Meet the site
Rabbit Island is the small granite island off Five Mile Beach on the Prom's north-eastern coast, the first landmark for boats leaving Corner Inlet's eastern entrance, and Scuba Doctor lists two sites on it. The northern face is a 2–10 m reef dive for adventurous divers: a primarily sandy bottom with fringing near-shore reef and seagrass beds, offering good habitat variety and rich schooling fish populations, with sweep and zebrafish schools singled out and diverse species for photography. The island sits where Corner Inlet's tidal exchange meets Bass Strait, and the strong currents that result are both the site's defining hazard and the reason its shallow reef is lively – the granite fringe carries sponges and ascidians on its shaded faces and kelp on top, the seagrass between reef patches holds pipefish, cuttlefish, whiting and juvenile fish, and the schools of sweep and zebrafish that hang over the reef are joined by wrasse, leatherjackets, dusky morwong and old wives. Rays lie on the sand. It is a shallow, easy dive in itself, made Advanced by the current and the exposure of the boat trip, and Scuba Doctor warns that Bass Strait's seas here are often wild and that experienced divers and favourable conditions are required. In practice it is a slack-water site done from Port Welshpool on a calm day, often as a first stop before continuing down the eastern Prom coast to Sealers Cove, or as a short day's diving in its own right when the outer coast is unworkable but the inlet entrance is calm. The southern face, 700 m away, is the alternative in northerly winds. Within the Wilsons Promontory Marine Park (the older multiple-use park around the Prom's north-east); check current zoning for take restrictions.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Rabbit Island, North is recorded as Island in Wilsons Promontory. The listed access is 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.
- 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.
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 Rabbit Island, North 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 Rabbit Island, North 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
Sweep and zebrafish schools, wrasse, leatherjackets, dusky morwong, old wives, pipefish, cuttlefish, whiting, rays, sponges and ascidians, kelp and seagrass
Location
Northern face of Rabbit Island, a small granite island 1.6 km off the north-eastern coast of Wilsons Promontory near Five Mile Beach, within the Wilsons Promontory Marine Park.
Facilities nearby
Port Welshpool: sealed boat ramp, jetty, toilets, caravan park, general store and fuel; No air fills at Tidal River or Port Welshpool; the nearest compressor is roughly 100 km away (Melbourne's south-east or Inverloch/Leongatha area by arrangement) – bring all cylinders or a portable compressor
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.