Meet the site
Awesome Reef is one of the group of deep reef and bommie sites off Shortland Bluff on the Queenscliff side of the Heads, between the sponge gardens of Lonsdale Bight and the deep walls of Spectacular Reef. The Scuba Doctor listing calls it 'a spectacular reef formation off Shortland Bluff, Port Phillip, near the shipping channel', gives a depth range of 12–40 m and an Advanced Open Water rating, and states that it 'is subject to shipping movements and should only be dived on slack water'.
Beyond that the listing carries no description, and the neighbouring Knawesome Bommie – 101 m away and described in detail – is the best guide to what the diver finds: limestone structure rising from sand at 40 m to tops in the low twenties and shallower, with overhanging ledges and small caves, heavy soft-coral, sponge and gorgonian growth on every face, and the fish of the Queenscliff channel reefs – southern blue devils, magpie morwong, boarfish, schools of pike and sweep – with crayfish in the ledges. The reef top at 12 m carries kelp and sponge garden, and the channel edge gives it the flow that feeds the growth.
The operational picture is that of all the Shortland Bluff sites: slack water only, a shipping report before the dive because the channel is a few metres away, no anchoring in the lane, and a live boat tracking DSMBs. With a 40 m base it is dived mostly by experienced groups and clubs, and it is a good choice for Advanced divers who have done the Lonsdale sections and want something less visited. The name is one of a pair – Awesome and Knawesome – coined by the Queenscliff divers who mapped these reefs; data confidence is moderate because the published description is a single sentence.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Awesome Reef is recorded as Reef 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.
- Planned depth
- Confirm the intended route and training requirements; the recorded maximum is not a target.
- 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 Awesome Reef 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 Awesome 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
Soft corals, sponges, gorgonians, southern blue devil, magpie morwong, longsnout boarfish, pike and sweep schools, southern rock lobster, old wife, kelp on the reef top
Location
Reef formation off Shortland Bluff, Queenscliff, near the edge of the shipping channel, about 1.2 km south-east of the bluff; 101 m north-north-east of Knawesome Bommie.
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.
