Meet the site
Pearses Beach is the gentlest of the Blairgowrie back-beach sites, a proper sandy beach with rock pools and gullies close inshore and reef ledges and gutters extending offshore into 3–10 m. The Scuba Doctor lists it among its Mornington Peninsula snorkelling sites as well as its shore dives, and notes that the area tends to be slightly less wild than the rest of the back beaches – but not by much. The beach is reached by a walking track rather than a cliff staircase, which alone makes it attractive to divers carrying gear. From the sand the reef can be explored in either direction: east toward Jessie Kirkwoods Rock and on to Dimmicks Beach, where the platforms break into gullies and ledges, or west toward Prickly Rocks, Glenn Point and Pirates Bay, a longer run of reef with deeper gutters. The rock is the eroded limestone of the coast, kelp on top and sponges, bryozoans and jewel anemones beneath, and the fish are those of the Bass Strait shallows: sweep, zebrafish, old wives, magpie perch, herring cale and wrasse over the reef, leatherjackets and cowfish in the gullies, Port Jackson and draughtboard sharks under the ledges, weedy seadragons on the kelp margin and rock lobsters and abalone in the holes. On glassy days the inner rock pools and gullies are an excellent snorkel. The requirement for diving is the same as everywhere on this coast – swell under about 2 m with a long period, light northerly to north-easterly winds after several days of the same, low tide for the entry and an abort if white water covers the reef – and the beach's relative shelter should not be mistaken for safety; rips run between the platforms. Pearses Beach suits experienced divers looking for an easier back-beach entry, snorkellers on calm days, and as the first stop for anyone learning this coast.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Pearses Beach, Blairgowrie is recorded as Reef 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.
- 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 Pearses Beach, Blairgowrie suitable for my certification?
The record lists Advanced 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 Pearses Beach, Blairgowrie 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
Weedy seadragon, southern rock lobster, blacklip abalone, Port Jackson shark, draughtboard shark, sea sweep, zebrafish, old wife, magpie perch, herring cale, bluethroat wrasse, leatherjackets, Shaw's cowfish, kelp, sponges
Location
Sandy ocean beach with rock pools and gullies at the end of Pearse Road, Blairgowrie, between Jessie Kirkwoods Rock and Dimmicks Beach to the east and Prickly Rocks, Glenn Point and Pirates Bay to the west; 920 m south-east of Bridgewater Bay.
Facilities nearby
Small car park at the end of Pearse Road; no toilets; Blairgowrie shops on Point Nepean Road; air fills 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.auscubadoctor.com.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.