Dive Site - Quarantine Station Reef
| Dive Site - Quarantine Station Reef | |||
| Dive Location: | City / Island: | ||
| Quarantine Station Reef | Port Phillip, VIC | ||
| Country: | Rating: | Max. Depth: | Difficulty: |
| Australia |  |
22 m | Open Water |
| Aquatic Name: | Water: | Altitude: | |
| - | Salt | 0 m | |
| GPS Latitude: | GPS Longitude: | GPS Datum: | |
| 38° 18.222′ S 38.3037° S 38° 18′ 13.32″ S |
144° 41.030′ E 144.683833° E 144° 41′ 1.8″ E |
Google Map | WGS84 |
| 3 dives at this location: | |||
| 47 | 51 | 299 | |||
| Map: | |||
| - | |||
| Comments: | |||
| Named after the Point Nepean Quarantine Station, this is a fantastic drift dive site. It's located about 200 to 300 metres out in front of the old Quarantine Station in Ticonderoga Bay, on Point Nepean inside Port Phillip. The quarantine station operated for over 100 years from the early 1850s to about 1950. During that time hundreds of ships anchored here for extended periods of time, to ensure that no communicable diseases were brought into the colony of Melbourne. The reef here has its top in about 12 metres of water and runs East to West parallel to the current. The reef drops away to the South with depths of 20 metres able to be reached. The reef is very nice with lots of soft corals and sponges. It's the possibility of spotting artefacts discarded from the sailing vessels over 100 years ago, that make this dive exciting. The site has 6 large anchors and is littered with old bottles, china plates, bowels, cups, clay jugs and the occasional 9 inch black powder gun shell. Some very good finds have been made in this area including intact plates from the White Star Line, P&O, Black Ball Packets, Pacific Steam Navigation Company, A.U.S.N.C and a full carving plate from the Albert Star. One day it's just an underwater sand dune, the next day a treasure display. This site can be shore or boat dived and can be dived on any tide or slack water. The best time is when the water is moving and drift diving is the most common way to find things and cover a large area without swimming too hard. While there is a light reef area, it's mostly a sandy bottom. There is not a lot of life on the bottom. At times there can be a lot of Spider Crabs, and Stingray hidden in the sand. The odd pod of Dolphins and the occasional Seal can be seen in this area. Location GPS coordinates from Dive Victoria. Accuracy unknown. |
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