Lawrence Rocks

Meet the site

Lawrence Rocks are two steep volcanic islets rising to 60 m about 2 km south-east of Point Danger at Portland, capped with guano and home to one of the largest Australasian gannet colonies in Australia – around 6,000 pairs that nest from September to April and spill over onto the mainland at Point Danger, the only mainland gannet colony in Australia. Australian fur seals haul out on the ledges. Underwater the rocks fall away in walls, boulder slopes and ridges to sand at 24–30 m on the exposed southern and eastern faces, and Visit Portland describes the site in terms of stunning natural architecture, abundant marine life and kelp forests. The steep faces in cold upwelled water carry heavy sponge and ascidian cover with gorgonians in the deeper shade, the boulder crevices are full of crayfish and abalone (which are taken on the northern side), and the water column holds schools of sweep, butterfly perch and salmon, boarfish and blue devils under the ledges, and seals throughout. The gannets diving through the surface on a calm day are a spectacle in themselves.

The rocks divide naturally into two kinds of dive. On the exposed sides are the deep walls, the premier boat dive of the Portland area, requiring calm weather and Advanced Open Water depth and experience. On the sheltered northern and north-eastern side, in the lee, are a cluster of shallower sites – North Point, The Saddle, The Nursery with its sea caves, and the scuttled trawler Emily S – recorded separately, which can be dived on far more days and by Open Water divers. No dive charter operates from Portland, so access is by private boat or arrangement with a fishing charter, and that keeps the walls lightly dived. Together with Julia Percy and Cape Bridgewater the rocks make Portland the best base for big-animal and wall diving in western Victoria, given the weather.

What you might see

Australasian gannets (colony above and diving through the water), Australian fur seals, southern rock lobster, black-lip abalone, sponge gardens, gorgonians, sea sweep, butterfly perch, longsnout boarfish, blue devils, Australian salmon, blue-throat wrasse, kelp forests

Location

Two steep volcanic rocks 2 km south-east of Point Danger, Portland, with a large Australasian gannet colony on top and walls, boulder slopes and kelp dropping to 24–30 m on the exposed sides.

Facilities nearby

Portland Harbour ramps with trailer parking, toilets and showers at the Lee Breakwater; Portland SCUBA for air, gear and courses; Portland town facilities, fuel and accommodation.