During the past one month, on those days when the temperature rose beyond 30 degrees Celsius, we would wait until it got cooler in the early evening after which we would hit for the Altona Beach.
The water would have receded by then, exposing large parts of the seabed and leaving behind what I fondly call “islands”, as a result of the uneven elevations of the seabed. These exposed portions are called sandbars, as pointed out by Daniel Dendy (see comment).
These islands serve as “refuge” for seabirds and playgrounds for the beachgoers. Even adults play out their childhood fantasies on these islands.
This “Insea Land” phenomenon is a feature of the Altona part of Port Phillip Bay. If you have not been here before, come and see the islands, watch the setting sun and enjoy the evening breeze from the Pier.
The ankle-deep shallow water and exposed sandbars at low tide make Altona an excellent beach for young infants. There are a number of similar beaches around the bay such as at Rosebud.
The shallow water between the sandbar and the beach can also be used for what used to be called 'skittle boarding', throwing a thin but strong round board, a 'skittle board', out in front of you and then running and jumping on it and standing up and surfing along the shallow water.
Sandbars can also pose some danger at high tide because someone might be standing in waist deep water then dive onto a submerged sandbar. Along with this, a poor swimmer might be in knee-deep water standing on a sandbar then walk off the sandbar and find themselves in chest-deep water with strong waves.