Flinders Pier Snorkel
LOCATION Flinders Pier, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia
DEPTH 2-6 Meters
WATER TEMP 17-22 Degrees
DIFFICULTY Easy
Simple access from the pier or off the beach. The Weedy Sea Dragons are near the bottom 5-6 meters down so duckdiving is required
FEATURE
Google Map data © 2024 Imagery © Airbus, CNES / Airbus, Maxar Technologies
Flinders Pier Snorkel
LOCATION Flinders Pier, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia
DEPTH 2-6 Meters
WATER TEMP 17-22 Degrees
DIFFICULTY Easy
Simple access from the pier or off the beach. The Weedy Sea Dragons are near the bottom 5-6 meters down so duckdiving is required
FEATURE
Google Map data © 2024 Imagery © Airbus, CNES / Airbus, Maxar Technologies
Flinders Pier Snorkel
Flinders Pier is one of the best spots in Victoria to see weedy sea dragons. It will help if you are comfortable getting to the bottom, but keep an eye on the scuba divers to know where to look. You might also spot some of the biggest smooth rays we have ever seen!
What Can I See?
The big attraction here are the weedy sea dragons – but snorkellers will need a keen eye to spot them!
- Weedy Sea Dragons
- Smooth Stingrays
- Fish
- Biscuit Seastar
- Sea Urchin
- Cuttlefish
Getting There
Mornington Peninsula is about 60 minutes south of the Melbourne CDB. Flinders Pier is on the southeast coast of the peninsula. Public transport is tricky, best if you can make your own way there.
Where & How do you get in?
For our snorkel we entered the water at the steps about one third of the way along the pier (or jetty). There are some wide steps down into the water which is a real treat for snorkellers and scuba divers.
We left the water at the beach but the shore could also be a good exit point – especially if the steps are full of divers which they were for our swim.
Best Season
Weedy sea dragons are around all year but are most active from October to January which is breeding season. During this time you might spot the males getting around with a brood patch on their tails.
Potential Hazards
- Boat Traffic
- Fishing lines from above
- Currents
- Cold Water
Recommended Gear
- Wetsuit
- Camera with light
How Busy / Crowds
Flinders Pier is regarded as one of the best places anywhere to see weedy sea dragons so it is a popular spot, especially in the summer holidays.
We were in the water around 10am and it wasn’t too busy, but by the time we left there were plenty of divers around. This won’t bother snorkellers (unless you want to get out at the pier steps) and in fact watching the divers is a good guide to where the weedies are on the bottom.
Parking
There is a large parking area just a just walk from the pier. In peak times like over summer, it will get pretty full but there are always people coming and going.
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.
Disclosure: Please Note That Some Links In This Post May Be Affiliate Links, And At No Additional Cost To You, We Earn A Small Commission If You Make A Purchase. Commissions Go Toward Maintaining The Snorkel Spots Website.
Rate this Snorkel Spot
If you have snorkelled here, rate your experience
Tours
Dr Scuba operates dive tours here. There are tours for snorkellers at Portsea Pier to sea the weedy sea dragons and seals and dolphins from Sorento.
Best Conditions
Best winds for here are west or northerly winds, or no wind at all. Breeze from the east or south will create currents and more swell.
Also aim for the period either side of low or hide tide to lessen the impact of currents. At low tide, snorkellers will be closer to the weedies.
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 Flinders Pier
Toilets
Picnic Tables
Parking
BBQ’s
Shade
Food & Drinks
Boat Ramp
About the Snorkel
This was a tricky snorkel to rate. 3 stars might seem a bit harsh in hindsight, but if you are a beginner snorkeller who stays on the surface there isn’t a whole lot to see here. The enormous, and I mean huge, smooth rays that regularly cruise past are the main highlight. There is some nice colour on the pylons, lots of little blennies, cow fish, leatherjackets and sea stars.
But for more advanced snorkellers who can dive down 4-6m this is the go to spot in Victoria for weedy sea dragons. Be warned though, they are tricky to spot from the surface. In fact, we didn’t see any on our first snorkel here which was very frustrating!
We had more luck on our second snorkel the next day. Our big tip for here is to watch or talk to one of the many divers that will be cruising around below you.
Apparently, the area just to the right of entry platform is usually a good spot, but for our swim, it turns out all the weedies were down at the very end of the jetty.
We headed there, duck dived to the bottom and there they were. And as we were told, once you spot one, they are much easier to find. Look for them hovering just above the weeds. They are much easier to spot if you are on the bottom – which is what makes it challenging for snorkellers.
They are beautiful things and even though we could only watch them for however long we could breathe hold, it was a fantastic thing to tick off our snorkelling bucket list.
So if you can free dive, duck dive or better still, can get some tanks on your back, this is a great spot to see these beautiful creatures.
Snorkel Spots Nearby
More Things To Do
- Swimming with Turtles in Australia - October 29, 2023
