Melbourne Aquarium offers a genuinely unusual diving experience: a controlled, shore-entry dive inside a purpose-built aquarium rather than open water. Depths run from 1 to 7 metres in easy, shallow conditions, making this a comfortable choice if you are new to diving. Visibility varies, so conditions are not always crystal clear, and currents can shift within the tank. You will share the water with tawny nurse sharks, leopard sharks, Port Jackson sharks, wobbegong sharks, speartooth sharks, green sea turtles, and stingrays. Guided tours are available, and the site has toilets, a cafe, and a dive shop on site.

Brighton Pier offers a genuinely accessible entry point into diving in Victoria. The shallow depth of 5 to 8 metres means you're never far from the surface, and with no current to manage, you can take your time exploring the reef beneath the pier structure. Visibility typically ranges from 5 to 10 metres, enough to comfortably follow what's around you. Various reef species make their home here, and the pier pylons themselves attract marine life that wouldn't otherwise gather in open water. Shore entry keeps things simple. Be aware of boat traffic in the area and stay alert throughout your dive.

Williamstown Beach offers one of Melbourne's most accessible shore dives, with shallow waters that make it perfect for building confidence if you're just starting out. You'll enter from the beach and quickly find yourself exploring a reef system in depths ranging from 1 to 6 metres, making it easy to stay comfortable while you practise your skills. The mild current and visibility of 5 to 10 metres let you focus on discovering the smaller residents that call this reef home. Glass shrimp hide among the sponges, while nudibranchs crawl along the rocky surfaces in surprising colours. You'll spot crabs tucked into crevices, sea stars clinging to the reef, and pipefish drifting past with their distinctive elongated bodies. Leatherjackets and cowfish patrol the area, along with schools of small fish that weave through the underwater landscape. The warmer months from December through May provide the best conditions for diving here. Shore access means you can take your time with entries and exits, and the convenient facilities including parking, toilets, and a nearby cafe make this an easy day out. Just stay aware of boat traffic in the area and watch for any fishing line that could cause entanglement issues.

The HMAS Cerberus sits in just 3 to 5 metres of water, making it one of the more accessible wreck dives in Victoria. The shallow depth and lack of current mean you can take your time exploring without feeling rushed, and visibility typically ranges from 5 to 10 metres. Keep an eye out for garfish moving around the structure and watch your hands and knees around the wreck, as sea urchins have made their home here. The main hazard is entanglement risk from the wreck itself, so stay aware of loose lines or narrow gaps and avoid pushing into enclosed sections.

Beaumaris Bay is a gentle shore dive in the northern suburbs of Melbourne, making it a practical choice for new divers and snorkellers. The water stays shallow throughout, reaching just 1 to 5 metres, and the mild current means you can take your time exploring. Visibility is variable, so conditions can change between visits. Beneath the surface you will find sponge gardens, seagrass beds, and reef patches that attract dusky morwongs, southern hulafish, Australian sweep, moonlighters, and zebrafish. Keep a slow pace and you may spot weedy seadragons, smooth rays, sea stars, and crabs tucked into the reef. Watch your footing near sea urchins on entry.

Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary is a shore entry reef dive in easy shallow waters, reaching a maximum of 10 metres. This makes it a comfortable choice for beginner divers and snorkellers wanting to explore a temperate reef environment. Visibility is variable, so conditions can change from visit to visit. The reef and surrounding seagrass beds support a range of local species including dusky morwongs, zebra fish, southern hulafish, moonlighters, Australian sweep, abalone, brittle stars, sea stars, and crabs. Port Jackson sharks also visit the area. Watch for boat traffic and surf on entry, and avoid handling marine life. Good facilities are on site.

Scollop Beds is a drift dive over sandy bottom terrain in Victoria's cooler waters, where the namesake scallops share the seafloor with some genuinely interesting fauna. Depths run from 10 to 23 metres in the deeper sections, with visibility ranging from 3 to 15 metres depending on conditions. The moderate current does the work for you, but stay alert as it can strengthen without much warning. Keep your eyes on the bottom for blue-ringed octopus, Southern Red Scorpionfish and smooth stingrays, and scan the water column and structure for cuttlefish, weedy sea dragons, seahorses, Port Jackson sharks and nudibranchs.

Frankston Pier is a welcoming shore dive built around the artificial reef structure beneath the pier itself. The water stays shallow throughout, reaching just 8 metres at most, with visibility typically ranging from 5 to 10 metres. There is no current to contend with, which makes this a relaxed dive for beginners still building confidence. The pier pylons and surrounding sandy bottom attract a good mix of marine life, including weedy sea dragons, seahorses, blue devil fish, nudibranchs, smooth rays, and puffer fish. Watch the surface for boat traffic and take care around any lines or ropes near the structure.