A boat-access snorkel and dive site on the eastern side of Cape Bridgewater, about 2.5 km south of the township on Victoria's Discovery Coast. This site is famous for its large colony of Australian Fur Seals who are incredibly playful and curious — they'll speed past you, spiral through the water, and investigate every fin kick. Beyond the seals, the reef features ledges, swim-throughs, and dense kelp forests harbouring abalone and crayfish. Depths range from 5 to 10 metres, making it an accessible site for competent snorkellers in good conditions.
Seal Colony - Cape Bridgewater
IntermediateSKIP
SKIP
Poor conditions. Stay out today.
Showing last known conditions
Wave Height 2.6 mSwell Period 10 sWind Speed 2.0 knPrecipitation 17 mmTidal Phase slack
Last evaluated
The spot
Community-maintained
Community contribution: submitted by Daniel
Know before you go
Logged by the community, confirmed by mods
Moderate risk: Swell and wind exposure
The site is very weather-dependent and best dived in low swell with light offshore westerly winds. Exposed to southerly and easterly swells that can create challenging conditions quickly.
Low risk: Strong currents
Tidal currents around the cape can be strong, particularly during outgoing tides, affecting visibility and making it harder to maintain position near the seal colony.
Low risk: Cold water temperature
Southern Ocean waters here are cold year-round (12–16°C), requiring a thick wetsuit or drysuit for comfort and safety during extended snorkelling sessions.
Low risk: Boat traffic
Access is by boat from the Cape Bridgewater Boat Ramp or Portland ramps; boat traffic in the area requires vigilance when surfacing.
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Getting in
Boat
Entry
From Portland, drive ~21 km south-west towards Cape Bridgewater. The site is on the eastern side of Cape Bridgewater, approximately 2.5 km south of the township. GPS: -38.392334, 141.413430.
Parking & facilities
Park at the Cape Bridgewater Boat Ramp area or at the Seal Colony Walk car park near the Bridgewater Bay Kiosk / cafe.
parkingboat_ramp
No entry fee for the day visitor area; boat ramp usage may have fees — check Parks Victoria website.
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About this data
- Conditions last evaluated
- Spot data last updated
- Data sources
- Open-Meteo (marine & weather conditions), tide predictions via UTide, community contributors (descriptions, hazards, marine life).
- License
- Spot content licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. How's the Spot is open source.
Weather & swell ┬╖ Open-Meteo marine & weather APIs Tides ┬╖ UTide harmonic analysis Sea & safety ┬╖ community reports