Meet the site
Ricketts Point is Melbourne's marine sanctuary, 115 hectares of shallow sandstone reef, seagrass and sand along the Beaumaris foreshore that was protected in 2002 and has since become the most visited snorkelling and shore-diving area in the city. Geologically it is the seaward edge of the Beaumaris sandstone, the same fossil-rich rock as the Red Bluff cliffs, worn into a series of flat intertidal platforms, low points and small sea caves with channels and gutters between them. Depths are slight: reef tops sit at 1 m or are exposed at low tide, the channels run 2-4 m and the outer reef edge drops to sand at 4-8 m. Within that small range there are eight recognised entry points and dive areas, each documented separately in this database: Quiet Corner (McGregor Rock) and Banksia Point at the north-west end, Tea House Reef North and South and Tea House Bay in the centre around the yacht club and teahouse, Middle Reef and Triangle Reef off the life saving club, and Table Rock at the south-east end with the Sea Scouts Jetty just outside the boundary. Because it is a no-take zone the fish are tame and numerous: schools of juvenile snapper and zebrafish, old wives and moonlighters under ledges, dusky morwong, scalyfin defending algae patches, blue-throat wrasse, blennies in every crevice, and rays, banjo sharks and Port Jackson sharks on the sand. Octopus are common, and seagrass patches hold seahorses and pipefish. It is above all a beginner's and a night diver's place; the shallow depth, easy sand entries, lights, toilets and cafes mean it hosts more training dives, try-dives and club night dives than anywhere else on the bay. Experienced divers use it as a critter and photography site and as the reliable fallback when the peninsula is blown out. The Marine Care Ricketts Point volunteer group runs guided snorkels and monitors the reef, and the sanctuary is patrolled; leave everything where it is.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary is recorded as Shore/Rock Platform in Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay. 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.
- 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 Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary 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 Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary 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
Snapper (juvenile pinkies), flathead, dusky morwong, zebrafish, old wives, moonlighters, scalyfin, Tasmanian blennies, blue-throat wrasse, leatherjackets, octopus, smooth stingrays, southern fiddler rays (banjo sharks), southern eagle rays, Port Jackson sharks, sea urchins, cushion stars, nudibranchs, seahorses and pipefish in seagrass
Location
115 ha marine sanctuary of sandstone reef platforms, sea caves and seagrass along the Beaumaris and Black Rock foreshore between Table Rock Point and Quiet Corner, on the eastern shore of Port Phillip 20 km from the CBD.
Facilities nearby
Ticketed car parks at Beaumaris Yacht Club and Ricketts Point Teahouse; public toilets, wheelchair ramp and accessible shower/toilet at the teahouse; showers at Beaumaris Beach life saving club; cafes; nearest air fills Scuba Culture, Cheltenham
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.auparks.vic.gov.auscubadoctor.com.auscubadoctor.com.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.
