Chinaman’s Hat Seals
LOCATION South Channel, Port Phillip Bay, Victoria
DEPTH 6 Meters
WATER TEMP 18-22 Degrees
DIFFICULTY Medium
Cool water, too deep to stand up, can get choppy
FEATURE
Google Map data © 2023 Imagery © Airbus CNES / Airbus Landsat / Copernicus, Maxar Technologies
Chinaman’s Hat Seals
LOCATION South Channel, Port Phillip Bay, Victoria
DEPTH 6 Meters
WATER TEMP 18-22 Degrees
DIFFICULTY Medium
Cool water, too deep to stand up, can get choppy
FEATURE
Chinaman’s Hat Seal Snorkel
A short boat ride into Port Phillip Bay from Queenscliff or Sorrento will take you to Chinaman’s Hat to swim alongside the playful Australian Fur Seals. Along with the fur seals you will see huge smooth rays and have the chance to see dolphins.
What Can I See?
- Australian Fur Seals
- Smooth Rays
- Bottlenose Dolphins
- Common Dolphins
- Fish
Getting There
Chinaman’s Hat is approximately 5km ESE of Queenscliff in Victoria. Private boats can go there but most people will snorkel here on a tour leaving from Queenscliff or Sorrento.
Where & How do you get in?
Entry is from a boat. Boats must stay 30m from the Chinaman’s Hat structure.
Best Season
The weather is much nice over summer but if you go with a tour they will fit you out in wetsuits. You are more likely to encounter wind and waves in winter.
Potential Hazards
- Stay clear of the structure
Recommended Gear
- Tour provider will provide wetsuits, mask, snorkel & fins
- Camera
Parking
- Parking is available at the marina
Costs / Permits
Costs for tours vary across tour companies. The tour from Sorrento is less expensive but shorter in duration. The tour from Queenscliff, is double the length but almost double the cost. Both have all equipment included. GoPro hire available from Queenscliff.
The information for each snorkel spot is provided by people who have snorkelled there. However, snorkelling conditions change daily. Please be aware that wind, swell, tides and cloud cover can all affect visibility and your experience in the water.
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Tours to Chinaman’s Hat
Tours are available from both Sorrento and Queenscliff.
Best Conditions
Conditions tend to be calmer in the mornings and the seals are reported to be more active then too.
Windy Map Instructions – Click on the wind icon in the top right to see other conditions such as swell, temperature, rain. To clear the four day forecast click and close the wind icon.
Facilities at Queenscliff
Toilets
Showers
Picnic Tables
Parking
Food & Drinks
Facilities at Sorrento
Toilets
Parking
About the Snorkel
We had a fantastic time swimming with the Australian fur seals at Chinaman’s Hat. Our tour left from Queenscliff and it is only a short ride out to the structure. We had all our equipment fitted and organised before we even boarded – so make sure you arrive a few minutes early.
There are about 100 seals that use the Chinaman’s Hat haul out zone so it really isn’t a matter of if you will sea a seal in the water – they are everywhere! No sooner are you in the water, the seals will be cruising past checking you out.
Parks Victoria says you have to stay 5m from the seals, but the seals clearly don’t worry about this rule because they swim past much closer than that so you will no trouble getting a good look at them.
We found it was easier snorkelling if you just get a small amount of distance between yourself and other snorkellers. There are so many seals, you will still see them swimming and doing their underwater acrobatics around you.
The tour usually also includes a snorkel in the Popes Eye Marine Park but because of the conditions and some dolphins came past we didn’t get to do this part – but we had plenty of seal and dolphin time.
The Queenscliff tour also offers the chance for a mermaid line dolphin swim. We probably had a better view of the dolphins from the boat but seeing them briefly in the water was fun too.
Another highlight of the seal snorkel are the big smooth rays that cruise around below Chinaman’s Hat Keep an eye out for them while you watch the seals dart around. They are a great sight gliding over the sandy bottom of the bay.
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