Pope's Eye

Pope's Eye is a man made basalt rock annulus. It is the foundation of what was to be an Island Fort built in the late 1880's to protect the bay and the rich Victorian Goldfields of the time. Advances in weapons technology made the defence plan obsolete and the defence plan was not completed. Although never completed this horse-shoe shaped artificial reef is now a Marine Reserve and the home of many species of fish including Morwong, Sea Sweep, Leather Jackets, Wrasse, Globe Fish and Yellowtail just to name a few, Invertebrates and Algae, including one of the last kelp forests in the bay. It is also the summer breeding and roosting ground for the Australasian Gannet. The inside of Pope's Eye provides a safe anchorage in 2-3 metres of water, whilst outside the rock wall extends to a depth of 12 metres. The best time to dive Pope's Eye is on the start of the ebb tide, however it provides almost all weather, all current diving. Pope's Eye is a must for all - suits beginners through to advanced divers. This site can be snorkelled and is in a state marine park.