Meet the site
The Aspendale reef is one of several concrete-module artificial reefs installed by Fisheries Victoria (now the Victorian Fisheries Authority) in Port Phillip from 2009 onward to improve recreational fishing and to test how quickly engineered habitat is colonised on the bay's featureless sand plains. It lies in 10-11 m of water about 2 km off Aspendale beach and consists of clusters of purpose-cast concrete reef balls and modules laid out within a rectangle marked by four pallet-ball buoys. The modules are a metre or two high with holes and internal voids, and within a few years they were covered in sponges, ascidians, hydroids and red and brown algae and had become home to snapper, leatherjackets, wrasse, old wives, boarfish, red mullet, bearded rock cod, ling and long-finned pike, with schools of small baitfish overhead, octopus in the cavities and rays on the sand between. It is not a scenic dive in the conventional sense; the interest is in seeing how much life a small amount of hard structure attracts in the middle of nowhere, and in the concentration of fish that results. For divers it is a small-boat site rarely visited by anyone but clubs and photographers, and it is more heavily used by anglers, which means fishing line on the modules and a need to fly a flag and keep an eye on boats overhead. The flat 11 m profile makes it a comfortable long dive for open-water divers and a good first boat dive. Tyre Reef, an older 1970s artificial reef, lies 1.7 km south and can be done as a second dive; the similar Tedesco Reef is off Seaford further south.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Aspendale Rec Reef is recorded as Artificial Reef in Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay. 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.
- Other water users
- Ask about vessel activity, exclusion areas and the agreed surface arrangements.
- Lines and obstructions
- Discuss any known entanglement concerns and the suitability of the planned area.
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 Aspendale Rec 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 Aspendale Rec 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
Snapper, leatherjackets, wrasse, old wives, boarfish, red mullet, bearded rock cod, ling, long-finned pike, baitfish, octopus, rays; sponges, ascidians, hydroids and algae on modules
Location
Purpose-built artificial reef of concrete modules about 2 km offshore from Aspendale, 2.7 km south-south-west of Mordialloc Pier, marked by four pallet-ball buoys.
Facilities nearby
Mordialloc Creek and Patterson River (Carrum) public boat ramps with parking and toilets
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.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.
