Elders, past, present and emerging. We acknowledge Bunjil the Creator Spirit of this beautiful land, who travels as an eagle, and Waarn, who protects the waterways and travels as a crow, and thank them for continuing to watch over this Country today and beyond.

Frankston Pier Location Map

Latitude: 38° 8.730′ S (38.145497° S / 38° 8′ 43.79″ S)
Longitude: 145° 6.778′ E (145.112969° E / 145° 6′ 46.69″ E)
Datum: WGS84 | Google Map | Get directions
Added: 2012-07-22 09:00:00 GMT, Last updated: 2022-03-22 15:14:22 GMT
Source: Google Earth
Nearest Neighbour: Frankston Reef, Olivers Hill, 1,330 m, bearing 211°, SSW
Frankston, Mornington Peninsula, Port Phillip.
Depth: 3 to 6 m.

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DISCLAIMER: No claim is made by The Scuba Doctor as to the accuracy of the dive site coordinates listed here. Should anyone decide to use these GPS marks to locate and dive on a site, they do so entirely at their own risk. Always verify against other sources.

The marks come from numerous sources including commercial operators, independent dive clubs, reference works, and active divers. Some are known to be accurate, while others may not be. Some GPS marks may even have come from maps using the AGD66 datum, and thus may need be converted to the WGS84 datum. To distinguish between the possible accuracy of the dive site marks, we've tried to give each mark a source of GPS, Google Earth, or unknown.