San Remo Jetty is located on Marine Parade, San Remo, on the left-hand side before crossing the bridge to Phillip Island. It acts as a port for commercial fishing vessels and a deep channel runs across the front of the pier. As it's a working pier it's important divers stay out of the way of all commercial activities. Do the right thing and use a dive flag and stay clear of boat traffic areas.

Currents are a huge factor when trying to dive at San Remo Jetty. Extremely strong tidal currents swirl through the jetty pylons sometimes as much as 5 to 6 knots. Best dived on slack water, preferably at the end of an incoming flood tide. The big problem is slack water doesn't last very long at this dive site.

To successfully dive San Remo Jetty you need to take your time and carefully observe the current flow. Be ready to enter the water from the beach just as the current drops to nothing. Stay under the pier pylons throughout the dive and be ready to grab hold of a pylon once the current starts running again.

We suggest making your way out to the outer pier edge and be ready to move to the inner arm as soon as the current starts up. It's likely you'll only get a 15 to 20 minute dive.

by David John Haintz

I will generally have my gear ready on the pier an hour prior to tide height. At this stage, one of us will jump in the water with fins to see how strong the current is. From experience, you can enter to dive up to an hour prior to tide height. When testing the current you are wanting to be able to fin against the current without too much effort. This is when we would drop down from the south end of the pier with the incoming flood tide.

Once underwater you need to monitor when you get slack water, and ideally, be at the north end of the pier. The tide can change very quickly and fast within minutes. It's at that point we head into shore to the inner pier where the current is not noticeable. While diving under the inner pier, when you start to see and feel the current move, this a good time to head into shore.

I hope this isn't too confusing to follow. By following the above steps I've had dive times from 45 to 84 minutes. Hope to see you down there.

Safe Diving, David Haintz.

Dive Type: Pier Dive

Imported from The Scuba Doctor