Meet the site
Ingoldsby Reef is the broad, shallow limestone reef system that lies offshore between Point Addis and Anglesea, inside Point Addis Marine National Park, and it is the park's principal boat dive. It is named in Parks Victoria's material as the site of the 1902 wreck of the iron barque Inverlochy, which struck the reef in fog on a voyage from Glasgow to Melbourne and whose scattered plates and fittings still lie among the rock. Peter Fuller's dive log describes it as a lush shallow reef system with a great diversity of algae, dived to a maximum of 10 m in 8 m visibility for 50 minutes, and remarks on a crayfish walking about unconcerned in the open, something only seen in a marine reserve. That is the character of the site: a wide platform of eroded calcarenite, mostly 5-10 m deep, canopied with crayweed, bull kelp and a striking variety of red and brown algae, cut by gutters and ledges whose undersides carry sponges, ascidians and bryozoans, and populated by the Surf Coast fish community in unfished numbers: blue-throat wrasse, magpie perch, leatherjackets, scalyfin, zebrafish, old wives, sweep, boarfish and Port Jackson sharks, with southern rock lobster in the holes and, since protection, on the open reef, weedy seadragons along the weed lines and rays on the sand. Because it is shallow and extensive it is a long, relaxed dive rather than a deep one, well suited to open-water divers from a club boat on a calm day, and a good place to look for wreck iron without any of the hazards of a wreck. Its difficulty is entirely logistical: it is a Bass Strait reef with no lee, the Anglesea ramp is small and bar-affected, no charter runs it regularly, and coordinates are not published by the usual directories, so it is dived by locals with the marks and by clubs on settled autumn days. Jarosite Reef, closer inshore, is the snorkelling equivalent.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Ingoldsby Reef is recorded as Reef in Surf Coast & Great Ocean Road. 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.
- 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 Ingoldsby 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 Ingoldsby 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
Southern rock lobster (in the open), weedy seadragons, blue-throat wrasse, magpie perch, leatherjackets, scalyfin, zebrafish, old wives, sweep, boarfish, Port Jackson sharks, rays, diverse red and brown algae, crayweed, bull kelp, sponges, ascidians, bryozoans
Location
Extensive shallow limestone reef system offshore between Point Addis and Anglesea within Point Addis Marine National Park, site of the wreck of the barque Inverlochy (1902); a boat dive from Anglesea or Torquay.
Facilities nearby
Anglesea river boat ramp (small, bar-dependent), Point Roadknight and Torquay Fishermans Beach ramps; toilets and cafes in Anglesea
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
peterfuller.com.auparks.vic.gov.auscubadoctor.com.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.