Meet the site
Shack Bay is the second of the two shore access points Parks Victoria names for divers in Bunurong Marine National Park, a small sandy cove between sandstone platforms on the Bunurong Coastal Drive west of Eagles Nest. Its advantage over Eagles Nest is the beach: a sand entry rather than a gully in the rock, which makes it the safer and more forgiving of the two on a marginal day and the better choice for a first dive in the park. Reef runs out from the platforms on both sides of the cove, the same layered Cretaceous sandstone as the rest of the coast, with flat kelp-topped shelves, straight gutters and undercut ledges in 2–12 m. The life is the marine national park community that has rebuilt itself since protection in 2002: southern rock lobsters in the deeper ledges, Port Jackson sharks resting in the gutters, blue-throat wrasse, zebrafish and sweep in numbers, morwong, leatherjackets and old wives, and the invertebrate colour the park is known for – sea stars, feather stars, sponges, ascidians, large sea snails and crabs on every surface. The sand in the cove holds stingarees and flathead and the weed edge is worth checking for seadragons. Above the water the coast is part of the Yallock-Bulluk Marine and Coastal Park, with the dinosaur-fossil cliffs and hooded plover nesting beaches; on the water, the bay's aspect to the south-west means the same rules as its neighbours – northerly wind, small swell, high tide, early morning – and Parks Victoria's cautions about currents, undertows and unexpected waves apply. Shack Bay is the Bunurong coast's easiest entry into no-take reef and the natural pairing with Eagles Nest for a two-dive day.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Shack Bay is recorded as Reef in Bass Coast. 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.
- 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 Shack Bay 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 Shack Bay 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
Southern rock lobster, Port Jackson sharks, blue-throat wrasse, zebrafish, sweep, morwong, leatherjackets, old wives, sea stars, feather stars, sponges and ascidians, stingarees, kelp
Location
Small sandy cove between rock platforms on the Bunurong Coastal Drive within Bunurong Marine National Park, between Eagles Nest and Twin Reefs.
Facilities nearby
Shack Bay car park; no toilets (nearest at Cape Paterson); sites are dived by independent divers and Melbourne/Gippsland clubs (SEADS – South East Australian Dive Society, Dive La Trobe, VSAG). Nearest air fills in Melbourne's south-east or by arrangement in the Latrobe Valley.
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
parks.vic.gov.auparks.vic.gov.aumelbourneplaygrounds.com.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.