Meet the site
Queenscliff Pier is the training pier for the Bellarine end of Port Phillip Heads, a working fishing pier below the old town that gives easy access to the cleaner, oceanic water that flushes the south-western corner of the bay on every flood tide. The Scuba Doctor describes it as a popular diver training spot with a range of 2-8 m, and that depth range, combined with visibility that regularly beats the inner-bay piers, is why the Queenscliff dive shops use it for courses and why Melbourne divers heading to the Heads for boat dives often add a pier dive here. The pylons are thick with sponges, ascidians, hydroids and algae in the colours that Heads divers expect, and they shelter the usual pier community plus a few oceanic extras: leatherjackets, old wives, moonlighters, wrasse, blennies, cardinalfish, seahorses and pipefish in the weed, nudibranchs on the sponges, octopus and cuttlefish in the debris, stingarees and fiddler rays on the sand, and occasionally a passing fur seal from the Chinamans Hat colony or a weedy seadragon at the outer piles. Because the pier lies just north of the harbour entrance and the ferry channel, boat traffic is heavy and divers keep tight to the structure. The Rip's tidal streams reach the pier weakly, so timing the dive to slack or the last of the flood gives the calmest, clearest conditions. It is a good night dive. Shortland Bluff, Beach 10B and Cottage by the Sea Reef, the tidal shore dives of Lonsdale Bay, are within 1-2 km to the west for more experienced divers, and the pier is the sheltered fallback when they are running too hard.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Queenscliff Pier is recorded as Jetty/Pier in Geelong & Bellarine. 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.
- Current and timing
- Ask how the operator assesses the current window for the actual route. Historical tide notes are not a departure instruction.
- Other water users
- Ask about vessel activity, exclusion areas and the agreed surface arrangements.
- Lines and obstructions
- Discuss any known entanglement concerns and the suitability of the planned area.
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 Queenscliff Pier 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 Queenscliff Pier 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, old wives, moonlighters, wrasse, blennies, cardinalfish, seahorses, pipefish, nudibranchs, octopus, cuttlefish, stingarees, fiddler rays, occasional fur seals and weedy seadragons; sponges and ascidians on piles
Location
Pier on the Port Phillip side of Queenscliff below the town, north of the harbour entrance and Shortland Bluff, at the south-western corner of Port Phillip (beach marker 13B).
Facilities nearby
Foreshore car parks; public toilets at the harbour; cafes and pubs in Hesse Street; Dive Victoria Group shop nearby for air fills and gear
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.