Melbourne Water Sports

Water activities in Melbourne run from kayaking and waterbike tours on the Yarra River to snorkelling with seals and weedy sea dragons in Port Phillip Bay and scuba diving off the Mornington Peninsula. Most need no experience, so first-timers are welcome on the city paddles and the guided snorkel and dive sessions alike.

Kayak and waterbike tours on the Yarra River

Guided tours run through the middle of the city. Kayak Melbourne's City Sights Kayak Tour is a 1.5-hour paddle that leaves from Boathouse Drive, directly across the river from Federation Square, and includes sea kayaks, paddling gear and waterproof bags. It's suitable for first-time kayakers, and you may get wet, so wear clothes that can handle it.

The Melbourne City Moonlight Kayak Tour is a 2.5-hour sunset paddle from Docklands. You explore Victoria Harbour and the Docklands and the Yarra River skyline, with a fish and chips dinner on the water.

On the Yarra River Waterbike Tour, you pedal a waterbike past the Rod Laver Arena precinct with commentary from a local guide. It's a 90-minute session suitable for all fitness levels, departing from Boathouse Drive.

Snorkelling with sea dragons, seals and dolphins

The wilder water sports are around Port Phillip Bay and the Mornington Peninsula. The Mornington Peninsula Weedy Sea Dragons Snorkel Tour is a 2-hour guided snorkel from Portsea with a full demonstration, no experience needed and all equipment provided. Weedy sea dragons are rare, colourful cousins of the seahorse.

For seals, the Seal and Sea Dragon Snorkel Experience leaves from Sorrento Pier on a 2-hour cruise, with a full-length wetsuit, lunch and a hot drink after the swim. The Dolphin and Seal Swim Tour in Queenscliff is a 3.5-hour tour in the Port Phillip Bay Marine Park, about a 1.5-hour drive from Melbourne, with tuition, snorkelling gear and hot showers on return. The dolphin swim season runs from October to May, and the animals are wild, so sightings can't be guaranteed.

Scuba diving and shark dives

Scuba Diving on the Mornington Peninsula is a half-day discovery dive with no certification required. It starts with a theory session and a skills session in confined water, then an open water descent in Port Phillip Bay led by a PADI instructor.

Back in the city, the SEA LIFE Melbourne Shark Diving Experience pairs a 90-minute scuba training session with a 30-minute dive among the sharks. It includes general admission, all scuba gear and a certificate of completion, and no experience is needed.

Choosing a Melbourne water activity

Pick the kayak or waterbike if you'd like a few hours on the water without leaving the city. Pick a snorkel tour for wildlife in the bay, and a dive if you want to get under the surface. Wetsuits and gear are provided on the snorkel and dive tours. If you'd rather stay dry, the Melbourne cruises page has boat trips, and animal experiences covers wildlife on land.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I go kayaking in Melbourne?

Kayak Melbourne runs guided tours on the Yarra River from Boathouse Drive, opposite Federation Square, and sunset tours from Docklands. The tours suit first-time kayakers.

Do I need experience for water activities in Melbourne?

No. The Yarra River kayak tours are suitable for first-time kayakers, the sea dragon snorkel tour needs no experience, and the Mornington Peninsula scuba dive and SEA LIFE shark dive both start with training and don't require a diving certification. The scuba dive from Portsea has a minimum age of 12.

When is the dolphin swim season in Melbourne?

The Dolphin and Seal Swim Tour from Queenscliff runs during the dolphin swim season, from October to May each year. Dolphins and seals are wild animals, so sightings can't be guaranteed.

Can you swim with sharks in Melbourne?

Yes. The SEA LIFE Melbourne Shark Diving Experience includes a 90-minute scuba training session and a 30-minute shark dive, with general admission to SEA LIFE Melbourne included.

Where can you snorkel with seals near Melbourne?

Seal snorkel tours leave from Sorrento Pier on the Mornington Peninsula and from Queenscliff Boat Harbour, with wetsuits and snorkelling gear provided.

Choose your Melbourne water activity above, from a Yarra River paddle to a scuba session in Port Phillip Bay, and book it online.