Victoria

Australia

Point Lonsdale

Dragon's Lair

Castle Rock is basically a square lump of rock, about the size of a football field, sitting alone in an area with a limestone and sand bottom. The top of the rock is at 12 m (40 ft) and usually the shot line is dropped right on top to allow divers to adjust their gear before "plunging" over the edges of the rock formation.

The site has lots of macro fauna all over it with lots of nudibranchs grazing. One wall is covered in tiny yellow zoeanthids.

There are of undercuts at the 20 m (62 ft) max depth where you may sight a cray, or two, usually missing their horns from past encounters with divers. Southern Blue
Devils also hide in the cracks and holes.


The Heads, Bass Straight.

Castle Rock

"HMAS J4 was a J class submarine built by HM Dockyard at Pembroke in Wales and launched on 2 February 1916, was transferred to Australia on 25 March 1919 and operated out of Geelong in Victoria, paid off on 12 July 1922, was sold on 26 February 1924 but sank at her moorings at Williamstown on 10 July 1924, was raised and scuttled off Port Phillip in 1927" Source: Wikipedia.org

J4 submarine is the shallowest of the subs located outside Port Phillip Bay. The wreck is broken in half.

Port Phillip bay

HMAS J4 Submarine is also known as Shallow submarine, 26m Submarine.

HMAS J4 Submarine

This is a nice dive for divers between 16m to 33m so it can be accessed by all level divers. (staying within their level of cert) This site is affected by currents and can be quite demanding at times, vis is also affected by surging currents and may vary from 1m to about 20m. for those suitably certified if you swim to the funnels you can drop down the funnels and you end up in the engine room. Also if you make your way to the galley on the mid deck  towards the bow there is a mural painted on one of the walls which makes for a good photo. At this stage there is very little silting but I do believe this may not be the case within years to come, so you must asses this site to your own experience and cert level to determine how you will plan your dive.

This site is approx 2km offshore between Barwon heads and Ocean grove and is accessible only from a boat. This site has limited access and is accessible via a commercial dive charter (Dive Victoria is a good option) Alternatively if you are using your own boat you must book a window (2hrs) for a mooring via parks Victoria.There are good moorings fixed to the bottom and they are well maintained.

HMAS Canberra is also known as FFG-02 Ex HMAS Canberra.

HMAS Canberra

"HMAS J5 was formerly HMS J5 [1], a First World War J class submarine built for the Royal Navy by HM Dockyard at Devonport in Plymouth.

The J's were three-screw diesel electric submarines of some 1,800 tons armed with 6 torpedo tubes, two of these in the beam position, and a 4-inch gun. They were built to have a fast surfaced speed; in practice nearly 20 knots.

J5 was launched on 9 September 1915 and commissioned on 6 May 1916. She and the other J's were members of the 11th Submarine Flotilla. She served in the North Sea chiefly in operations against German destroyers and U-boats, most of encounters were with the latter. Although engaging several times with enemies the closest she got to sinking the enemy was striking U-86 with a torpedo which fortunately for them did not explode.

After the war, she was transferred along with other members of her class to Australia on 25 March 1919. There she operated out of Geelong in Victoria until paid off on 12 July 1922 as a cost-saving exercise. She was sold on 26 February 1924 and after stripping she and J1 and J2 were sunk in deep water outside Port Phillip Bay on 4 June 1926."
Source: Wikipedia.org

Port Phillip Bay

HMAS J5 Submarine is also known as 36m Submarine J5, The yellow sub, 35m Submarine.

HMAS J5 Submarine

Rotomahana Wreck is a 0-star rated scuba dive and snorkel destination in Australia, VIC, Melbourne which is accessible from shore based on 0 ratings.

Rotomahana Wreck

130 Foot Sub scuttled by explosives June 1st, 1926.

Approx three miles off Barwon Heads

HMAS J2 Submarine is also known as J2 Sub.

HMAS J2 Submarine

Many wrecks. Only dive at slack tide

Located on the Lonsdale side of Port Phillip Heads

Lonsdale Reef is also known as Longsdale Reef.

Lonsdale Reef



Approx 1 km from the Point Lonsdale Light, just outside Port Phillip Heads.

Lonsdale Arches

The Grotto

"HMS J1 later HMAS J1 was a Royal Navy J class submarine built by HM Dockyard at Portsmouth in Hampshire and launched on 6 November 1915.

J1 operated in patrols in the North Sea. In November 1916 a German force made up of half a destroyer flotilla, three dreadnoughts and a battlecruiser set out from port to rescue two submarines U-20 and U-30 that were stranded in fog off Jutland. On the return having only rescued one of the submarines the force passed J1 off Horns Reef on 5 November 1916. Two of the dreadnoughts, the SMS Kronprinz and SMS Großer Kurfürst were torpedoed earning J1's captain, Commander Laurence, a Bar to his DSO. The dreadnoughts were not sunk but managed to reach port where they had to remain for some time while undergoing repairs.

She was transferred along with 5 other J class submarines to Australia on 25 March 1919 and operated out of Geelong in Victoria. She was paid off on 12 July 1922, sold on 26 February 1924 and sunk as a breakwater on 26 May 1926." Source: Wikipedia.org



HMAS J1 Submarine is also known as 36m Submarine, Intact Sub.

Dragon's Lair

Snorkeling and Scuba Diving at Dragon's Lair