Open Water reef - Lonsdale Bight

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Open water reef is one of the many spots in the Lonsdale bight area, inside the heads between Point Lonsdale and Queenscliff's Shortland Bluff. Dive boat operators have many different names for these reefs so sites like Jimmy's hole, Anchor reef, Openwater reef, may all be the same area.

Depths vary from 12m down to 20m with many ledges walls and bombies. The marine life is simailar to Lonsdale Wall and the Rip area with kelp down to 15m then sponges, ascidians and zooanthids taking over below that.

This area, being just inside the heads, is tide and swell dependant. Slack water times may only be 15 to 20 min long. Dive boats drop shot lines rather than anchoring in this area. Divers must carry and use safety buoys or sausages so that the dive boat can find them if they dont surface at the shotline.