Meet the site
Geoff's Scallop Hole is named for Geoff Rodda, who harvested scallops here for many years, and it is one of two named scallop grounds The Scuba Doctor lists on the flat sand between Blairgowrie and Rye piers, a kilometre or so off the Whitecliffs shore near the Tyrone boat ramp. It is not a reef and there is nothing to see in the usual sense: the bottom is featureless sand at 10–17 m, and the dive is a drift whose purpose, in the source's words, is to cover enough ground to ensure you can fill your catch bag with great big fat juicy scallops. The commercial scallop (Pecten fumatus) lives partly buried on this sand and moves seasonally – into deeper, cooler water at 14–17 m in summer, and into the shallower 10–15 m band in winter – so the marks are a starting point rather than a fixed site. Along the way divers meet the animals of the open sand: smooth stingrays and fiddler rays, flathead, sea squirts and stalked ascidians standing on the bottom, sand octopus, and, in late autumn, the large spider crabs that cross this ground on their way to the piers (inedible and not to be taken). The dive is a Port Phillip tradition, easy in depth and current, and a good introduction to drift diving and SMB procedure for divers stepping off the piers. It is also regulated: scallop diving in Port Phillip is subject to Victorian Fisheries seasons, bag limits, size limits and a recreational fishing licence, and the rules change, so they must be checked before every trip. JL's Scallop Beds lie 670 m east on the same ground. Geoff's Scallop Hole suits Open Water divers with boat access who want a feed and an easy drift; it offers nothing to photographers or reef lovers.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Geoffs Scallop Hole is recorded as Muck/Sand in Mornington Peninsula. 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.
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 Geoffs Scallop Hole 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 Geoffs Scallop Hole 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
Commercial scallop, smooth stingray, southern fiddler ray, sand flathead, sea squirts and stalked ascidians, southern sand octopus, giant spider crab (autumn, protected in season), King George whiting
Location
Flat sand bottom in 10–17 m midway between Blairgowrie Pier and Rye Pier, off the Tyrone boat ramp and Whitecliffs, about 1 km offshore; 670 m west of JL's Scallop Beds.
Facilities nearby
Rye and Tyrone boat ramps; toilets and cafés at Rye; catch bags, air fills and advice at The Scuba Doctor (Rye).
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.