Port Phillip Bay
Pope's Eye — Port Phillip Bay Snorkel & Scuba Review
Review of Pope's Eye, part of Port Phillip Heads Marine National Park in Port Phillip Bay — historic fort structure, fish life, boat access, and why spearfishing is prohibited.
- Region
- Port Phillip Bay
- Access
- boat
- Depth
- 2–8 m
- Skill
- beginner
- Disciplines
- Scuba · Snorkelling
- Rating
- 4.5
Spearfishing: Pope's Eye is an area of Port Phillip Heads Marine National Park — all fishing is prohibited and spear guns are not permitted (Parks Victoria, checked 4 Nov 2026). Observe only; do not take any marine life.
Location
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · Open full map
Marine life you may see
Pink snapper
Chrysophrys auratus
Photo: Melbourne Aquarium, GFDL 1.2, via Wikimedia Commons
Silver trevally
Pseudocaranx georgianus
Photo: Johnmartindavies, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Dusky flathead
Platycephalus fuscus
Photo: Richard Ling, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Pope's Eye is the unfinished bluestone fort ring in Port Phillip Bay — now one of Victoria's best-known snorkel and shallow scuba sites. Fish congregate around the structure because it is protected as part of Port Phillip Heads Marine National Park. If you want to see temperate bay species without hunting pressure, this is the place.
The experience
Most visits are boat-based, anchoring outside the ring and swimming in. Depth is shallow — often 2–8 m — with the structure rising towards the surface. Expect dense schools of small reef fish, trevally, snapper, and occasional rays. Visibility varies with tide and rainfall but can be excellent on clear days.
Snorkelling: Very popular. Stay aware of boat traffic outside the structure and follow your skipper's briefing.
Scuba: Ideal for training dives, photography, and fish behaviour observation. Night dives have been run by clubs historically — confirm current park rules and club permissions.
Freediving: Possible on breath hold for observation, but the site is about watching, not hunting. Spear guns are not permitted in the marine national park.
Regulations
Pope's Eye is an area of the Port Phillip Heads Marine National Park (Parks Victoria, checked 4 Nov 2026). That means:
- No fishing of any kind
- No spear guns: Parks Victoria states they are not permitted in any Victorian marine protected area
- No collecting shells, bait, or marine life
Treat this as a look-only site. Fisheries officers patrol popular bay locations.
Logistics
Launch from Queenscliff, Sorrento, or Mornington ramps depending on weather. Calm weather windows are essential — the Bay can chop up quickly. Anchor responsibly and do not damage the structure.
Rating rationale (4.5 / 5)
Fish density, shallow access, and unique history make this a standout observation dive. Not a spearfishing destination by design. Boat requirement and traffic prevent a perfect score.
For legal hunting sites nearby, read where spearfishing is banned and verify boundaries metre by metre before leaving the marine national park.