Meet the site
Table Rock is the flat sandstone headland that closes the south-eastern end of Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary, and it is the most interesting piece of terrain in the sanctuary. The point is undercut on its seaward side into ledges, overhangs and a cave-like cavity beneath the rock itself, with deeper water off the face than anywhere else along this shore and a bouldery bottom where slabs have fallen from the cliff. That structure attracts the sanctuary's bigger fish: dusky morwong, Port Jackson sharks resting under the overhangs, schools of old wives, moonlighters and zebrafish, scalyfin, Tasmanian blennies, Eastern Australian salmon passing outside in autumn, and smooth stingrays, southern eagle rays and fiddler rays on the sand at the base. Urchins and sea stars are thick on the rock and the cave holds cardinalfish and the occasional cuttlefish. Because the point is exposed to the south-west, it is also the sanctuary site most affected by weather; on a fresh south-westerly the outer face is white water and the dive should not be attempted. On a calm day with a high tide it is the sanctuary's best dive and a popular night dive, the undercut being close to Melbourne and full of nocturnal life. The entry is from Watkins Bay via steps from the Bay Trail, with parking in Rennison Street and a road crossing, and the nicest way to dive it is one-way: in at Watkins Bay, around the point, and out at the Sea Scouts Jetty ramp 200 m east, which sits just outside the sanctuary boundary.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Table Rock, Ricketts Point 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.
- Overhead environments
- Ask whether the plan stays entirely in open water. A wreck or cave listing is not permission or training to enter.
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 Table Rock, Ricketts 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 Table Rock, Ricketts 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
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
Flat-topped sandstone point at the south-eastern end of Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary, entered from Watkins Bay below the Bay Trail east of Rennison Street, Beaumaris.
Facilities nearby
Street parking in Rennison Street; public toilets on the eastern side of Table Rock Point; cafes in Beaumaris; nearest air fills Scuba Culture
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.auscubadoctor.com.auparks.vic.gov.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.
