Dive Site - Portsea Hole
| Dive Site - Portsea Hole | |||
| Dive Location: | City / Island: | ||
| Portsea Hole | Port Phillip, VIC | ||
| Country: | Rating: | Max. Depth: | Difficulty: |
| Australia |  |
33 m | Advanced Open Water |
| Aquatic Name: | Water: | Altitude: | |
| - | Salt | 0 m | |
| GPS Latitude: | GPS Longitude: | GPS Datum: | |
| 38° 18.684′ S 38.3114° S 38° 18′ 41.04″ S |
144° 42.651′ E 144.71085° E 144° 42′ 39.06″ E |
Google Map | WGS84 |
| 5 dives at this location: | |||
| 22 | 25 | 93 | 164 | 298 | |||
| Map: | |||
| - | |||
| Comments: | |||
| Portsea Hole is a popular dive site inside Port Phillip about 500 m (1,640 ft) to the North-East from Portsea Pier in a sunken remnant secion of the drowned valley of the Yarra River. The surrounding seabed marks the top of Portsea Hole at 12 m (39 ft) and to the North there is a vertical wall approximately 75 m (246 ft) long which drops to sand at 27 m (89 ft), then into a sand bowl which bottoms at 33 m (108 ft). Portsea Hole is a remnant section of the Yarra River with calcarenite vertical reef. Its moderately exposed, vertical and sloping reef is orientated east in a natural amphitheatre. It consists of rocky ledges and outcrops on the western side of a sandy bowl or hole. At the top of the hole, there is a large flat area with very low steps (0.5 m) and a few rock bommies. This area is covered by patches of sand and algae. In the hole, there is a narrow strip of vertical reef wall and ledges at 22 m (72 ft) depth, approximately 2 m (6.56 ft) high and 20 m (66 ft) long, which supports mostly sessile invertebrates. There is also a small area of a rocky outcrop at 27 m (89 ft) depth interspersed with sand. On the wall, algae grow on horizontal reef surfaces and are limited by low light from the overhanging ledges. Portsea Hole is characterised by diverse and abundant fish assemblages as well as a rich benthic community of marine invertebrates, encrusting algae, sponges and soft corals. The wall comprises small overhangs, which are home to a vast array of invertebrate life and fish, in particular the beautiful Southern Blue Devil. On the top of the hole, there are several rock bommies that host hundreds of fish of many species. DIVING PORTSEA HOLE Entry/Exit: Boat. Portsea Hole is a slack water dive from a dive boat. It's a dive for the more experienced diver who has had sound experience diving in tidal situations. It is imperative that you know the state of the tides to make this both a successful and safe diving experience. Vertical sections of Portsea Hole support a high abundance and diversity of sessile invertebrates, including sixteen different types of sponges such as arborescent, flabellate, encrusting and massive sponges. Massive ruffled sponges can be particularly abundant on the reef. The relative dominance of sponges can change over time. Portsea Hole has a high abundance and diversity of fish species including Barber Perch, Southern Hulafish and Silver Sweep. Other commonly seen fish species include the Southern Blue Devil, Butterfly Perch, Jackass Morwong, Gurnards and Bluespotted Goatfish. Portsea Hole has moderate exposure to waves and currents. It is best dived at slack water. You might also like to take a look at the nearby Portsea Hole Wreck. Portsea Hole is is a very popular boat dive site for recreational scuba diving activities. Many Melbourne divers have had their first taste of scuba diving from a boat here. Dive charter operators regularly schedule dives where they head out from Portsea and/or Queenscliff to Portsea Hole. Private dive boats usually launch at the Sorrento Boat Ramp or the Queenscliff Boat Ramp. The marine park area that surrounds Portsea Hole is small, covering only 10 hectares. It's marked by four lit yellow special mark buoys at each of its corners. Location GPS coordinates are known to be accurate. |
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