Sunderland Bay is a 200 metre wide gap in the basalt bluffs of southern Phillip Island, into which waves from Bass Strait break over extensive reefs and rocks and around a sea stack. This has produced a 300 metre long, south facing beach composed of sand and basalt cobbles.

Waves are lowered to about 0.5 metres by the time they hit the beach, which is steep and narrow, with no bar, but interesting reefs to dive to and explore off the beach. The Sunderland Bay Estate borders the eastern side, with parking available on the eastern bluffs and at the back of the beach, via a gravel road. The western side of the bay is bordered by the 40 metre high Sunderland Bluffs.

Sunderland Bay is named after James Sunderland, who lived nearby, and became a Shire Councillor (Phillip Island Historical Society).

Dive Type: Shore Dive

Imported from The Scuba Doctor