Victoria, New South Wales, is home to some of the most beautiful and abundant reefs on earth. With caves and crevices, walls and bommies, these spectacular reefs offer both excitement and the opportunity to relax and enjoy a scenic dive. There’s a little something for everyone here, so kit up, and come along as we explore Victoria’s top reef sites.
The Caves - Victoria Dive Sites
Located on the Lonsdale side of the Heads, the site begins along the reef at fifteen meters, then drops to thirty meters. Here, you’ll find not just one cave, but several to explore, all of which hold their own mysterious occupants. The walls are beautifully covered with zoanthids and hydroids, soft coral and invertebrates, and there are plenty of fish to see as you loop your way through the swim throughs and beautiful caverns.
The Playground - Victoria Dive Sites
A true playground for divers, this magnificent site is located at the west end of Rip Bank Wall. You’ll start your dive at fifteen meters, where the wall’s top makes its dashing descent to fifty meters. The area hosts abundant invertebrates and is home to abundant fish life, plus it is peppered with overhangs and small caves that add even more interest to the topographical beauty.
Castle Rock - Victoria Dive Sites
One of the most beautiful Victoria reef dives, and one of the easiest, Castle Rock is located on the Point Lonsdale side, outside the Heads. Suitable for newer divers with simple open water certification, the rock, which is about 200 meters around, and which is situated over a sandy floor, looks just like an underwater castle. It begins just 7 meters below the surface, and meets the seabed at 18 meters, and is covered in lush coral and invertebrates. A great place to see Port Jackson Sharks, and a wonderful area for encountering all types of fish.
Captain Nitro Drop Off - Victoria Dive Sites
Whether you’re a newer diver wishing to stay in shallow water, or a seasoned explorer with a lust for reaching greater depths, Captain Nitro Drop Off, which is located at Spectacular Reef’s west end, is for you. With overhangs and drop offs that shelter all sorts of intriguing marine life large and small, and with some massive boulders that look just like river rocks, the site is well suited to photography. Maximum depth here is sixty meters, but there is plenty to see in a shallow sixteen meters, too.
Lonsdale Wall - Victoria Dive Sites
The Lonsdale Wall is massive, extending for an entire kilometer. It is impossible to explore the entire wall in a single dive, as there are massive overhangs, steps, and crevices that host an incredible variety of life. The wall has a nearly vertical drop to more than ninety meters, with lots to enjoy in water as shallow as twelve meters. Another wonderfully photogenic dive, and accessible to divers with AOW certification and up.
If you want to visit these reefs, you’re in luck! Victoria is home to some excellent dive operators, who make trips to all these sites on a regular basis. And, don’t worry if you’re not as good a diver as you would like to be. You can find classes in many locations, and soon you’ll be exploring the sea’s deeper reaches!