Point Lonsdale Back Beach (aka Point Lonsdale Back Surf Beach) is a challenging site for experienced divers and snorkellers and the home of the Point Lonsdale Surf Lifesaving Club. The beach lies on the Barwon Coast of the Bellarine Peninsula and faces south-west into Bass Strait.

This 'back beach' is extremely popular over the summer months with locals and visitors alike. However, it also requires respect and caution — strong permanent rips decorate the beach and can catch out unsuspecting swimmers. The entry point is about 150 metres west of the Port Phillip Heads Marine National Park, so the chances are some of you dive could be within this area.

Point Lonsdale forms the western side of Port Phillip Heads, with The Rip separating it from Point Nepean. The town of Point Lonsdale has a protected bay beach and more exposed ocean beaches. The main ocean beach is known as the Surf or Back Beach and is the site of Point Lonsdale Surf Life Saving Club. A walking track leads from the surf club over the dunes to the beach. Surf Beach extends for 900 metres from a wide, intertidal rock platform, located just east of the surf lifesaving club, to where more rocks and reefs outcrop in the surf. In fact, low tide rock flats dominate this beach and are clearly visible at low tide. The beach faces south-west and receives waves averaging 1.4 metre, which produce a single attached bar, cut by strong rips every 250 metres. In addition, strong permanent rips run out against some of the reefs, the worst being The Escalator to the left of the club house. These rips have been responsible for many rescues, with an average of 30 each year. There have also been drownings at the beach, so be very wary.

Dive Type: Reef Dive

Imported from The Scuba Doctor