Beware Reef is a diver's paradise. An isolated rock covered in life of every conceivable shape and colour, it rises abruptly out of the sandy East Gippsland seafloor. The tip of the reef rises above the surface, a favourite resting place for passing Australian Fur Seals.

Beware Reef is located five kilometres south-east of Cape Conran, just over three kilometres offshore from Yeerung River. The Beware Reef Maine Sanctuary covers 220 hectares and comprises a 1.5 kilometre square around the reef. The exposed section of rock sits two metres above the water at low tide and is seventy metres long. Under the surface, the reef continues for one kilometre to the south-east.

The access to Beware Reef is by boat, from the ocean ramp at Cape Conran, 18 kilometres east of the Marlo township. The boat ramp is exposed to south-westerly winds and Beware Reef itself is exposed to all wind directions. Safe access is only possible in calm weather by experienced boat operators.

The GPS mark given below for Beware Reef is the centre of the Beware Reef Marine Sanctuary boundaries.

Around the edge of Beware Reef is a thick rim of Bull Kelp fronds, guarding the treasures below. Where there is enough light, the upper reef is covered in a dense canopy of brown seaweeds, interspersed with bright green meadows of green and red seaweeds.

On one side of Beware Reef lie the remains of old shipwrecks, including the Ridge Park (1878), the Albert San (1915) and the SS Auckland, a steamship wrecked on the reef in 1871.

On the other side of Beware Reef is a pink garden of encrusting coralline algae, kept free of large kelps by the voracious appetite of the Black Sea-urchin, hiding during the day under ledges. At night large Maori Octopuses lurk amongst the kelp stalks.

Lower down the reef, steep walls plunge to the bottom almost 30 metres below. There are large finger sponges, brilliant red sea-fans, sea tulips, long sinuous, sea-whips and carpets of orange anemones. Pink and blue brittle stars stick their spiny arms out of crevices. Green, orange and white feather stars are abundant between the rock with their tentacles extended into the water to capture passing plankton.

Fish are abundant. Trumpeters appear suddenly from the deep, while Long-snouted Boarfish, Wrasses, Morwongs and Sea Sweep patrol the rocks. Port Jackson Sharks and Wobbegongs can be seen resting in sandy hollows.

Dive Type: Reef Dive

Imported from The Scuba Doctor