The 10 Channel Marker is a drift dive along a navigation marker in Port Phillip Bay, where a moderate current does most of the work for you as you cruise at 12 metres depth. Visibility typically runs between 5 and 10 metres, which is perfectly workable for spotting the site's highlights. Keep your eyes on the sandy bottom and surrounding structure for weedy seadragons, seahorses, octopus, and cuttlefish. Stingrays and spider crabs are common finds, and Port Jackson sharks sometimes rest nearby. Playful seals occasionally pass through. The current means you need basic buoyancy control sorted before heading here, but the depth is manageable for newer divers.

Elsa's Reef 2 is an artificial reef sitting in up to 12 metres of water off Victoria's coast, making it a comfortable introduction to reef diving. The structure attracts some genuinely exciting wildlife for a beginner site, including octopus, pale octopus, and the striking but venomous blue-ringed octopus, so keep your hands to yourself and just observe. Stingrays and anglerfish round out the marine life you might encounter. Visibility runs from 4 to 7 metres, which is typical for this part of Victoria, and currents can vary, so check conditions before you go. The cold water means a good wetsuit is essential.

Rye Pier is a great entry point into diving in Port Phillip Bay, offering easy shallow waters of 2 to 6 metres and good visibility of 5 to 10 metres. The mix of reef, seagrass beds and sandy muck makes for surprisingly varied diving right from the shore. This is prime seahorse territory, with both Big-bellied and Short-headed Seahorses found here, along with Tasseled Anglerfish and a good range of nudibranchs tucked into the substrate. Smooth Rays and Stingarees cruise the sandy patches, while Giant Spider Crabs appear in numbers during warmer months. Keep a respectful distance from any Blue-ringed Octopus you encounter. Currents are mild, making this manageable for new divers.

Safety Bay is a reef site in Victoria suited to beginners looking to build confidence in the water. The shallow, calm conditions make it a forgiving environment to practise skills and explore the reef at your own pace. Visibility is variable, so what you see on any given day can differ quite a bit, but that is part of what keeps the site interesting across multiple visits. Mild currents mean you can generally move around without much effort. Various reef species make their home here, so keep an eye out along the reef structure as you explore. Entry is by boat, so confirm arrangements locally before heading out.

Safety Beach is a gentle shore dive into a seagrass and muck environment, perfect for beginners getting comfortable in the water. The site sits in easy shallow waters between 1 and 6 metres, with no current to worry about. Visibility can be variable, so slow down and look closely at the seagrass beds and sandy patches where the real rewards hide. Seahorses, octopus, nudibranchs, and sea stars all live here, and stingrays often rest on the bottom. Keep an eye out for blennies and goatfish working through the sediment. Watch for boat traffic on the surface, and be careful not to disturb any lines or ropes near the entry point. The water is cold, so a wetsuit is essential year-round.

South Channel Fort is a submerged historical structure that now doubles as an artificial reef, giving beginner divers something genuinely interesting to explore in relatively shallow water. Depths run from 5 to 12 metres, so you have plenty of time to look around without rushing your no-decompression limits. Visibility typically sits around 10 to 12 metres, which is good for Victoria's bay diving. Fish are the main attraction here, using the fort's structure as shelter and feeding ground. Be aware that moderate currents can run through the site, so pick a settled day and stay close to the structure where the water moves less. Boat traffic in the channel is a real hazard, so maintain good buoyancy and stay well below the surface.

Blairgowrie Pier is a genuine highlight for new divers in Victoria, offering easy shallow waters between 2 and 7 metres with visibility that can reach 25 metres on a good day. The pylons and surrounding reef attract an impressive variety of critters, including seahorses, nudibranchs, octopus, and cuttlefish. Patient divers scanning the sandy bottom may spot camouflaged tasselled anglerfish and stargazers. Giant spider crabs congregate here in numbers, and stingrays are a fairly regular presence. The mild current makes it manageable for beginners, though the water is cold year-round so a good wetsuit is essential.

Bridgewater Bay Rock Pool is a sheltered shore entry site suited to beginner divers and snorkellers looking to explore a temperate reef in easy shallow waters. Depths range from 1 to 8 metres, and while visibility can be variable, calmer days reward you with sightings of seahorses, cuttlefish, octopus, and boxfish moving through kelp and sea sponges. Stingrays rest on sandy patches, and juvenile fish shelter around the reef structure. Watch your footing near sharp coral on entry and exit, and give any marine life plenty of space. A mild current keeps conditions manageable for newer divers.