Meet the site
Cunningham Bay is the little-visited pair of beaches at the southern end of the Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit, reached down a track from the end of Gap Road, and it is one of the south-coast shore dives that Ian Lewis documented in Shore Dives of Victoria. Two narrow sand platform beaches – The Gap to the east and Racetrack to the west – sit under 40 m bluffs, and offshore there are, in Scuba Doctor's description, multiple reefs to explore in the 5 to 10 metre deep water. The reefs are basalt like the rest of this coast, arranged as a series of platforms and low ridges separated by sand, running out to about 12 m. Their tops carry kelp and coralline algae; their sides and undercuts are lined with encrusting sponge, ascidians and zoanthids; and the sand gutters between them collect shells, rays and flathead. The fish community matches YCW Beach a kilometre east – wrasse, morwong, sweep, leatherjackets, zebrafish, boarfish under ledges and Port Jackson sharks in the gutters in cooler months – and crayfish and abalone occur in the cracks. What distinguishes Cunningham Bay is its seclusion and its partial shelter. The headlands and bluff line give some protection from south-westerly swell, so on a day when the more open beaches are marginal this bay can be workable, and because the access involves a real climb it is rarely used by anyone except surfers and the occasional club. That access is the price. The bluff track is steep, the beaches are small at high tide, and the climb back with wet gear is the hardest part of the day. Combined with the racetrack noise on event days it will never be a popular site, but it offers a quiet, structured reef dive with good relief for divers prepared to earn it, and it is a sensible alternative when Smiths, YCW or Sunderland Bay have too much swell.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Cunningham Bay is recorded as Shore/Rock Platform in Phillip Island & Western Port. The listed access is shore. 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.
- 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 Cunningham Bay 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 Cunningham Bay 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
Wrasse, morwong, sweep, leatherjackets, zebrafish, boarfish, Port Jackson sharks, rays and flathead, southern rock lobster, abalone, kelp, sponges and ascidians
Location
Two small sand beaches (The Gap and Racetrack) beneath 40 m bluffs at the southern end of Gap Road, below the Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit on the island's south coast.
Facilities nearby
Small informal parking area at the southern end of Gap Road; no toilets or water; No air fills on Phillip Island; nearest fills on the Mornington Peninsula (Rye/Portsea) or in Melbourne's south-east
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.