Meet the site
16lb Reef is the companion in name to 12lb Reef, and it too is named for a monster crayfish – a sixteen-pounder, over 7 kg, which the Scuba Doctor listing says was rumoured to live in the reef for years before its existence was confirmed. Unlike its namesake in Lonsdale Bight, 16lb Reef lies at the ocean end of the Lonsdale Wall system beside Foggy Reef, within a kilometre of Point Lonsdale lighthouse, and the listing gives it 12–18 m with 'many overhangs and small drop-offs' and an Open Water rating.
The site is a shallower shelf of the wall complex where the great cliff breaks down into a series of steps, ledges and undercuts before the reef runs out toward Lonsdale Rock and the Point Lonsdale platform. The overhangs carry the full Heads encrustation – zoanthids, jewel anemones, sponges, soft corals – and the listing picks out 'the spectacular southern blue devil' as the fish to look for, sitting in the crevices; crayfish are in every hole, and old wives, boarfish, magpie perch and wrasse work the face. Because it is at the entrance the water is oceanic and clear, and seals from the point are frequent.
The position, so close to the western jaw of the Rip, means the slack is shorter and the swell more felt than in the bight, and although the depth is Open Water the operators treat it as a site for divers who have already done a Heads dive. It is dived on both slacks, often as the shallower option when Foggy Reef and The Cave are being dived from the same boat by deeper divers. The Scuba Doctor listing describes it as suitable for experienced recreational divers exploring wall formations and crevices, and that is a fair summary.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
16lb Reef is recorded as Wall in Port Phillip Heads. The listed access is boat. Confirm the actual meeting point, route and permission to visit; a map pin does not establish any of these.
Topics flagged by the stored research
These are questions prompted by the existing notes, not a verified or complete hazard assessment.
- Current and timing
- Ask how the operator assesses the current window for the actual route. Historical tide notes are not a departure instruction.
- Other water users
- Ask about vessel activity, exclusion areas and the agreed surface arrangements.
- Water movement
- Ask how swell and local exposure affect the proposed entry, exit and route.
Historical access notes exist for this record, but have not been independently verified for current use. Request current directions from the operator or site manager rather than following an old entry description.
Questions, answered
Is 16lb Reef suitable for my certification?
The record lists Open Water. That does not establish suitability for every route or day. Share your training, recent experience and equipment needs with the operator and ask about the specific proposed dive.
Can I book 16lb Reef through YouDive?
YouDive is an independent research directory. Contact an operator directly to confirm whether it currently runs the trip, the inclusions and the booking terms.
What you might see
Southern blue devil, southern rock lobster, yellow zoanthids, jewel anemones, sponges, soft corals, old wife, longsnout boarfish, magpie perch, bluethroat wrasse, Australian fur seal
Location
Small wall at the southern (ocean) end of the Lonsdale Wall system, 92 m south-west of Foggy Reef and about 800 m east-south-east of Point Lonsdale lighthouse.
Before you make plans
Conditions, access and operator schedules can change. This is a location guide, not a dive plan. Ask a local operator about current conditions and suitability for your training and experience.
Sources & further reading
scubadoctor.com.auscubadoctor.com.auscubadoctor.com.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.
