Meet the site
JL's Scallop Beds are named for John Lawler, the Melbourne diving identity, life member of the Victorian Sub-Aqua Group and co-founder of the Victorian Artificial Reef Society whose GPS marks appear on many Scuba Doctor site pages, and they lie on the same flat sand as Geoff's Scallop Hole 670 m to the west, off Whitecliffs between Rye and Blairgowrie. The description is identical: a featureless bottom at 10–17 m where the goal of a drift dive is to cover enough ground to fill a catch bag with big scallops, the beds shifting into deeper water at 14–17 m in summer and shallower water at 10–15 m in winter as the animals follow the temperature they prefer. The marine life beyond the scallops is that of the open Port Phillip sand – smooth stingrays, fiddler rays, flathead, standing sea squirts and ascidians, sand octopus and, in late autumn, the large spider crabs that migrate across this ground toward the piers, which the source notes are inedible and are in any case protected during their aggregation. There are no navigational features, no reef and no photographic subjects beyond the rays; the dive's virtues are its simplicity, its shallow depth, its gentle current and its reward. For divers new to boat diving it is a good first drift and a practical lesson in SMB handling, buddy contact on a moving bottom and buoyancy with a loaded bag. Scallop diving in Port Phillip is regulated by Victorian Fisheries with a season, a recreational licence, size and bag limits that change from year to year, and they must be checked before each trip. JL's Scallop Beds suit Open Water divers with a boat who want a seafood dinner and an easy dive; those wanting scenery should go to Rosebud Reef or the piers.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
JL's Scallop Beds 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 JL's Scallop Beds 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 JL's Scallop Beds 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)
Location
Flat sand bottom in 10–17 m midway between Blairgowrie and Rye piers off the Tyrone boat ramp and Whitecliffs, 670 m east of Geoffs Scallop Hole and about 1 km offshore.
Facilities nearby
Rye and Tyrone boat ramps; toilets and cafés at Rye; air fills, catch bags 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.