Explore Fish Rock

Fish Rock Cave, located off the coast of New South Wales, Australia, offers an unparalleled diving experience that captivates both novice and experienced divers. This renowned site is famed for its breathtaking 125 meters (443 feet) long underwater cave, providing a thrilling dive adventure with clear visibility and water temperatures warmer than the surrounding depths. As you navigate through the cave, the vibrant marine life, including grey nurse sharks, turtles, and swarms of colorful fish, creates an underwater spectacle that is both mesmerizing and unforgettable. Beyond Fish Rock Cave, divers can explore a variety of dive environments surrounding the area, such as the dynamic reefs and dramatic walls found at Green Island, Black Rock, and Gaol Island. Each site offers its own unique ecosystem teeming with marine biodiversity. The region is accessible via boat dives, allowing visitors to enjoy the scenic beauty above water while gearing up for their underwater exploration. Seasonal shifts bring different marine visitors, ensuring that each dive is a unique experience. With its diverse underwater landscapes and rich aquatic life, Fish Rock stands out as a must-visit destination for dive enthusiasts visiting Australia.

Dive Activity

Diving in Fish Rock

Fish Rock is renowned for its exhilarating dive sites, offering a blend of shore and liveaboard diving experiences. The famous Fish Rock Cave dive is a thrilling journey through a tunnel teeming with marine life, including schools of grey nurse sharks that glide gracefully alongside divers. This unique site draws enthusiasts eager to witness the spectacular underwater procession.

Notable wrecks, such as the accidental wreckage of fishing trawlers, provide a fascinating backdrop for exploration. Night dives reveal a different world, where vibrant corals illuminate under the moonlight and nocturnal creatures emerge. The region strikes a perfect balance between accessible shore dives and the deeper, more remote adventures offered by liveaboards, catering to divers of all preferences.

Dive Sites

SOUTH WEST ROCKS DIVE CENTRE, 2431 SOUTH WEST ROCKS
Fish Rock Cave <span class="text-color-primary text-sm"> (★4.4)</span>

Fish Rock Cave (★4.4)

Fish Rock Cave is the only true ocean cave dive in Australia, running 125 meters right through Fish Rock. Fish Rock is in the path of the EAC (East Australian Current) which usually floods the site with warm clear water, bringing a huge variety of temperate and tropical marine species.

The best Months to dive in Fish Rock

Fish Rock, located off the coast of New South Wales, Australia, offers year-round diving opportunities. The water temperatures range from 18°C–26°C/64°F–79°F throughout the year, with the warmer months from December to February being particularly favorable. Visibility typically varies from 10 to 30 meters/33 to 98 feet, offering clear views of the abundant marine life.

While diving is possible year-round, conditions can be influenced by strong currents and winds, particularly during the winter months from June to August. Divers planning trips should consider the prevailing weather patterns, as these can affect both safety and visibility underwater. It is advisable to consult local diving operators for the most current conditions.

Top Wildlife Sightings in Fish Rock

Located off the coast of New South Wales, Fish Rock is a renowned diving site famous for its vibrant marine life. Divers can expect to encounter a variety of reef fish, such as the colorful Eastern Blue Groper and the striking Lionfish. The site is also home to numerous smaller species like the Scissor-tail Sergeant and Black-banded Sea Perch, which are frequently seen year-round. One of the highlights of diving at Fish Rock is the chance to see Grey Nurse Sharks, especially between May and November. These gentle giants are a thrilling sight and are quite common during this period. Sea turtles and rays are also present, with Green Turtles often spotted near the rock formations and Eagle Rays gliding along the sandy bottom. However, the frequency of these sightings can vary, making every dive a unique experience.

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 200

Alamy-WaterFrame
Moray Eel

Moray Eel
155 Sightings
J
22
F
16
M
16
A
19
M
12
J
0
J
9
A
5
S
9
O
8
N
13
D
26

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3

iStock/Dimitrios Stefanidis
Sand Tiger Shark

Sand Tiger Shark
121 Sightings
J
33
F
5
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
9
O
17
N
34
D
23
Shutterstock-Shane Myers Photography
Green Turtle

Green Turtle
76 Sightings
J
16
F
7
M
5
A
14
M
0
J
0
J
6
A
0
S
4
O
6
N
9
D
9

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 25

iStock/Juliosanjuan
Eagle Ray

Eagle Ray
39 Sightings
J
0
F
9
M
6
A
13
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
11

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 600

iStock/ultramarinfoto
Wrasse

Wrasse
39 Sightings
J
19
F
0
M
0
A
7
M
7
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
6
O
0
N
0
D
0
iStock-ShaneGross
Loggerhead Turtle

Loggerhead Turtle
33 Sightings
J
13
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
6
N
7
D
7
AdobeStock-Magnus
Humpback Whale

Humpback Whale
27 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
5
S
12
O
10
N
0
D
0
Alamy-Christian Zappel
Scalloped Hammerhead

Scalloped Hammerhead
20 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
9
D
11

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 300

Alamy/Reinhard Dirscherl
Octopus

Octopus
20 Sightings
J
0
F
5
M
5
A
0
M
7
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
3
O
0
N
0
D
0
iStock-Nigel Marsh
Wobbegong

Wobbegong
619 Sightings
J
93
F
47
M
52
A
69
M
57
J
21
J
25
A
23
S
33
O
50
N
72
D
77
Show More

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 2

AdobeStock-hakbak
Nurse Shark

Nurse Shark
419 Sightings
J
62
F
19
M
6
A
32
M
53
J
26
J
22
A
19
S
20
O
43
N
56
D
61

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 80

iStock/Extreme-Photographer
Stingrays

Stingrays
123 Sightings
J
20
F
10
M
17
A
15
M
12
J
0
J
0
A
9
S
5
O
8
N
13
D
14

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 250

Shutterstock-Henry_and_Laura_Whittaker
Grouper/Basslets

Grouper/Basslets
121 Sightings
J
17
F
14
M
16
A
14
M
11
J
0
J
6
A
0
S
12
O
7
N
0
D
24

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

iStock-Global_Pics
Spiny Lobster

Spiny Lobster
67 Sightings
J
18
F
0
M
8
A
11
M
8
J
0
J
0
A
4
S
3
O
0
N
0
D
15

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 28

Udo Kefrig
Clownfish

Clownfish
60 Sightings
J
17
F
9
M
10
A
9
M
0
J
0
J
5
A
0
S
3
O
0
N
0
D
7

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 12

iStock/cinoby
Lionfish

Lionfish
54 Sightings
J
13
F
0
M
7
A
10
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
4
S
6
O
5
N
0
D
9

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 55

Shutterstock-RLS Photo
Lobster

Lobster
54 Sightings
J
10
F
0
M
0
A
6
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
5
O
12
N
7
D
14

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 250

iStock-Miguel-Angelo-Silva.
Scorpionfish

Scorpionfish
36 Sightings
J
13
F
0
M
6
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
5
S
0
O
5
N
7
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3400

Shutterstock-Shane Gross
Shrimp

Shrimp
33 Sightings
J
10
F
0
M
9
A
7
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
7

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

iStock-Global_Pics
Soldierfish

Soldierfish
31 Sightings
J
0
F
6
M
5
A
10
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
3
O
0
N
7
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 350

Alamy-Andre Seal
Damselfish

Damselfish
27 Sightings
J
15
F
0
M
0
A
7
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
5
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 30

SSI-Peter-Schinck
Stonefish

Stonefish
26 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
8
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
5
N
0
D
13

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3

Shutterstock_Leo Lorenzo
Trumpetfish

Trumpetfish
25 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
6
A
13
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
6
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Shutterstock_Krzysztof Odziomek
Butterfly Fish

Butterfly Fish
24 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
6
A
12
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
6
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Shutterstock-Levent Konuk
Goatfish

Goatfish
24 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
5
A
8
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
3
O
8
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 100

iStock-burnsboxco
Parrotfish

Parrotfish
23 Sightings
J
0
F
5
M
0
A
12
M
0
J
0
J
6
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0
AdobeStock-Magnus
Zebra Shark

Zebra Shark
21 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
9
A
12
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3000

SSI-Peter-Schinck
Nudibranch

Nudibranch
19 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
4
O
0
N
0
D
15