Dyer Island - Rottnest Island snorkelling

Dyer Island is a small islet off Rottnest's south-east coast, beside Porpoise Bay. Australian sea lions - the world's rarest sea lion - haul out to rest on its northern beach, and they sometimes swim over to inspect snorkellers. Give them plenty of room, in the water and out.

The reefs around the islet have claimed two ships. The composite barque Lady Elizabeth was driven in behind the island in a gale in June 1878 and lies on its sheltered shoreward side, with much of her hull still recognisable. The wooden barque Raven struck the reef at the island's south-east end in March 1891; her few remains lie partly buried in sand and weed. Both have their own Spot pages.

Little has been published about the reef itself, but the mix of rock, reef and wreckage gives fish plenty of shelter. Most visitors arrive by boat, often on guided snorkel tours.

• Experience level: Advanced
• Depth: 1-7 m
• Access: Boat needed: the islet is about 700 m off Rottnest's south-east coast; snorkel tours and charters visit by boat. Australian sea lions haul out on the islet - keep well clear of them. No facilities. The Lady Elizabeth and Raven wrecks lie beside the islet; the RIA map marks snorkelling here.
• Offshore Islet
• Australian Sea Lions
• Lady Elizabeth Wreck (1878)
• Raven Wreck (1891)
• Rocky Reef

See live conditions for every Rottnest Island snorkelling spot