Swimwear, 2x towels in case it is cold (one for the tour, one for after), small bag with drink bottle, underwater camera, hat, sunglasses, warm clothing. We supply you with a warm wetsuit, mask, snorkel and fins.

A super fun 2-hour boat ride in the southern part of Port Phillip Bay for just 10 swimmers (12 guests total). We’ll visit the absolutely amazing weedy seadragons, the species of our Victorian Marine State Emblem and then the super cool Popes Eye snorkelling spot where you will find awesome features of the Great Southern Reef, plenty of colour and fish to see. Along the way as the dolphins appear you’ll enjoy the unique opportunity to swim with bottlenose dolphins. Celebrating your new marine adventure, the Australian Fur Seals will delight you with the most fun you’ll ever have in the sea with a wild marine animal.

When do we arrive?
Be at the pier 25-minutes before departure. Allow plenty of time to find parking and make your way out to the end of the pier. At the pier you will dress in your wetsuit and receive your snorkelling equipment.

Where do we meet?
See the travel directions and details here. Please be aware that tours depart at the scheduled time and will not be delayed for guests arriving late, in which case tour guests will be deemed a no-show and all fees forfeited.

What does the tour involve?
Guided by your expert in-water guide, you’ll enjoy up to three snorkelling spots with a swift transit in between. Enjoy plenty of one-on-one time to ask questions and receive tips and advice about snorkelling, the local Mornington Peninsula region and the exquisite temperate marine life of our gorgeous Port Phillip Bay. Guided by your expert in-water guide, the shallow waters at the beginning help build skills and confidence easily as the reef is explored to identify weedy seadragons. The second stop Pope’s Eye provides the perfect marine park location. On the inside of the park, the shallow waters are the ideal place to snorkel with ease and comfort to see vibrant and cheeky fish like Scalyfin. On the outside, the nutrient rich waters feed kelp and an abundance of fish species, the colours will amaze you! Along the way, when dolphins appear you’ll have the opportunity to slow down to enjoy seeing them up close as they swim close by underwater.

Can anyone join?
Yes, it’s perfect for new and experienced snorkellers, families and anyone who wants a first hand look at our local reef and to be surprised by the colourful life under the surface. All you need is basic swimming skills and a keen spirit for adventure.

If you prefer to stay on the boat and observe and support your friends and family whilst they swim, you can do that too!

Will I get seasick?
Our Rigid Inflatable Boats are the same as the ones the Navy, Search and Rescue, Water Police, Fisheries and Coastguard operators use around the world. We call them the rally cars of the sea because of the sure-footed, stable and capable handling they have in all kinds of conditions.

Seasickness does not happen often on a RIB boat, they are open so you feel the fresh air, and the boat sits close to the water surface. If you’re worried about seasickness, we recommend talking with your local pharmacist or doctor about the various remedies available and follow their advice for taking precautions.

How cold is the water?

The Bay waters here on the Mornington Peninsula are beautiful with sandy beaches and exposed coastal cliffs. The water is generally cleaner and clearer and in summer months reaches temperatures up to 21 degrees. Winter temperatures are as low as 8c and Late Spring/Early Autumn average is around 17c+ .

When is the best time to see dolphins?

The best time to see dolphins is when you’re out on tour! The local population of bottlenose dolphins (also referred to as Burrunan dolphins) are a geographically significant small population that reside in Port Phillip Bay. Their feeding and rest habits govern their movements, which are also influenced by the season, the time of day, the tide direction and flow, as well as the prevailing sea conditions, so the best time to see them is when they choose to interact, because it’s a genuine and authentic interaction.

Our experience and insights enable us to have the highest chance of dolphin sightings, and even though sometimes they choose not to appear, or their behaviour prevents an interaction, when they do appear you’ll know it’s the best authentic interaction you can enjoy.

Are marine wildlife sightings and encounters guaranteed?

Port Phillip Bay and the Great Southern Reef marine life and vegetation provide the most amazing opportunity to snorkel with temperate water species that 80% of which don’t exist anywhere else on Earth.

Very common species of fish such as the wrasse, leatherjacket, old wife, zebrafish and dusky morwong are features of our bay and you’ll see at least one or two species almost every time you’re in the water. Stingarees and stingrays are also sighted in highly regular fashion in the sand beds and around rocky ledges. Weedy seadragons, an incredibly popular icon of our tours are visible almost all of the time, however in some conditions they are very hard to see, because their colour, pattern, shape, movement and behaviour is their defence mechanism, they are just such masters of camouflage in their weedy reef habitat.

The bottlenose dolphins do not always appear, even though they appear quite often, because of their feeding and resting habits which influence their movements around the southern part of Port Phillip Bay, so it’s not possible to provide a sighting guarantee. At certain times of the year you might see an eel swim by as it takes off on its long journey into warmer waters up north, however this  is quite rare and may only occur once or twice per year. Species like the warty prowfish have only been seen once in five years, so it’s extremely rare.

Animals such as the Australian Fur Seals are a guaranteed sighting as they haul-out onto specific locations in Port Phillip Bay to rest, so you can be confident you’ll see them.

These are all the reasons why every hour and every day is an exciting adventure in Port Phillip Bay, it’s a true wildlife experience and you never know exactly which amazing marine life interaction you’re going to have in the moment. And it’s exactly what we love about our tours and what keeps us thriving and fascinated by the waters at our doorstep. We hope you’ll appreciate and love it for these reasons too!