Meet the site
Kitty Miller Bay is the shore dive most Phillip Island locals recommend first. It is a neat horseshoe of sand and cobbles on the island's south-west corner, adjacent to the Penguin Parade, enclosed by the basalt of Watt Point and Kennon Head and largely protected from the south-westerly swell that hammers the rest of this coast. Scuba Doctor calls it one of the island's best protected beaches and great for snorkelling and scuba diving, and Surf Life Saving records average waves of only 0.7 m. The bay floor is seagrass and patchy weed at 2–4 m, with rock reef running out from both points to 8–12 m and a wide expanse of intertidal platform exposed at low tide when the beach opens out to 50 m wide. The diving is easy and varied: the seagrass holds rays, Port Jackson sharks and juvenile fish; the reef edges are kelp, coralline algae and sponge with zebrafish, leatherjackets, wrasse, morwong and old wives; and the gutters under the points collect crayfish and abalone. Spearfishing is common here and the site is also popular with families snorkelling the pools, so early mornings are quieter. The western side is the gentler entry and the standard route; the eastern side under Kennon Head, with more swell and a rougher entry, gives access to better reef and, for experienced divers, a swim of 600 m round the point to the iron barque Speke, wrecked in 1906, whose remains lie in 0–26 m on the open coast (covered as a separate wreck site). The long walk from the car park is the main effort. Kitty Miller Bay suits new divers, snorkellers and anyone wanting a reliable Phillip Island shore dive in southerly weather, and it is the natural training venue on the island.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Kitty Miller 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 Kitty Miller 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 Kitty Miller 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
Zebrafish, leatherjackets, rays, Port Jackson sharks, wrasse, morwong, old wives, southern rock lobster, abalone, seagrass and kelp gardens, sea stars
Location
Semi-circular south-facing bay between Watt Point and Kennon Head on the south-west coast of Phillip Island, just east of the Penguin Parade.
Facilities nearby
Small gravel car park behind the dune; no toilets or water at the beach – nearest facilities at the Penguin Parade or Ventnor; 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.