Meet the site
Anser Island is the middle island of the Anser Group, the cluster of steep granite islands that Parks Victoria's park note lists among the Prom's popular locations for experienced divers alongside the Glennie Group, South East Point, Waterloo Bay, Bare Back Cove and Horn Point. The island is a dome of pink granite with sheer faces on its exposed southern and western sides and a more broken boulder slope in the lee, and its underwater profile follows the same pattern: near-vertical walls dropping to 30–40 m on the seaward side, and a slope of house-sized boulders with gutters, overhangs and swim-throughs on the sheltered side, all under a fringe of bull kelp. The growth is the exposed-Prom sponge garden – colourful sponges, yellow zoanthids, gorgonians, sea whips and bryozoans – with crayfish in the ledges and blue devils and bullseyes in the shaded gaps; fish schools of butterfly perch and sweep hang off the walls, and the fur seals that breed on Kanowna and haul out across the group are frequent company. Visibility is typically 15–30 m. Between Anser and Cleft Island lies Carpentaria Rock, where the iron steamer Gulf of Carpentaria struck and sank in 1885; the wreck at 45–50 m is a technical dive covered separately. Anser Island is dived rarely – it shares the weather, distance and boat requirements of the whole southern group – and is usually a second dive after Kanowna or Skull Rock when the boat is already out there. It rewards divers who want the group's granite scenery and sponge cover without the seal-colony exclusion zones or the 55 m walls, and it is a sensible choice for the boat's less experienced divers while others do the deep sites.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Anser Island is recorded as Island in Wilsons Promontory. 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.
- Planned depth
- Confirm the intended route and training requirements; the recorded maximum is not a target.
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 Anser Island suitable for my certification?
The record lists Deep/Advanced + experience. 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 Anser Island 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
Sponge gardens, zoanthids, gorgonians and sea whips, bryozoans, southern rock lobster, blue devils, bullseyes, butterfly perch, sweep, Australian fur seals, bull kelp
Location
Granite island of the Anser Group about 4 km south-west of South Point, Wilsons Promontory, between Kanowna Island and Cleft Island (Skull Rock).
Facilities nearby
Departure from Tidal River beach ramp, Port Welshpool or Sandy Point; No air fills at Tidal River or Port Welshpool; the nearest compressor is roughly 100 km away (Melbourne's south-east or Inverloch/Leongatha area by arrangement) – bring all cylinders or a portable compressor
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.auparks.vic.gov.auscubadoctor.com.auRecord updated 27 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.