Meet the site
Point Franklin is the small headland that closes the eastern end of Portsea's front beach, and the reef that runs off it is the most substantial natural shore dive on the bay side of the Peninsula, dropping from the intertidal rock to about 15 m within easy swimming distance of the shore. The Scuba Doctor lists it at 1–15 m with a tidal-planning note that makes clear this is a site for divers who understand the Heads: slack water into the ebb gives an hour, the flood sweeps east, and the swim back against a running tide is not an option. The reef itself is a series of ledges and rock ridges dropping away from the point, thick with kelp on top and encrusted with sponges, ascidians and bryozoans on the faces, with sand channels between. It carries a much richer fish community than the piers: schools of old wives and sweep, magpie perch, bluethroat and senator wrasse, leatherjackets, boarfish under the deeper ledges, and – in the kelp – weedy seadragons. Southern rock lobsters hide in the deeper holes, fiddler rays and stingarees sit on the sand, and seals from Chinamans Hat occasionally pass. The site connects westward to the Portsea Pier East Reef under the mooring field, so three dives are possible from the same car park: the point and outer reef, the point combined with the pier, or a beach start with flexible exits at Shelley Beach, the point or the pier. The 430 m walk from the parking with gear is the price of admission, and the site's exposure to boat traffic and current means a flag, an SMB and a conservative gas plan are non-negotiable. Point Franklin suits confident Open Water divers and above who want a real reef with depth from shore, drift-dive practice in benign surroundings, and the chance of seadragons and lobsters in clean water. It is the natural next step for divers who have outgrown Portsea Pier.
What you might see
Weedy seadragon, southern rock lobster, old wife, sea sweep, magpie perch, bluethroat wrasse, senator wrasse, long-snouted boarfish, leatherjackets, southern fiddler ray, stingarees, sponges and ascidians, kelp, Australian fur seal (occasional)
Location
Reef running out from Point Franklin, the low headland at the eastern end of Portsea front beach about 430 m east of Portsea Pier, with Shelley Beach on its eastern side.
Facilities nearby
Portsea Pier precinct: time-limited parking in summer, warm showers, toilets, barbecues, cafés and Bayplay dive shop with air fills within walking distance.
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.