Rip Bank - Victoria

Sunset Reef is a personal favourite of ours, especially for an afternoon dive. The name hints at it, but the way the late sun hits the sloping hard coral from 8m down to 18m is something special. We’ve spent entire dives just hovering over the sand flats at 19m, watching juvenile whitetip reef sharks resting under the scattered bommies. It’s a slow-paced dive, perfect for photographers or anyone who just wants to soak it all in. The real magic here, though, is the cleaning stations. We’ve seen blue-spotted stingrays queuing up alongside all kinds of reef fish, getting scrubbed clean by tiny cleaner wrasse. The staghorn coral patches are prolific, creating a textured landscape for these interactions. We always find ourselves taking our time here, just watching the busy activity unfold. Visibility is reliably around 20m, making it a comfortable dive for any skill level, though some current can pick up around the full moon. It’s not a drift, but it keeps things interesting.

Location

Victoria, Australia, Australasia

Coordinates

-38.306700, 144.627400

Type

reef

Marine Protected Area: Port Phillip Heads