Just 20 minutes from Melbourne's CBD, Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary offers a protected bay snorkeling experience over shallow (<5m) sandstone reefs, seagrass beds, and hidden sea caves. The crystal-clear waters of Port Phillip Bay teem with over 50 fish species, from colourful zebrafish and southern hulafish to Port Jackson Sharks and Southern Fiddler Rays. This family-friendly marine park features expansive intertidal rock platforms perfect for rockpooling at low tide, plus offshore reef bommies carpeted in green Caulerpa and brown Sargassum seaweed for more adventurous snorkelers to explore.
Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary
BeginnerMAYBE
MAYBE
Fair. Experienced snorkellers only.
Showing last known conditions
Wave Height 0.2 mSwell Period 8.7 sWind Speed 4.7 knPrecipitation 40 mmTidal Phase flood
Last evaluated
© Sourabh.biswas003The spot
Community-maintained
Community contribution: submitted by Daniel
Know before you go
Logged by the community, confirmed by mods
Moderate risk: Onshore Winds
Moderate to strong onshore southerly winds create rough conditions and poor visibility year-round.
Low risk: Low tide rock exposure
At low tide large areas of the sandstone platform are exposed, making entry/exit slippery and potentially hazardous on sharp rocks and barnacles.
Low risk: Cold water temperatures
Port Phillip Bay water temperatures can drop below 12°C in winter; even summer temps rarely exceed 22°C. Wetsuit recommended year-round.
Low risk: Boat traffic
Small boats and kayaks operate in the sanctuary; stay aware of your surroundings, especially near the offshore reef areas.
Low risk: Slip on wet rocks
The sandstone and volcanic rock platforms can be very slippery when wet, especially during low tide exploration.
Low risk: Outgoing tide current
Tidal movement around the offshore reefs and sea caves can create moderate currents, particularly on an outgoing tide.
Low risk: Busy Road Crossing
No beachside parking is available; park in Coronet Grove and carefully cross busy Beach Road. Use caution when carrying gear.
Wildlife Guide
No wildlife notes for this spot yet.
Gallery
3 photos from the community
Getting in
Shore entry
Entry
Located on Beach Road, Beaumaris, about 20 km south-east of Melbourne CBD. Accessible by public transport (bus routes stop nearby). Drive time ~20-30 minutes from the city.
Parking & facilities
Large paid car park on Beach Road, plus limited free street parking that fills quickly on warm weekends.
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Parking fees apply in the main car park. No entry fee to the marine sanctuary itself.
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About this data
- Conditions last evaluated
- Spot data last updated
- Data sources
- Open-Meteo (marine & weather conditions), tide predictions via UTide, community contributors (descriptions, hazards, marine life).
- License
- Spot content licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. How's the Spot is open source.
Weather & swell ┬╖ Open-Meteo marine & weather APIs Tides ┬╖ UTide harmonic analysis Sea & safety ┬╖ community reports