Queenscliff Bottle Drift is a drift dive in the deeper waters of Victoria's Port Phillip Heads, where a moderate current does most of the work and carries you along for the ride. Depths run from 26 to 30 metres, with visibility ranging from 10 to 30 metres depending on conditions. As a beginner, you'll want to stay close to your guide and let the current move you rather than fighting it. Keep an eye on the sandy bottom and mid-water for crabs and stingrays, and with luck, seals or dolphins may join you along the way. Boat entry is standard here, and guided tours are strongly recommended.

Portsea Hole drops from shallow reef to 30 metres down a dramatic wall that attracts some of Victoria's most sought-after marine life. Strong currents sweep nutrients through this site, making it productive hunting ground for divers willing to work for their encounters. You'll find weedy sea dragons drifting among the kelp in the shallower sections, whilst blue devil fish patrol the wall's crevices. Puffer fish hover near the reef structure, and large schools of whiting create shimmering curtains in the water column. The wall itself hosts extensive sponge gardens and soft coral colonies that thrive in the current-rich environment. Visibility ranges from 5 to 10 metres, typical for Victoria's productive waters. The currents demand solid buoyancy control and current diving skills, particularly when exploring the deeper sections where the wall truly opens up. Boat access only, launching from Portsea's facilities. This isn't a casual dive, you'll be managing depth, current, and boat traffic throughout. The summer months from December through May offer the most consistent conditions, though Victoria's waters remain cool year-round. Plan your dive around slack tide if possible, though even then you'll likely encounter some current. The combination of depth, current, and boat activity makes this strictly advanced territory.

The name says it all at this Victoria drift dive, where strong currents carry you across sandy ground scattered with scallops. Depths run from 5 to 12 metres, keeping things manageable for beginners, and visibility stretches anywhere from 6 to 15 metres, so you generally get a clear view of what's ahead. Keep an eye on the bottom for banjo sharks and rays resting in the sand, and slow down if you spot weedy seadragons clinging to structure as you pass. Squid and starfish round out the cast of regulars. The current does the swimming for you, but you need to be comfortable with it before jumping in.

Portsea Pier West Reef offers one of Victoria's most accessible shore dives, perfect for building your underwater confidence in sheltered conditions. You'll enter from the beach and explore a shallow reef system that extends along the western side of the pier, with depths ranging from 1 to 8 metres. The site combines natural reef structures with artificial habitat, creating diverse terrain that attracts an impressive variety of marine life. The real draw here is the chance to spot weedy sea dragons drifting through the seagrass beds, their ornate appendages swaying with the gentle movement. You'll also find seahorses clinging to kelp fronds, curious pufferfish and globe fish investigating divers, and cuttlefish displaying their colour-changing abilities. Keep your eyes open for octopus tucked into reef crevices, leatherjackets browsing the algae, and cleaner shrimp stations where small cat sharks sometimes rest. If you're lucky, eagle rays cruise past in the blue. Visibility varies between 5 and 25 metres depending on conditions, while moderate currents keep the water moving without creating difficulties for newer divers. The cold water requires a decent wetsuit or drysuit year-round. Watch for boat traffic around the pier and be prepared for occasional surge near the surface. The site has convenient facilities including parking, toilets and a nearby dive shop.

Franklin Point is a shore-based drift dive where strong currents do the work, carrying you through a site that runs from the shallows down to 33 metres. Visibility regularly reaches 10 to 30 metres, which makes reading the terrain and spotting marine life straightforward once you're in the water. The site rewards patient, observant divers: weedy sea dragons and pot-bellied seahorses require a slow eye, while octopus and spider crabs tend to tuck into the bottom structure. Squid, old wife, leatherjackets, cowfish and puffer fish are common in the water column. Plan your entry and exit around the current, and keep boat traffic in mind throughout the dive.

The Eliza Ramsden sits in 6 to 9 metres of water off Victoria, making it unusually accessible for a wreck dive, though strong currents demand solid buoyancy control and situational awareness. Visibility swings considerably, reaching up to 20 metres on good days, which rewards divers who time their visit right. The wreck has developed into a solid artificial reef, with gorgonian corals establishing themselves across the structure. Kingfish, trevally and sweep move through in schools, while blue devils, boarfish and wrasse work closer to the hull. Cuttlefish, flathead and leatherjackets round out a diverse resident population. Watch for boat traffic throughout your dive.

London Bridge Rockpool is a shallow shore entry site sitting in just 0 to 2 metres of water, making it an accessible starting point for beginner snorkellers and divers curious about temperate marine life. Visibility here is variable, so conditions can shift depending on swell and surge. Despite the moderate to strong current that can push through, the rock pool environment shelters a surprising range of small creatures. Look carefully and you will find sea stars, crabs, nudibranchs, weed shrimp, cuttlefish, and the unusual Evan's Sea Spider tucked into crevices. Watch your footing around sea urchins and sharp surfaces on entry and exit.

Cheviot Beach carries a serious reputation among Victoria's diving community, and the conditions demand respect before you enter the water. Strong rip currents and surf make this a site reserved for experienced divers who understand how to read a beach and manage powerful water movement. Once underwater, the reef supports a range of local species, though variable visibility means conditions shift considerably between dives. Sharp coral adds another layer of awareness required throughout the dive. Best approached during the calmer summer and autumn months, from December through May, when conditions are marginally more manageable.