Meet the site
The Rye Scallop Beds are the third and most northerly of the named scallop grounds The Scuba Doctor lists on the flat sand off Whitecliffs between Rye and Blairgowrie, lying about 2 km offshore and 1.4 km north of Geoff's Scallop Hole. The description is the same as for the other two: a flat sandy bottom at 10–17 m where the aim of a drift dive is to cover enough ground to fill a catch bag with big scallops, the beds moving into deeper, cooler water at 14–17 m in summer and back into 10–15 m in winter. There is no reef, no structure and no photography, and the site's interest is entirely practical – it is where generations of Rye divers have gone for a feed. The open sand is not lifeless: smooth stingrays and fiddler rays glide across it, flathead lie half-buried, sea squirts and stalked ascidians stand on the bottom like small trees, sand octopus hide in the shell grit, and in late autumn the large spider crabs that migrate toward the piers cross this ground in numbers (inedible, and protected during their aggregation). Being further out than the Whitecliffs beds it is a little deeper on average and more exposed to wind, and it is the one to try when the inshore grounds have been worked over. The dive is a good introduction to boat drift diving and SMB discipline, with mild current and no navigation beyond staying with the group. Scallop diving in Port Phillip is regulated by Victorian Fisheries – season, recreational licence, size and bag limits, all subject to change – and the rules must be checked before each trip. The Rye Scallop Beds suit Open Water divers with boat access who want scallops and an easy drift; they have nothing to offer anyone else.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Rye Scallop Beds is recorded as Muck/Sand in Mornington Peninsula. 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.
- 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 Rye Scallop Beds 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 Rye Scallop Beds 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
Commercial scallop, smooth stingray, southern fiddler ray, sand flathead, sea squirts and stalked ascidians, southern sand octopus, giant spider crab (autumn, protected in season)
Location
Flat sand bottom in 10–17 m off Whitecliffs between Rye and Blairgowrie piers, about 2 km offshore and 1.4 km north of Geoffs Scallop Hole.
Facilities nearby
Rye and Tyrone boat ramps; toilets and cafés at Rye; air fills, catch bags and advice at The Scuba Doctor (Rye).
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.