Dive-site story
A historic military structure inside the entrance of Port Phillip Bay, Chinaman's Hat serves as a haul-out site for Australian fur seals. Below the waterline, marine growth and kelp patches scatter across the sandy seabed surrounding the pylons. Juvenile and adult seals circle divers in the shallows before darting surface-ward. Strong tidal flow through the nearby shipping channel demands strict entry timing.
Encounters with Australian fur seals around the submerged structure
Sheltered shallow profile suited to photography and long bottom times
Benthic fish and macro life sheltering around weathered base pylons
Location
Use the map to plan with your operator and confirm the exact entry point on the day.
Seasonality
Austral summer and early autumn bring calmer weather and warmer water.
Marine life
| Species | Likelihood | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Fur SealArctocephalus pusillus doriferus | Common | ||||||||||||
| Smooth StingrayBathytoshia brevicaudata | Common | ||||||||||||
| Southern Globe-FishDiodon nicthemerus | Common | ||||||||||||
| Weedy SeadragonPhyllopteryx taeniolatus | Rare |
Marine forecast
Book with DIVEROUT
