Meet the site
Hearn Road is the second of the five creek gullies that give access to the Mount Martha cliff coast, the 8 km run of low sandstone and basalt cliffs between Balcombe Point and Martha Point that The Scuba Doctor lists as five separate 3–5 m shore dives. Its source page adds nothing to the shared description beyond its position and its 'fairly easy track access', and a diver should expect exactly what the neighbouring gullies offer: a shallow platform reef at the cliff foot with ledges and undercuts a metre or two high, boulder falls from the cliff, brown algae and Sargassum on the rock and seagrass in the sandy gaps, shelving to about 5 m within a hundred metres of shore. The fish are those of any rocky shore on the eastern side of the bay – magpie perch, old wives, zebrafish, leatherjackets, hulafish and bullseyes under the ledges – with decorator crabs, small octopus and abalone in the crevices, fiddler rays and flathead on the sand and giant cuttlefish coming inshore in winter. What distinguishes Hearn Road in practice is its position: it sits in the middle of the northern pair, far enough from Balcombe Creek to escape the worst run-off and close enough to Deakin Drive (820 m) and Burdoo Way (640 m) that a one-way dive to either neighbour is a realistic option on a calm high tide, with a car left at each end. The Mount Martha gullies are for self-sufficient divers who enjoy unstructured exploration of unvisited reef, for local snorkellers, and for nobody who needs facilities, depth or a defined objective. They are exposed to every westerly, entered over slippery rock, and served only by residential street parking. On a still winter morning with an easterly, however, Hearn Road gives clear water over several hundred metres of reef that almost nobody has looked at, ten minutes from Mount Martha village.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Mount Martha, Hearn Road is recorded as Shore/Rock Platform in Mornington Peninsula. 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.
- Other water users
- Ask about vessel activity, exclusion areas and the agreed surface arrangements.
- 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 Mount Martha, Hearn Road 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 Mount Martha, Hearn Road 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
Magpie perch, old wife, zebrafish, leatherjackets, southern hulafish, bullseyes, decorator crab, Maori octopus, blacklip abalone, southern fiddler ray, sand flathead, giant cuttlefish (winter)
Location
Second from the north of the five creek-gully shore dives on the Mount Martha cliff coast, below the Esplanade at Hearn Road; 820 m south-west of Deakin Drive and 640 m north-east of Burdoo Way.
Facilities nearby
None at the gully; residential street parking only; toilets and cafés at Mount Martha village and Safety Beach; air fills at Mornington or Rosebud dive shops.
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.