St Leonards Pier in Sorrento offers a shore-accessible dive featuring an artificial reef created by pier pylons and surrounding rubble. Divers can explore depths ranging from 4 to 10 metres, with an average of 3 metres. The site is suitable for beginners, though currents can be strong, making slack high tide the preferred time to dive. Marine life includes very common pot-bellied seahorses and sea stars, alongside common stingrays, wrasses, and the short-tailed ceratosoma. Less frequently, divers may encounter blue-ringed octopuses, stonefish, and various rays. Due to active boat traffic from fishing vessels and swing moorings, divers should tow a surface marker buoy at all times.

Portarlington Pier is a shore dive located on the Port Phillip Bay side of the Mornington Peninsula. The site features an artificial reef structure at depths ranging from 2 to 5 metres, with an average depth of 3 metres. Divers can expect visibility between 4 and 7 metres, though conditions vary with wind and swell. Marine life observed at the site includes Port Jackson sharks, fiddler rays, common stingrays, sea stars, tube worms, crabs, eleven-armed sea stars, and snails. The site is suitable for beginners, though divers must remain aware of strong currents, particularly on outgoing tides, and potential vessel movements near the pier.

Scollop Beds is a drift dive located in Port Phillip Bay, featuring a sandy bottom and reef topography. The site ranges in depth from 10 to 23 metres, with an average depth of 15 metres. Due to moderate currents, this site is suited for intermediate divers experienced in drift procedures. Visibility is typically limited, ranging from 3 to 4 metres. Access is by boat only, and divers must be aware of significant boat traffic in this active shipping area. Surface marker buoys are essential for safety. Water temperatures fluctuate between 12C and 21C throughout the year.

The HMAS J3 is a decommissioned Royal Australian Navy submarine resting in shallow waters off Sorrento. This wreck site sits at an average depth of 6 metres, with a range of 5 to 8 metres. The hull is colonised by sponges and draped in kelp. Divers must access the site by boat and should plan dives around slack tide to manage strong currents. Visibility typically ranges from 5 to 10 metres. Species recorded around this area include Weedy Seadragons, Giant Cuttlefish, and Western Blue Devils. Note that the site is located within a prohibited military zone, and access is not allowed.

Queenscliff Pier offers a shallow shore dive featuring a mix of reef and muck environments. Divers explore the area around the pier pylons and the adjacent seafloor at depths ranging from 2 to 5 metres. Visibility typically spans 5 to 10 metres. The site is suitable for beginners, though it requires careful planning due to moderate currents; diving at slack tide is recommended. Hazards include boat traffic, potential entanglement in discarded fishing lines from the active fishing pier, and strong currents. Facilities including parking, toilets, and air fills are available nearby. Water temperatures fluctuate between 13C and 19C throughout the year.

Popes Eye is a partially submerged, circular stone structure located in Port Phillip Bay. Serving as an artificial reef, the site features depths ranging from 1 to 12 metres, with an average depth of 8 metres. It is accessible only by boat and is suitable for beginners. While the interior of the annulus provides protection, strong tidal currents reaching 5 to 8 knots can occur outside the structure. Divers should remain aware of boat traffic on the surface. Visibility varies from 5 to 25 metres, and water temperatures fluctuate between 13C and 19C, necessitating a full exposure suit year-round.

The Rip is a challenging site located at the entrance to Port Phillip Bay near Sorrento. This area features a mix of natural reef, wall, and artificial structures. While the Popes Eye structure provides sheltered conditions, the surrounding area is defined by strong tidal currents reaching 5 to 8 knots. Divers encounter Long-nosed Fur Seals, Blue Throated Wrasse, Butterfly Perch, Old Wife, and various sea stars. Other species include Stonefish, Shaw’s Cowfish, and Clown Doris. Depths range from 1 to 60 metres, with an average of 8 metres. Boat access is required, and conditions demand caution due to heavy boat traffic and rapid weather changes.

Cottage by the Sea is a shallow reef located 100 metres offshore from Portsea. This site features depths between 6 and 10 metres, with an average of 8 metres, making it suitable for beginners. Divers and snorkellers can expect visibility ranging from 10 to 30 metres. Access is via a shore entry, though users should shuffle their feet in the shore break to avoid stingrays. Conditions include moderate currents and potential boat traffic, requiring the use of a surface marker buoy. Water temperatures fluctuate between 13C and 19C throughout the year. Parking is available at the site, and night diving is permitted.