Cathedral Rock, also called The Springs, is a small beach cove 3 km east of Lorne, tucked below the Great Ocean Road where Broadbent Road meets the highway and named for the tall sandstone outcrop that dominates it. It is the westernmost of the Surf Coast shore dives in this database and the boundary with the Apollo Bay coast beyond. The cove has rock platforms at either end and deep water off its northern end, and the dive works out from a lovely little entry point south-west of the steps over reef that drops from 1 m to about 8 m.

Here the geology changes from the Torquay limestones to the harder Otway sandstones and mudstones, so the reef is blockier and darker, with boulders, gutters and ledges rather than honeycomb, and the growth is correspondingly different: dense bull kelp and crayweed on the exposed rock, with sponges, ascidians and sea tulips in the shade, and a fish community of blue-throat wrasse, magpie perch, herring cale, scalyfin, sea sweep, leatherjackets, zebrafish and old wives, southern rock lobster and Port Jackson sharks in the holes, and rays on the sand. Australian fur seals and dolphins pass along this coast and southern right whales in winter. The Scuba Doctor rates the site Advanced Open Water and beyond and calls it a dangerous beach dominated by rocks, reefs and strong rips, with permanent rips at each end; the deep water off the northern platform is part of the appeal and part of the danger.

It needs no wind or a light offshore north-westerly, calm seas and no swell, and the reward for waiting is a quiet, scenic dive in a place that most people only see from the road above. The wreck of the Osprey lies 4 km to the south-west for those interested in the Lorne coast's maritime history, and Lorne itself has fuel, food and accommodation.

From Lorne drive 3 km east along the Great Ocean Road (B100) to the car parking area where Broadbent Road meets the highway above Cathedral Rock Beach (free, roadside). Gear up and walk down the steps to the beach, a carry of about 100 m with steps. A lovely little beach cove entry and exit point lies just south-west of the bottom of the steps; enter there and swim out to the reef.

Exit at the same cove. Lorne, 3 km west, has all facilities.

Suitable only with no wind, or a light offshore north-westerly, with calm seas and no swell. The Scuba Doctor describes Cathedral Rock as a dangerous beach dominated by rocks, reefs and strong rips, with permanent rips running at each end, and rates it Advanced Open Water and beyond. South-westerly swell of any size closes it.

Autumn and early winter give the most chances; visibility 5-15 m when clean. Experienced ocean divers only.

Enter at the cove on a flat day, swim out over the reef at 2-4 m and work toward the deeper water off the northern end of the beach at 5-8 m, exploring the rock and gutters below the platform, turn at half gas and return along the inner reef to the cove, staying well clear of the permanent rips at both ends of the beach.

No regular commercial operator – dived independently by experienced Geelong and Surf Coast divers and clubs on the rare flat days; Bay City Scuba (Geelong) is the nearest shop. Snorkel tours operate under Parks Victoria licence in summer.