Point Danger is the limestone headland at the eastern end of Torquay, named for the reef that wrecked the barque Joseph H Scammell in 1891 within sight of the town, and since 2002 the core of the 21.7 hectare Point Danger Marine Sanctuary. The sanctuary is predominantly less than 7 m deep and extends about 600 m east and 400 m south of the point over intertidal and subtidal reef, soft sediment and extensive beds of the seagrass Amphibolis antarctica in the more sheltered areas. Its fame is for invertebrates: ninety-six species of sea slug have been recorded here, many of them endemic, along with keyhole limpets, crabs, mussels, banded brittle stars and carnivorous worms, and the shallow reefs carry a brown-algae canopy over ledges, crevices and large holes that shelter leatherjackets, wrasse, magpie perch, zebrafish, scalyfin, old wives and sweep, with eagle rays patrolling the sandy areas and Port Jackson sharks under the overhangs.

Beyond the sanctuary boundary to the south, in 10-20 m, lie scattered limestone reefs with shelves, overhangs, walls, ledges and swim-throughs that are a fine dive for a small boat or a long swim on the flattest days, and the Scammell's remains are 300 m south-south-east. All of it is at the mercy of the sea. The point takes the full south-westerly swell of Bass Strait, a strong rip feeder current runs out along it whenever there is surf, and the sanctuary is diveable only in calm conditions, typically after several days of northerlies.

When it is flat it is one of the better shore dives on the Surf Coast, close to a town with every facility, shallow enough for confident snorkellers on the platform reef, and a sea-slug hunter's paradise; when it is not, the name is accurate.

Torquay is 95 km from Melbourne via the Princes Freeway and Surf Coast Highway (about 80 minutes) and 25 km from Geelong. Point Danger is at the eastern end of the Torquay foreshore; park in the large car park on Anzac Drive (free) above the point. From the south-eastern end of the car park a sandy channel heading south into the ocean gives the easiest entry at low tide; otherwise take the steps and track down to the limestone platform at beach marker 66W and enter from the platform edge.

The carry is 100-200 m. Exit the same way. Torquay's surf life saving club and toilets are on the Front Beach side.

Highly exposed. The Scuba Doctor's guidance is no wind, or after a few days of northerlies, with flat seas and little swell; any south-westerly to southerly swell above about 1 m breaks over the platform and drives a strong rip feeder current along the point, and the whole area becomes highly hazardous with deep water, rocks and reef. Parks Victoria warns of strong winds and large swells from the south and south-west, sudden weather changes and strong currents and undertows.

Autumn and early winter give the most usable days. Visibility 5-15 m when clean, poor after storms. Boat and jet-ski traffic rounds the point in summer; take a float and flag.

Not a night dive.

Enter via the sandy channel on a flat day at low tide, swim out over the shallow platform reef at 2-5 m, follow the ledges and holes south and east to the sanctuary's outer reefs at 7 m, or, with a boat or a long swim on the calmest days, to the scattered limestone reefs with shelves, overhangs, walls and swim-throughs in 10-20 m south of the point; turn at half gas and return along the platform edge, exiting via the channel.

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.