Flerieu Peninsula Dive Sites

Aldinga Drop Off

36 16 270 S

138 25 799 E

21m

The Aldinga drop off is on the edge of the Aldinga reef lying 1.5 kms off the Aldinga beach. Access is via boat which can be launched from the Southern end of Aldinga Beach or from O’Sullivan’s Beach ramp. The reef drops away from 5m to 21m creating a spectacular dive that is a mass of caverns, crevasses and overhangs. The reef is inside an aquatic reserve and fish abound making this a photographer’s paradise. The drop off is where the big schools of snapper stay when travelling north to their breeding grounds. When the snapper are running it is advisable not to dive this area as the snapper school is occasionally followed by white pointer sharks.

Aldinga Pinnacles

35 16 010 S

138 26 020 E

8m

Part of the Aldinga reef system closer in shore from the drop off. Spectacular dive with lots of swim throughs, overhangs, fish life and weed growth. The dive is in only 8m of water so an extended amount of time can be spent exploring the reef system, the overhangs and occasional cave. Visibility here is generally very good and swimming amongst rock pinnacles extending from the sea floor to just beneath the surface of the sea is very different to other SA dives.

Black’s Reef

14m

Black’s reef is between the Bluff and Wright Island in Encounter Bay at Victor Harbour. It is quite a swim if done as a shore dive. Alternatively access is by boat from the Bluff boat ramp. There is an extensive reef system with depths to 14m.

HMAS Hobart

35 28 09S

138 09 05E

30m

The ex HMAS Hobart was a Charles F. Adams class guided missile destroyer in the Royal Australia Navy (DDG 39), built in the United States of America and commissioned in 1965 in Boston. The vessel completed three tours of duty off Vietnam and in 1968, two sailors lost their lives and seven others were injured after the vessel was hit by “friendly” fire. The Hobart was sunk in November 2002 as an artificial reef and lies in 30 metres of water approximately 4 kms off Rapid Bay. Access is by boat from Sunset Cove boat ramp and a permit system applies. The 134m wreck which takes several visits to see it all caters for all levels of diving experience.

Gull Rock

35:14:590 S

138:27:570 E

10m

Gull Rock is a small island close to shore at the southern end of Maslin’s Beach. A reef extends out from the rock for several hundred metres. Access to the reef is by boat from O’Sullivan’s Beach boat ramp or from the beach south of Aldinga Reef. The reef extends from just below the surface to around 10m

Lassiter’s Reef

8m

It is a 50m diameter dome shaped reef in 8m of water. The is a surprising variety of sea life and residents include the leafy sea dragon. Access is by a long swim from the beach at Second Valley or by boat from Sunset Cove boat ramp.

Myponga Beach

5m

A great shore dive with lots of crevices, walls and ledges. Most of the dive, there is a 4-5 metre vertical wall, with lots of drummer, Talma, old wives, goat fish and leatherjackets hanging around.

Rapid Bay Jetty

10m

This is one of the best jetty dives in Australia, with lots of growth on the pylons and huge numbers of fish under and around the jetty. Access is from the shore over the rocks or by boat from Sunset Cove boat ramp. There are schools of trevally, morwong, yellowtail, Tommy ruff, old wife and other common species. Very large dusky morwong are common, as are the wonderful gurnard perch and other hidden finds. The real special thing about the jetty, is the high likelihood of a sighting of the leafy sea dragon. The more common weedy sea dragon is also very often found here. There is usually plenty for those interested in the little critters which inhabit the nooks and crannies.

Rapid Head

An interesting dive site, with a vertical wall, from the bottom which varies from 6-8m deep and usually an abundance of fish life. Access is by boat from Sunset Cove boat ramp. There is a fairly low rocky reef system, that heads out to sea from the wall.

Second Valley

On the southern side of the jetty are 3 small bays. A shore dive, entry can be made by walking around to the second bay. South of this bay and cut into the cliff face are 3 small caves including a swim through with a right angle in it. Fish life is often sparse but leafy and weedy sea dragons are sometimes seen.

Star of Greece

The Star of Greece was built in Belfast in 1868 and was a 1227 ton, three masted ship. The ship ran aground just north of Port Willunga in the early hours of 13 July 1888 having left Port Adelaide the previous afternoon. A permanent buoy marks the wreck and access is by long walk and snorkel or by boat launched from the Southern end of Aldinga Beach or from O’Sullivan’s Beach ramp. Despite being wrecked only 200m from shore in 6m of water, only 10 of the crew of 27 survived. When clear of the sand which can almost cover the entire wreck a lot of wreckage can be seen.

The Blowhole

This site is in Deep Creek Conservation Park 80 kms south of Adelaide and is only accessible by four wheel drive. You need to follow the signs through the park, down the dirt road to the car park. Four wheel drive only from the car park down a very steep track to the end. Follow the steep walk/path several hundred metres to a small beach. Entry is anywhere from the beach. It’s beautiful unspoilt site. Teeming with life, crays galore, seals and sea dragons. You do have to watch for heavy current and freak waves and it’s strongly advised you dive with someone who knows the area at first.

The Bluff

40m

The Bluff at Victor Harbour is an awesome in good conditions. Entry is from the small wharf on the eastern side of the Bluff. Leafy sea dragons are often seen here. There are also seals, seahorses, weedy sea dragons, crayfish, nudibranchs, plus lots and lots of fish. The area is strewn with big granite boulders, stacked one on top of the other, with big holes, ledges, swim throughs, etc. In the holes are a big variety of sponge, and soft coral life, as well as the occasional nudibranch. Depth ranges from 4m to 40m.

Whale Bones

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Whale bones is in Encounter Bay at Victor Harbour. Follow the road to the bluff and turn off at the hospital. Whale bones is the reef in front of and to the right where this road meets the beach. Access is from shore over a 100 or so metres of knee deep water or by boat from the nearby Bluff boat ramp. This is a big system of limestone caves, undercuts, swim-throughs, and reef. It is a virtual honeycomb of caves, and passages. The top of the reef is only in about 2-3 metres of water, with lots of holes in the top that lead down into the caves. If you head out to sea, you will also see a drop-off, which also leads into the caves. The site got its name from the fact that there used to be lots of whale bones in the area, as the whalers used to dump the whale carcasses in the area.