Pickering Point is the low headland between Stingray Bay and Thunder Point, and the reef that runs out from it forms the western part of the Merri Marine Sanctuary. Where Stingray Bay is a sheltered horseshoe, Pickering Point faces south-west into the open Southern Ocean, and its reef slopes gently from the shallows to about 20 m some 200 m offshore. Along the way are, in the Scuba Doctor's words, interesting ledges, swim-throughs and gutters, with caverns and overhangs where crayfish and rays are commonly seen. Parks Victoria describes the sanctuary's subtidal reefs as particularly diverse and colourful, and the point is where that is most evident: kelp on the ridge tops, sponges, ascidians and bryozoans on the shaded faces, abundant reef fish – blue-throat wrasse, magpie perch, sea sweep, herring cale, zebrafish, boarfish – and the sharks and rays of the sanctuary, Port Jackson sharks, wobbegongs, draughtboard sharks and eagle rays. Little penguins from Middle Island hunt over the reef and fur seals pass through. Because the sanctuary has been no-take for two decades the crayfish here are large and unafraid.

It is a step up from Stingray Bay in exposure and depth and should be approached as such. Visit Victoria describes Pickering and Thunder Point as accessible by shore or boat with breathtaking scenery, and both are true; the shore dive involves a longer swim and more surge than the bay, and the site closes out quickly when the swell rises or the wind swings onshore, turning into dangerously rough seas with big swells and strong currents. On a flat autumn day with low tide and 10–15 m visibility, however, it is one of the best shore reef dives in western Victoria, with more depth and structure than anything else reachable from the Viaduct Road car park. Boat divers from the Lady Bay ramp can reach the deeper outer reef in a few minutes.

Park on the western side of Viaduct Road near the concrete wall and take the steps down to Stingray Bay beach. Walk west along the sand toward Pickering Point and enter from the beach or the low rocks at the western end of the bay, then swim out along the point. Alternatively boats from the Lady Bay ramp beside the breakwater reach the reef in five minutes and anchor on sand outside the sanctuary's shallow zone.

Exit back at Stingray Bay. Warrnambool Diving on Fairy Street is 2 km away.

The Merri Marine Sanctuary sites face south-west into the Southern Ocean and are, in the Scuba Doctor's words, prone to surge and swell, with conditions able to change quickly into dangerously rough seas with big swells and strong currents. Dive at low tide with a low swell (under about 1 m at Stingray Bay, under 0.5 m for the exposed sites) and light offshore northerly to north-easterly winds; any onshore southerly through westerly wind makes the sites treacherous. Check the water from the car park – if you see lots of white water, head home.

Visibility is best after settled northerly weather in autumn and poor after rain from the Merri River. Warm-water upwelling is absent; the Bonney Upwelling can bring cold green water in summer. Pickering Point is more exposed than Stingray Bay and the Scuba Doctor requires very calm conditions with minimal swell; it is the second of the sanctuary sites to close out.

Enter at the western end of Stingray Bay, swim out along the point and descend on the reef in 5–6 m. Follow the gently sloping bottom seaward through the ledges, gutters and swim-throughs, checking the caverns and overhangs for crayfish and rays, to 15–20 m about 200 m out. Turn at half gas, navigate back up the slope on a reciprocal bearing to the point and surface in Stingray Bay.

Warrnambool Diving (Fairy Street) – air fills, PADI courses, divemaster-led local shore dives on request; Daktari Surf & Dive (Warrnambool) – snorkel gear and guided snorkels; Warrnambool dive club members dive the sanctuary regularly on calm days.