Meet the site
The Pipelines at Indented Head are the water intakes for the Great Southern Waters land-based abalone farm on the Bellarine's Port Phillip shore, a pair of large pipes that leave the beach and run some 500 m out across the shallow sand to a yellow buoy. They were never meant to be a dive site, but like any long hard object laid on a sandy bottom they have become one. The pipes sit on and slightly above the sand in 1-4 m, and after years underwater their tops are dominated by kelp and other brown algae and thick with filter-feeding ascidians, while the shaded undersides carry nice sponge growth in reds, oranges and yellows that would not otherwise exist on this shore. Fish gather along them as they would along a reef edge: leatherjackets, wrasse, blennies, cardinalfish and juvenile snapper, with rays frequenting the area in numbers (smooth stingrays, fiddler rays and stingarees on the sand beside the pipes are the site's signature), seahorses and pipefish in the weed on the pipes and octopus wherever there is a gap between pipe and sand. It is a linear dive of the simplest kind, out along the pipes and back, which makes it an excellent night dive and a good site for new divers and snorkellers, provided the northerly-facing exposure is respected. Depth never exceeds 4 m even near the buoy, so the whole dive is long and shallow. Governor Reef, a natural shoal 1 km south-east, and Andersen Reserve at Point George 2 km north are the neighbouring sites, and St Leonards Pier is 4 km south.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
The Pipelines, Indented Head is recorded as Artificial Reef in Geelong & Bellarine. 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.
- Lines and obstructions
- Discuss any known entanglement concerns and the suitability of the planned area.
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 The Pipelines, Indented Head 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 The Pipelines, Indented Head 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
Smooth stingrays, southern fiddler rays, stingarees, leatherjackets, wrasse, blennies, cardinalfish, juvenile snapper, seahorses, pipefish, octopus, kelp and ascidians on the pipes, sponges beneath
Location
Seawater intake pipelines for the onshore abalone farm at Indented Head, running about 500 m seaward from the beach to a yellow marker buoy, on the Bellarine's Port Phillip coast between Portarlington and St Leonards.
Facilities nearby
Roadside parking on The Esplanade; toilets and general store at Indented Head; nearest air fills Bay City Scuba or Dive Victoria Group
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.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.