Meet the site
Ozone was the fastest and most famous of the Port Phillip bay excursion paddle steamers. Built on the Clyde by Napier, Shanks and Bell in 1886, 79 m (260 ft) long, 572 tons gross and capable of more than 17 knots, she left Britain on 25 August 1886, arrived in Melbourne on 26 November and for nearly forty years carried holidaymakers from Port Melbourne to Queenscliff and Sorrento – the 'Greyhound of Port Phillip'. Superseded by the Hygeia and Weeroona and by the motor car, she was stripped and in October 1925 scuttled in Half Moon Bay at Indented Head to form a breakwater for the small boats of the township. The steel hulk Dominion, an old sailing ship cut down to a lighter, was sunk about 20 m north of her for the same purpose. What remains is a remarkably accessible piece of Victorian social history. The Ozone's paddle wheel stands clear of the water 150 m off the beach, and beneath it, in 2–4 m, lie the paddle shafts and sponsons, the boilers, the steering quadrant and the bow section, all encrusted and full of small life. The Dominion's iron hull is lower and more broken but easily found. Because nothing is deeper than 4 m the site is as good a snorkel as a dive, and children can see the paddle wheel from the beach. Marine life is bay-typical and abundant in the shelter of the iron: leatherjackets, wrasse, cuttlefish, seahorses and pipefish in the weed, sea stars and sponges on the plates, and often big schools of juvenile fish inside the hull. Ozone is the standard first wreck for Geelong and Bellarine trainees and a favourite family snorkel, and it has none of the tidal or shipping complications of the Heads wrecks. It suits absolute beginners, snorkellers and photographers who like shallow, well-lit wreckage; experienced divers will treat it as a pleasant hour rather than a destination.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
PS Ozone is recorded as Wreck in Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay. The listed access is shore or 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.
- 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 PS Ozone suitable for my certification?
The record lists Snorkel/Any. 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 PS Ozone 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
Leatherjackets, wrasse, cuttlefish, seahorses, pipefish, sea stars, sponges, juvenile fish schools, stingarees
Location
Scuttled as a breakwater in Half Moon Bay, Indented Head, on the Bellarine Peninsula; the paddle wheel breaks the surface about 150 m off the beach, with the Dominion 20 m to its north.
Facilities nearby
Street parking on The Esplanade; public toilets and general store in Indented Head; boat ramp at Indented Head; nearest fills Geelong or Queenscliff.
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 27 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.
