Technical Tip

Stainless does not mean Stainproof

A common misconception among divers is that stainless steel does not corrode at all. There are various types of stainless steel, each with different corrosion properties, that make a specific grade more or less suited to a particular application. Because there is no perfect stainless steel, the selection of the grade is often a compromise between corrosion resistance and malleability. Stainless grades selected because they hold a sharp cutting edge will corrode relatively fast compared to other grades. The most corrosion resistant grades are not usually a good choice for bolt snaps and hand tools because depending on the use application they may not offer the best wear resistance or may be too brittle.

Stainless does not mean Stainproof and all diving products made of stainless steel must receive some basic care to help minimize corrosion. Rinse any stainless steel components in dive equipment with fresh water after diving or when otherwise in contact with salt water, allow them to dry and do not store them in damp or moist environments. Make sure any storage sheath or pouch is also rinsed and allowed to dry before returning the stainless item to the pouch. When rinsing bolt snaps, be sure to work the bolt action several times to eject any saltwater trapped in the slider and spring mechanism. In particular, avoid storing stainless steel near or in contact with other metals having strongly dissimilar electropotentials, especially aluminium, such that moisture can induce galvanic corrosion. In cases of galvanic corrosion where the stainless item is in close proximity to some types of metals, rust or other colour stains will electrolytically transfer to the surface of the stainless item.

An invisible film forms on the surface of stainless steel when it's in contact with oxygen. This allows it to withstand damage from corrosives including many acids, bases, and detergents, as well as salt water. However, depending on envirionmental conditions you may notice some surface 'stains' that can form on various stainless items. In general these are cosmetic in nature and we recommend you allow the cosmetic stains to remain when practical. Using an abrasive is more likely to remove the invisible corrosion resistant film that forms on stainless, allowing corrosion to spread and ultimately making the corrosion worse.

Properties of Stainless Steel

Hardness - As hardness increases, metals become more wear resistant but they may be less malleable. Some types of stainless steel harden by cold working, and others can be heat treated. The 300 series hardens by cold working, many in the 400 series can be hardened by heat treating.

Formability - Stainless steel is generally formable and bendable, but types that harden by cold working can require more force to bend than carbon steel.

Machinability - During machining, stainless steel can become gummy and stick to cutting tools, making it typically more difficult to machine than steel.

Weldability - Take care to clean stainless steel before and after welding operations. Contaminants, such as lubricants and particles from grinding tools, will reduce corrosion resistance at welded points.

Finish - Stainless steel does not always have a shiny finish. In fact, stainless steel is available in a number of finishes, ranging from an unpolished, dull surface to a reflective mirror-like shine.

Norman Bay, South

Reef Dive | Shore access

Norman Bay | © Phil Watson

Depth: 5 m (16 ft) to 18 m (59 ft)

Level: Open Water and beyond.

Norman Bay, South (aka Norman Point, North) is an interesting diving and snorkelling dive located near Tidal River, at the southern end of Norman Bay, on the northern side of Norman Point, and the western side of Wilsons Promontory. This dive site is suitable for both snorkelling from the shore and scuba diving from a dive boat. It has boulders sloping down to a sandy bottom at a depth of 18 metres.

Norman Point separates Norman Bay from Little Oberon Bay and lies in the Wilson Promontory Marine National Park. Norman Point and Norman Bay were named after Captain William Norman, who brought Sir Charles Hotham to Melbourne in his ship Queen of the South in 1854.

Diving and Snorkelling at Norman Bay, South

For a shore entry you walk from Tidal River to the south-eastern end of Norman Bay. Head out into the water from the Norman Bay Beach staying parallel to the rocks as you head towards Norman Point. It's a long walk in full scuba gear from the nearest car access point, so for scuba diving a dive boat entry is better.

This dive is about exploring the northern side of Norman Point. Underwater the rocks form many small caves and hollows before reaching sand a short distance from the shore. Be aware that there can be strong surge and currents away from the shoreline, especially at the tip of Norman Point.

There is plenty of fish life as well as small marine invertebrates.

Ideal Conditions: Norman Bay, South is best dived with calm seas, no swell and no wind. Light offshore north-easterly to south-easterly winds may be acceptable. Avoid diving with moderate to strong onshore south-westerly to north-westerly winds. Because of the sometimes strong currents, Norman Bay, South is best dived at slack water. See WillyWeather (Norman Point) as a guide for the tide times and the height of the tide.

Bass Strait Warning: Always keep an eye on sea conditions throughout any shore or boat dive in Bass Strait on Victoria's coastline. Please read the warnings on the web page diving-in-bass-strait before diving or snorkelling this site.

Wilsons Promontory Marine National Park

This site lies in Wilsons Promontory Marine National Park, Victoria's largest marine sanctuary. There is a huge diversity of marine life within the waters at the Prom. Brilliantly coloured fish are present such as the Red Velvetfish, Eastern Blue Groper and Wrasse as well as Leafy Seadragons and schools of Barber Perch. Intertidal molluscs such as limpets and snails, as well as anemones, brittlestars and seastars, are also common within the waters.

Divers will experience fascinating sponge gardens which consist of a techni-coloured assemblage of sponges, sea tulips, sea whips, lace corals and seafans. Octopus emerge at night whilst sharks and rays roam the sandy areas.

The offshore islands support many colonies of fur seals and oceanic birds such as Little Penguins, Fairy Prions, Silver Gulls and Pacific Gulls.

You are not permitted to carry a spear gun while snorkelling or scuba diving in Wilsons Promontory Marine National Park.

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.

Norman Bay, South Location Map

Latitude: 39° 2.788′ S (39.046467° S / 39° 2′ 47.28″ S)
Longitude: 146° 19.251′ E (146.320858° E / 146° 19′ 15.09″ E)
Datum: WGS84 | Google Map | Get directions
Added: 2019-03-14 11:36:50 GMT, Last updated: 2022-04-23 19:45:21 GMT
Source: Google Earth
Nearest Neighbour: Norman Point, South, 744 m, bearing 168°, SSE
Wilsons Promontory Marine National Park..
Depth: 5 to 18 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.