The Anser Island Group sits off the south-west tip of Wilsons Promontory in Bass Strait, a cluster of rocky granite islands rising from around 30 m of water. It's one of the most remote and most rewarding dives on the Victorian coast — kelp forests, gorgonian fans, sponge gardens, big schools of bullseyes and sweep, crayfish thicker than anywhere closer to Melbourne, blue devils, banjo sharks, and Australian fur seals from the colony cruising through. Boat access only, generally on charter from Port Welshpool or Tidal River, with the run out taking serious time. Best in light northerlies with swell under a metre and tide near slack. Use the live 7-day wind and swell forecast on this page to find a properly flat day. Advanced divers only — exposed Bass Strait, current on the island corners, remote location, plan around a settled forecast and have everything in order.
How far you can see underwater — measured in metres. 10m+ is great, 5–10m is workable, under 3m is murk. Driven by wind, swell, and recent rain.
Long-period waves rolling in from the open ocean. Direction matters more than height — a S swell hits Portsea hard, but an E swell rolls past. Period over 12 s = real ocean punch.
Offshore (N or NE) flattens the surface and clears the water. Onshore (SE through SW) chops it up and stirs sand. Calm or light offshore is the magic combo.
This site faces the open ocean. The exposure caption above shows which directions slam in. Anything from the opposite side gets blocked — that's the safest window.
Slack water — the 30 minutes either side of high or low — is calmest and clearest. Mid-tide brings the most flow. Plan to be down at slack, up before the run picks up.
Bass Strait sits 14–16 °C autumn–winter, 17–19 °C summer. Below 16° a 7 mm hooded keeps you warm for 60 min+. Drysuit if you're going long.