Meet the site
Surfies Point is the basalt headland at the eastern end of Sunderland Bay's Esplanade, named for the surf break that forms on its reefs, and it is the most marginal of the south-coast shore dives that Scuba Doctor lists. The listing covers Surfies Point West and East together: wide intertidal and shallow subtidal platforms of basalt on either side of the point, cut by gutters and channels, with depths of only 1–5 m. On the rare mornings when the swell drops right away, those channels are worth exploring. They are floored with cobbles and sand, walled with kelp and coralline algae, and undercut into small ledges holding abalone, crabs, shrimp and the occasional crayfish; the platforms above are covered in Neptune's necklace, sea stars and chitons, and wrasse, zebrafish, leatherjackets and juvenile morwong move through the gutters with the surge. Spearfishing potential is noted. The strong currents over the reefs are the defining hazard – even a small swell pushes water across the flat platforms and it drains back through the gutters with surprising force – and the site is better treated as an adventurous snorkel-and-scuba exploration for divers used to rock platform entries than as a standard dive. Its neighbour Sunderland Bay, 1 km west, offers the same kind of reef with a beach entry and less water movement, and most divers choose it. Surfies Point earns its listing because the reef here is extensive and the point is the last accessible piece of coast before the cliffs run east to Cape Woolamai; on a flat day it is uncrowded and has a wilder feel than the beaches. Check the surf report as well as the swell forecast: if there is a rideable wave at Surfies, there is no dive.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Surfies Point is recorded as Shore/Rock Platform in Phillip Island & Western Port. 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.
- Planned depth
- Confirm the intended route and training requirements; the recorded maximum is not a target.
- 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 Surfies Point 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 Surfies Point 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
Kelp and coralline algae, abalone, crabs and shrimp, southern rock lobster, sea stars and chitons, wrasse, zebrafish, leatherjackets, juvenile morwong, Australian salmon off the point
Location
Basalt point with wide reef platforms on Phillip Island's south coast at the eastern end of The Esplanade, Sunderland Bay, about 1 km east of Sunderland Bay beach.
Facilities nearby
Roadside parking along The Esplanade (Batman Avenue end); no facilities at the point; No air fills on Phillip Island; nearest fills on the Mornington Peninsula (Rye/Portsea) or in Melbourne's south-east
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.