Victoria · 19 sites
Portland & the West dive sites
Portland, at the western edge of Victoria, has deep, clear water close to shore, the Lawrence Rocks seal colony, the Portland harbour breakwater and a number of deep wrecks and reefs off Cape Nelson and Cape Bridgewater that are among the least-dived in the state.
- Sites
- 19
- Wrecks
- 4
- Shore
- 2
- Boat
- 16
- Beginner
- 3
- Deepest
- 60 m
Conditions outlook · Late September – October 2026
Written 27 September 2026Portland's Lee Breakwater and the Lawrence Rocks seal colony are diveable on calm westerly days in 12–13 °C water; autumn is the reliable season. Southern right whales are still in the bays into early October.
Getting there
Four hours west of Melbourne. Local club and occasional charters; the harbour breakwater is a shore dive.
When to go
Autumn and calm summer days in westerly winds.
Water & suit
Summer 14-18 °C · winter 11-13 °C. 7mm semi-dry with hood and gloves in summer; drysuit strongly preferred May–November
Nearest chamber: The Alfred (Melbourne) – about 360–420 km by road; Royal Adelaide Hospital is a similar distance from the far west and may be used for evacuations from Portland/Nelson
Most recorded marine life in Portland & the West
- Sea sweep 16
- Southern rock lobster 16
- Blue-throat wrasse 15
- Australian fur seals 13
- Leatherjackets 11
- Magpie perch 11
- Black-lip abalone 10
- Longsnout boarfish 9
- Kelp 8
- Butterfly perch 6
- Banded morwong 5
- Herring cale 5
- Sponges 5
- Australian salmon 4
Plan a dive trip to Portland & the West →Find your diveCompare the top 4 side by sideNew diver? Start here
The most-dived sites in Portland & the West
Suggested trip
A 3-day dive trip to Portland & the West
Built from the sites in this region: an easy start, the signature dives, then something deeper or further. Swap days around the weather; the site pages say which winds and swell close each one.
Build your own Portland & the West plan: pick days, level and must-dive sites →Day 1 · Settle in
Start with Portland & the West's easier shore dives: check your weighting, get used to the water temperature and dive the sheltered side of the coast.
- Portland Lee BreakwaterShore/Rock Platform · Max 14 m · Open Water
- New Zealander & Lighthouse Reef, Nuns BeachWreck · Max 4 m · Snorkel/Any
Day 2 · The signature dives
A charter day on the sites people travel to Portland & the West for, including Emily S.
- Emily SWreck · Max 24 m · Advanced Open Water
- North Point, Lawrence RocksReef · Max 12 m · Open Water
Day 3 · Deeper or further
For divers with the certification and the weather: the deeper walls, pinnacles or less-visited sites of Portland & the West.
- Lawrence RocksIsland · Max 30 m · Advanced Open Water
- The Nursery, Lawrence RocksCave/Cavern · Max 25 m · Advanced Open Water
Dive centres and charters in Portland & the West
All Victoria operators →Operators recorded as running sites in this region. Each profile lists the specific sites it goes to.
Warrnambool Diving
Named by sitesConfirmed Sept 2026
Warrnambool · Shipwreck Coast & Warrnambool · VIC
Trades as Warrnambool Diving & Firearms.
divingandfirearms.com.au · (03) 5562 1685
41 sites
Portland SCUBA
Named by sitesConfirmed Sept 2026
Portland · Portland & the West · VIC
PADI dive centre run by instructor Jack; site publishes no phone or street address.
portlandscuba.com.au
16 sites
Map of Portland & the West dive sites
Click a pin for the site.
Loading map…
19 pinned sites. Pins marked approximate on their pages show the general area only; not for navigation.
All 19 Portland & the West dive sites
All Portland & the West sites at a glance
19 sites in Portland & the West · click a column to sort
| Big Reef, Portland | Reef | Max 15 m | Open Water | Boat | Occasional |
| Blowhole & Thunder Point, Lady Julia Percy Island | Cave/Cavern | Max 25 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Expedition |
| Cape Nelson Lighthouse Reef | Reef | Max 36 m | Deep/Advanced + experience | Boat | Rare |
| Discovery Bay Marine National Park (Whites Beach) | Reef | Max 60 m | Technical (decompression) | Shore or Boat | Expedition |
| Emily S | Wreck | Max 24 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Occasional |
| Flat Rock, Cape Nelson | Reef | Max 24 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Occasional |
| Isabella, Cape Nelson | Wreck | Max 10 m | Open Water | Boat | Rare |
| Jones Bay, Cape Nelson | Reef | Max 15 m | Open Water | Boat | Rare |
| Lady Julia Percy Island (Deen Maar) | Island | Max 25 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Rare |
| Landing Bay, Lady Julia Percy Island | Reef | Max 10 m | Open Water | Boat | Rare |
| Lawrence Rocks | Island | Max 30 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Occasional |
| Leopard Seal Reef, Lady Julia Percy Island | Reef | Max 20 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Rare |
| New Zealander & Lighthouse Reef, Nuns Beach | Wreck | Max 4 m | Snorkel/Any | Shore or Boat | Occasional |
| North Point, Lawrence Rocks | Reef | Max 12 m | Open Water | Boat | Occasional |
| Portland Lee Breakwater | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 14 m | Open Water | Shore | Weekly |
| Seal Colony, Cape Bridgewater | Reef | Max 10 m | Open Water | Boat | Rare |
| SS Barwon & Horseshoe Reef, Cape Bridgewater | Wreck | Max 8 m | Open Water | Boat | Rare |
| The Nursery, Lawrence Rocks | Cave/Cavern | Max 25 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Occasional |
| The Saddle, Lawrence Rocks | Reef | Max 10 m | Open Water | Boat | Occasional |
Portland & the West diving FAQ
How do I get to the dive sites in Portland & the West?
Four hours west of Melbourne. Local club and occasional charters; the harbour breakwater is a shore dive.
When is the best time to dive Portland & the West?
Autumn and calm summer days in westerly winds.
How many dive sites are there in Portland & the West?
19 documented sites, including 4 wrecks and 2 that can be dived independently from the shore. The deepest reaches 60 m.
Are there beginner dive sites in Portland & the West?
Yes, 3 sites are rated beginner. Look for the green Beginner tag in the list below, and check the weather notes on each page before diving.
How cold is the water in Portland & the West?
Typically 14-18 °C in summer and 11-13 °C in winter. Most divers wear 7mm semi-dry with hood and gloves in summer; drysuit strongly preferred May–November.
Which dive centres operate in Portland & the West?
Warrnambool Diving, Portland SCUBA are recorded as running sites in Portland & the West. Each site page lists the operators known to go there.
Where is the nearest recompression chamber to Portland & the West?
The Alfred (Melbourne) – about 360–420 km by road; Royal Adelaide Hospital is a similar distance from the far west and may be used for evacuations from Portland/Nelson. In an emergency call 000, then DAN Asia-Pacific on 1800 088 200.