Sweep Reef (Nepean Off-shore South, Marine National Park)
Port Phillip Heads Marine National Park (highly protected no-take zone: no fishing, no collecting). Sweep Reef is the largest of several reef systems south of Point Nepean, coming to within 3–4 m of the surface in about 9 m of surrounding water, a heavy reef covered in kelp with sea sweep, leatherjackets and wrasse and abalone grazing the rock face. It is strictly a boat dive on the falling ebb, when the swell tends to drop; large waves break on the reef and several dive boats have been overturned in the vicinity. If in doubt, do not dive.
Facts
- Region: Southern Australia – South Australia, Victoria & Tasmania
- Area: Port Phillip Heads (Point Lonsdale & Nepean)
- Depth: 3–9 m
- Level: intermediate
- Current: strong
- Type: reef, boat, kelp
- Coordinates: -38.30606, 144.648682
- Highlights: sea sweep, leatherjackets, wrasse, abalone, kelp
- Tips: Ebb only; flood brings swell and an east-west current.