all the Mornington Peninsula’s Marine Experience businesses
and their websites
Mornington Peninsula boasts two unique bays, Port Phillip Bay and Western Port Bay, which offer hundreds of exciting sites to explore and marine life to see. Port Phillip Bay is the most popular and alone proudly boasts over 1000 species of marine plants and animals and 500 species of fish.
The wide range of marine life and habitats are a result of its location at the centre of the Victorian coastline. This is where marine life from the cooler waters of western Victoria meets and mixes with warm water species from eastern Australia. As a result the marine environments of the southern shores are superior to aquatic habitats anywhere else in the world.
Habitats include rocky reefs, seagrass meadows, sandy plains and sponge gardens.
Rocky Reefs
Rocky reefs are rich in life and provide shelter and an anchoring point for many plants and animals. Red coralline algae paint the rocks, while slow moving animals such as sea stars and anemones are plentiful. You’ll also find highly prized abalone, crayfish and crabs hiding out in the cracks and crevices.
Seagrass Meadows
These lush green environments are an important nursery for numerous fish including snapper, mullet and whiting. Hiding within the seagrass you’ll find cleverly camouflage animals such pipefish and bottom dwelling fiddler rays.
Underwater Forests
Certain types of seaweeds like kelp, create magical underwater forests by attaching themselves to rocks and extending their fronds up into the water in search of sunlight. Like forests on land they provide food and shelter for an enormous variety of animals including wrasse, spiky sea urchins and majestic seahorses that use their monkey-like tail to grip onto the seaweed.
Sandy Plains
At first glance a sandy bottom may look like a desert but on closer inspection it is home to a wealth of diverse animals like octopus, worms and that live in the sand. Many other animals such as stargazers and angel sharks use the sands as a temporary cloak to ambush passing prey.
Sponge Gardens
Sponges light up the marine world as they carpet hard surfaces such as rocky reefs and pier pylons with vivid colours and shapes. These intriguing animals provide a safe haven for small fish like blennies, worms and crabs. A stunning diversity of sea stars and vibrant nudibranchs are often found draped across them.
My Trip Builder
