Scubabo Cliffs Boat Dive - Friday 18th July. 12.50pm Departure Portsea Pier. 11.00am meet time at The Dive Shop.

Lonsdale Wall

 Wall Dive |  Boat access

Lonsdale Wall | © Phil Watson

Depth: 12 m (39 ft) to 38 m (125 ft)

The Lonsdale Wall dive site is but one of the many spectacular dive sites on Lonsdale Wall. The tidal flow in and out of Port Phillip each day means this site is in high-velocity waters providing plenty of nutrients for the marine life that densely covers Lonsdale Wall. Thus this site should be dived on the short window of slack water. Dive charter boats operating out of Portsea and Queenscliff regularly schedule this dive site, or one of the other dive sites on Lonsdale Wall. Private dive boats usually head out to Lonsdale Wall from the Sorrento or Queenscliff boat ramps.

The Swim Through, by Jane Headley.

Tom Wende diving Lonsdale Wall
© Sonar Wetsuits

Lonsdale Wall has overhangs and ledges and undercuts providing sanctuary to an enormous variety of fish including the spectacular Southern Blue Devil, Leather Jackets, Dusky Morwong, Southern Hulafish, Old Wives plus Southern Rock Lobster (aka Crayfish) and Giant Australian Cuttlefish. Occasional sightings of a Port Jackson Shark snoozing under a ledge, or and if you are really lucky you may even spot a Gulf Wobbegong or Sharpnose Sevengill Shark cruising slowly along the wall. Colourful growth in the form of soft corals, sponges, hanging sea fans in bright yellow, orange and other varieties in pink and burgundy. At least four different species of Nudibranchs and Seastars can be found here if you look closely.

As you descend down Lonsdale Wall there is a slight step out every 6 to 9 metres or so, and behind each step-out, there is a huge overhang. Shining a torch under these ledges will reveal a myriad of life and colour, with sections carpeted in Yellow Zoanthid Anemone like a field of yellow daisies.

Divers need to be careful as they descend on Lonsdale Wall. The next terrace down may appear not so far, but before you know it, you can be unintentionally in very deep water. Because of the strong currents caused by fast tidal flow near The Heads, Lonsdale Wall is dived on slack water. Dives are usually limited to 20 to 30 minutes of slack water. Slack water is halfway between high and low water.

Lonsdale Wall from Allie Beckhurst on Vimeo.