Meet the site
Seal Rocks is a cluster of low granite and basalt islets 1.5 km off The Nobbies at the western tip of Phillip Island, and it holds the largest colony of Australian fur seals anywhere – around 25,000 to 30,000 animals at the summer peak, roughly a quarter of the species. The rocks are a State wildlife reserve with strict approach rules, and the underwater experience is defined by the seals: in the water they are fast, curious and fearless, and a diver holding still in a kelp gully at 10 m will be circled, nudged and stared at by a succession of juveniles and females, with the big bulls generally staying on the rocks. The topography is a boulder and kelp slope dropping from the islets to sand at about 20 m, cut by surge gullies on the exposed side and steeper on the tidal-channel side, with dense bull kelp on the shallow rock and sponge, ascidian and bryozoan growth in the lee under the ledges. Fish life is good and characteristic of the Western Port entrance – schools of sweep and salmon in the tide, wrasse, morwong, leatherjackets and old wives on the reef, crayfish in the deeper cracks, and the occasional Port Jackson shark – but nobody comes here for fish. The rocks are dived far less than they are snorkelled. Ocean Adventures Phillip Island and other Cowes operators run seal-swim trips through the warmer months, keeping swimmers on the surface in the lee of the rocks, while scuba divers arrive on private or club boats and need slack water in the strong tidal race that runs between the islets and Point Grant. Great white sharks are recorded here, drawn by the colony, and most divers accept that as part of the site. For Victorians, Seal Rocks is the state's best big-animal encounter and the equal of Montague Island or the Neptunes for sheer numbers; for a diver with a boat, a calm day and the right tide, it is one of the most memorable shallow dives on the coast. The approach distances under the Wildlife (Marine Mammals) Regulations are enforced and apply to boats, snorkellers and divers alike.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Seal Rocks (Phillip Island) is recorded as Island in Phillip Island & Western Port. The listed access is boat. Confirm the actual meeting point, route and permission to visit; a map pin does not establish any of these.
Topics flagged by the stored research
These are questions prompted by the existing notes, not a verified or complete hazard assessment.
- Current and timing
- Ask how the operator assesses the current window for the actual route. Historical tide notes are not a departure instruction.
- Other water users
- Ask about vessel activity, exclusion areas and the agreed surface arrangements.
- Water movement
- Ask how swell and local exposure affect the proposed entry, exit and route.
Historical access notes exist for this record, but have not been independently verified for current use. Request current directions from the operator or site manager rather than following an old entry description.
Questions, answered
Is Seal Rocks (Phillip Island) suitable for my certification?
The record lists Advanced Open Water. That does not establish suitability for every route or day. Share your training, recent experience and equipment needs with the operator and ask about the specific proposed dive.
Can I book Seal Rocks (Phillip Island) through YouDive?
YouDive is an independent research directory. Contact an operator directly to confirm whether it currently runs the trip, the inclusions and the booking terms.
What you might see
Australian fur seals (25,000–30,000), bull kelp, sweep, Australian salmon, wrasse, morwong, leatherjackets, old wives, southern rock lobster, Port Jackson sharks, sponges and ascidians, great white sharks recorded
Location
Group of low rocky islets about 1.5 km south-west of Point Grant (The Nobbies) at the western tip of Phillip Island, on the southern side of the Western Port entrance.
Facilities nearby
Departure from Cowes Jetty (tour operators) or Cowes/Rhyll boat ramps; No air fills on Phillip Island; nearest fills on the Mornington Peninsula (Rye/Portsea) or in Melbourne's south-east
Before you make plans
Conditions, access and operator schedules can change. This is a location guide, not a dive plan. Ask a local operator about current conditions and suitability for your training and experience.
Sources & further reading
parks.vic.gov.auparks.vic.gov.auen.wikipedia.orgoceanadventures.covisitbasscoast.com.auRecord updated 27 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.