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.

Triangle Reef, Ricketts Point

Shore Dive | Shore access

Ricketts Point
© Visit Victoria

Depth: 1 m (3.28 ft) to 8 m (26 ft)

Level: Open Water and beyond.

Triangle Reef (aka South Triangle Reef) at Ricketts Point, is a popular diving and snorkelling site suited to beginners and night diving enthusiasts. It's located within the 115 hectare Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary in north-eastern Port Phillip. The Triangle Reef, Ricketts Point dive site faces south-west into Watkins Bay, located between Middle Reef to the west, and Table Rock Point to the east.

Adults can wander out across the mostly exposed reef to the point and monitor younger snorkellers.

Diving and Snorkelling at Triangle Reef, Ricketts Point

Triangle Reef, Ricketts Point
© Phil Watson

Triangle Reef is a wide shallow reef surrounding the actual Ricketts Point. The fish life is quite varied. Snapper, Flathead, Octopus, and Stingrays are seen here on a regular basis.

It's a rather long shallow snorkel out to a reef line, then across to the Triangle Reef area and back in. Don't try to shortcut coming home as you will run aground. (Try and avoid any unnecessary trampling on our reefs). Also, it can be tricky to safely exit the dive near the triangle marker due to sharp rocks.

Triangle Reef is so close to the city, thus very convenient for those living in Melbourne. Great for getting back in the water, a night dive after work, or just an excuse to get wet!

Triangle Reef Dive Site Map | © The Scuba Doctor

Triangle Reef, Ricketts Point Parking
© Google Street View

Location: Beach Road, Beaumaris, Victoria 3193
MELWAY Ref: Page 86 C9

Parking: There is plenty of parking nearby, off Beach Road. Parking fees are payable at ticket vending machines. Before gearing up check out the water. If you see lots of white water, head on home.

Facilities: There is a toilet nearby. There are also showers on Beaumaris Beach, just past the Beaumaris Life Saving Club.

Warning: Always go with a buddy and carry a dive knife. Make sure you tow a dive buoy with dive flag.

Entry/Exit: The entry and exit is from the beach in front of the Beaumaris Life Saving Club.

Ideal Conditions: Triangle Reef at Ricketts Point is best dived with offshore northerly to north-easterly winds. Avoid diving with strong onshore south-easterly to south-westerly winds. Just before the high tide will give the clearest water. See WillyWeather (Ricketts Point) as a guide for the tide times and the height of the tide.

Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary

This dive site is located within Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary. There are actually a number of diving and snorkelling sites here including:

Ricketts Point Bathymetry
Source: Parks Victoria

McGregor Rock, Quiet Corner (Melway Map 85 K6)
Banksia Point (Melway Map 86 B7)
Tea House Reef North / Beaumaris Yacht Club (Melway Map 86 B8)
Tea House Reef South / Beaumaris Yacht Club (Melway Map 86 B8)
Tea House Bay (Melways 86 C9)
Middle Reef (aka North Arm Reef) (Melways Map 86 C9)
Triangle Reef, Ricketts Point (Melway Map 86 C9)
Table Rock, Ricketts Point (Melway Map 86 D10)
Sea Scouts Jetty (Melways 86 E9)

Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary is on the north-east coast of Port Phillip and is approximately 20 km from Melbourne CBD. It abuts the Bayside City Council Foreshore Reserve from Table Rock Point in Beaumaris to Quiet Corner in Black Rock. It extends from the high water mark to approximately 450 m offshore.

Aboriginal tradition indicates that the sanctuary is part of Country of Boon Wurrung people.

Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary Map | Source: Parks Victoria — Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary Management Plan, November 2005, page 67

You are not permitted to carry a spear gun while snorkelling or scuba diving in Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary.

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.

Triangle Reef, Ricketts Point Location Map

Latitude: 37° 59.682′ S (37.994702° S / 37° 59′ 40.93″ S)
Longitude: 145° 1.957′ E (145.032615° E / 145° 1′ 57.41″ E)
Datum: WGS84 | Google Map | Get directions
Added: 2012-07-22 09:00:00 GMT, Last updated: 2022-04-23 22:49:56 GMT
Source: Google Earth
Nearest Neighbour: Middle Reef, Ricketts Point, 297 m, bearing 307°, NW
Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary.
Beaumaris, Bayside, Port Phillip.
Depth: 1 to 8 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.