The aim of this study was to investigate the diffusion properties of a radiochromic hydrogel dosimeter based on leuco malachite green dye in a gelatine matrix. One half of each dosimeter was irradiated while the other half was left un-irradiated creating dose gradients over which diffusion could be investigated. Read-out of the optical response was performed with a high-resolution optical scanner. The dosimeters were found to exhibit a low diffusion rate but a high auto-oxidation level leading to a fading of the contrast in the dose response with time.