Point Cooke Beach (aka Point Cook Beach) is a popular diving and snorkelling site offshore from the Point Cook Beach Recreation Area, between the RAAF Base Point Cook (to the west) and the historic homestead and Point Cooke (to the east). It's 680 metres to the west and outside of the Point Cooke Marine Sanctuary, and faces south-east into north-western Port Phillip.

A narrow sandy beach separates the land from the sea. Off the coast, a series of low basalt reefs rises from the seafloor, the remains of a volcanic activity and a lava flow across the western plains thousands of years ago. Point Cooke Beach receives low waves, which build a low, narrow beach fronted by shallow, intertidal sand and rock flats up to 200 metres wide.

Beneath the water, countless marine animals and plants can be found. Exposed sections of rock support a range of life including tube worms, anemones and many different colourful algae. Prickly sea urchins are abundant near crevices, while sponges grow plentifully in dark corners. Small sharks and skates patrol the surrounding eelgrass beds and muddy seafloor.

Pods of bottlenose dolphins visit the sanctuary and in late summer, swarms of jellyfish pulsate over the reef. You may be lucky enough to encounter an entertaining fish called the Southern Blennie or be able to spot a Pipefish hidden in the seagrass. On the right day, you may come across large aggregations of Southern fiddler rays, basking in the shallow sandy areas.

Dive Type: Shore Dive

Imported from The Scuba Doctor