Explore New South Wales

New South Wales offers divers an extraordinary experience with its vast array of dive environments along a stunning 2000 kilometers/1243 miles coastline. Whether you're exploring the vibrant reefs or descending into mysterious wrecks, the marine biodiversity here is a delight. The region benefits from a unique convergence of warm northern waters and cooler southern currents, which supports an impressive variety of marine life. From the curious fur seals of Montague Island to the majestic manta rays and wobbegongs, divers are treated to encounters with fascinating creatures year-round.

Due to its convenient location near population hubs and tourist sites, New South Wales is perfect for both beginners and seasoned divers. Dive centres are abundant, and shore dives are particularly popular given the proximity of many sites to the coast. Notable spots include Sydney, a perfect starting point for diving adventures, and Byron Bay, renowned for its captivating underwater scenery. The seasonal temperature contrasts, ranging from a tropical 27°C/81°F in summer to a brisk 8°C/46°F in winter, only add to the dynamic diving conditions available throughout this coastal treasure. With its rich marine life and accessible dive sites, New South Wales stands out as a premier diving destination.

Places to Explore

South West Rocks

South West Rocks lies on the middle of the north coast of New South Wales. It is a small fishing village, with a population barely above 5,000 people, but it draws in tourists during the holiday months.

Ulladulla

A coastal town on the east coast of Australia lies Ulladulla. Only 230km south of Sydney, it lies between Batemans Bay and Nowra. The area is known for its scuba diving and opportunities to dive with big fish like grey nurse sharks.

Tweed Heads

At the northern edge of NSW in Australia lies the town of Tweed Heads, and its twin - Coolangatta. The two towns are joined, forming an almost continuous city where the Tweed Heads River meets the Pacific Ocean.

Sydney

4 Divesites 5 Centers

Sydney is located in New South Wales and is one of the biggest cities in Australia. It is well known for its Opera House, Harbour Bridge and zoo with animal encounters - on dry land. The scuba diving here is often overlooked in favour of the more famous diving on the Great Barrier Reef to the north, but it has some excellent diving of its own.

Newcastle

7 Divesites 2 Centers

On the east coast of Australia lies the busy city of Newcastle. With a combination of tourists and local divers, this diving destination has a real mixture of sites.

Narooma

Narooma is found on the east coast of Australia, in NSW. The most famous diving destination in this region is Montague Island, which lies 8km offshore.

Lord Howe Island

New South Wales lies just over 600km to the northwest. There is nothing in sight but Pacific Ocean. This is the marine park of Lord Howe Island and it will fulfill all your desert island dreams.

Forster

Found in New South Wales, Forster has long been known as a dive destination. Directly adjacent to its neighbour, Tuncurry, they are both known for their beautiful water and wild coastline, only 300km north of Sydney.

Coffs Harbour

Lying on the coast of New South Wales, midway between Brisbane and Sydney, lies Coffs Harbour. This southern gateway to the Solitary Islands Marine Park has a blend of warm water - from the northern Great Barrier Reef - and cooler southern waters. This mix leads to a unique blend of marine life and underwater plant growth.

Batemans Bay

2 Divesites 1 Center

Batemans Bay is located in the state in New South Wales on the Eastern coast of Australia. It sits at the mouth of the Clyde River, where it meets the Pacific Ocean.

Terrigal

5 Divesites 1 Center

Terrigal is a region composed of 27 dive sites near New South Wales’ central coast.

Port Stephens

5 Divesites 1 Center

Port Stephens is an area famous for shore dives, boat dives and wreck dive sites.

Fish Rock

1 Divesite

When visiting the state of New South Wales you can’t forget to visit Fish Rock Cave, a unique ocean cave dive site that runs 125 meters deep.

Byron Bay

6 Divesites

Byron Bay offers more than 1000 marine species and you can encounter sea turtles, humpback whales, dolphins or sharks.

Australian Capital Territory

1 Center

The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) contains Australia’s capital Canberra and is an enclave within the state of New South Wales (NSW). Scuba diving in ACT operates from Canberra’s dive centres and clubs, which offer dive courses from Open Water to Instructor featuring shore dives in NSW’s waters. Many of the centres offer day trips to dive the best sites of NSW and international trips to stay in dive resorts in tropical locations.

Upcoming Events

Diver Level Programs / Courses

DIVE EDEN

Scuba Skills Update

19 Nov 2025 + 2 more

It is easy for dive skills to get rusty and to lose confidence when you have not dived for a while. With the SSI Scuba Skills Update, we will get you back in the water and diving with ease in no time. This scuba refresher course allows you to review and practice scuba skills you learned in your Open Water Diver program, under the guidance of an SSI Professional. This is a great course to take just before a dive holiday, so you spend less time worrying about your skills and more time admiring the marine life. If you are a non-certified Open Water Diver student, a Scuba Skills Update is ideal for practicing your dive skills before your open water training dives. With no fixed course duration, you can take your time and focus on the skills you need help with.

Diver Level Programs / Courses

DIVE NEAR ME

Advanced Open Water Diver

23 Nov 2025

If you cannot decide which specialty programs are the best choice for you, join the SSI Advanced Open Water Diver program! You will try Deep Diving and Navigation plus a variety of 3 more specialty areas of choice before committing to full specialty training. It is a great way to experience what advanced diver training is all about and how valuable it can be to your diving adventures. During the Advanced Open Water Diver Program, you will experience 5 different specialties by completing one open water training dive per specialty after a comprehensive briefing with your SSI Instructor. By taking this program you will have total freedom to explore. You can complete the full Specialty trainings any time in the future and credit your Advanced Open Water Diver training towards them.

Diver Level Programs / Courses

DIVE EDEN

Try Scuba

30 Nov 2025

The SSI Try Scuba program is the best way to try scuba diving for the first time. You will be in confined water and well looked after by your instructor, so you can enjoy those first unforgettable breaths underwater and experience the magic of scuba diving. At the end of this short course, you will have earned your SSI Try Scuba recognition card and undoubtedly want to go diving again. Endless scuba diving adventures are waiting for you and this course is where it all begins. Start today!

Diver Level Programs / Courses

DIVE EDEN

Open Water Diver

22 Dec 2025

This globally recognized certification program is the best way to begin your lifelong adventures as a certified scuba diver. Personalized training is combined with in-water practice sessions to ensure you have the skills and experience required to become truly comfortable underwater. You will earn the SSI Open Water Diver certification.

Top Dive Sites Map

★★★★☆ Fly Point

With undulating soft coral topography and two easy to navigate ledges, Fly Point Marine Park is known as the best shore-access dive on the Eastern sea-board of Australia. Max Depth: 28m. Best dived on high slack tide.

1,981
Logs
704
Divers
15.0 m
⌀ Depth
7.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Pipeline

A favourite macro critter diving site; especially for NIGHT divers. Cruising across the sloping seagrass & soft coral beds to find the pipe, which lies in between several coral & sponge encrusted mooring blocks. Easy navigation with tons of macro life. Max depth 16-18m. Best dived on high slack tide.

286
Logs
146
Divers
13.0 m
⌀ Depth
7.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Broughton Island The Looking Glass

Part of the Great Lakes Marine Park, is a sanctuary for endangered grey nurse sharks. Dive between the “crack“ in the island for incredible topography in an unforgettable dive site.

418
Logs
255
Divers
18.0 m
⌀ Depth
12.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Little Beach - NSW

Sandy beach slopes & ribbon weed, along to the Little Beach Boathouse jetty (3-5m) is always bursting with fish life & provides fabulous wide-angle photo opportunities. A short swim ~100m from the jetty in approx 10-12m lies the sunken wreckage of a barge creating an artificial reef.

1,231
Logs
463
Divers
11.0 m
⌀ Depth
7.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Julian Rocks - Nursery

The perfect site for new divers, old divers, and snorkelers alike, with a protected shallow haven of 5-12m, this area is a very popular dive site.

6,230
Logs
2,311
Divers
14.0 m
⌀ Depth
12.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Fish Rock Cave

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.

2,918
Logs
970
Divers
24.0 m
⌀ Depth
14.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Julian Rocks - Hugos Trench

Macro heaven! With sheer walls on either side of you, expect to come across a range of small and wonderful creatures such as nudibranchs, Spanish dancers, crayfish and mantis shrimp.

980
Logs
498
Divers
16.0 m
⌀ Depth
11.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Julian Rocks - Split Bommie

Large scattered bombies with a unique crevice, this site is suitable for most diving levels and reaches up to 15m depth. This site provides great diving year-round with plenty of critters both large and small.

823
Logs
413
Divers
15.0 m
⌀ Depth
12.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Julian Rocks - Cod Hole

An amazing dive site for the experienced diver! The Cod Hole is a small underwater cave located on the northern tip and opens up at approximately 15m deep, then slopes downwards to a depth of 21m.

1,082
Logs
624
Divers
18.0 m
⌀ Depth
12.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Halifax Point

Steeper rocky ledges covered in sponges makes Halifax one of the most popular deeper/advanced sites to dive in Nelson Bay. The “Twin Bommies” (20m) offers a colourful carpet of sponges, gorgonians & ascidians. Max Depth = ~26m. Best dived on incoming to slack high tide.

325
Logs
164
Divers
22.0 m
⌀ Depth
9.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Julian Rocks - Needles

The Needles is located on the southern end of Julian Rocks and consists of large bombies extending up to shallow depths. Currents and the shallow depths of 5-15m here mean there is plenty to see all year round.

2,044
Logs
1,031
Divers
14.0 m
⌀ Depth
12.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Bushrangers Bay

Stop at the most Western car park. This will give access to a viewing platform of Bushrangers Bay. There a a timber staircase that leads down to the entry point. It is a rocky beach so footwear is highly recommended. Great spot for snorkelers and day visitors. No take marine protected area.

951
Logs
298
Divers
14.0 m
⌀ Depth
7.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ 3rd Gutter

A great dive site for all levels of experience. With a depth between 18 and 22 meters and a lot of area covered with vegetation, you can always find some interesting animals.

653
Logs
179
Divers
19.0 m
⌀ Depth
8.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Blue Devil Cave

The site is one of the best shore dives on the NSW south coast. With at least 3 Blue Devil Fish living in and around a small cave. At max depth of 22 meters & a short swim out to the cave you have plenty of time to take in the marine life on your way out & back. Entry point is at The Gutter.

479
Logs
82
Divers
20.0 m
⌀ Depth
9.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Swansea Bridge

There are a wide variety of ways to dive Swansea Bridge. Enter from the fishing pontoon, weigh station, boat ramp, concrete ledge, or Blackneds bay. Exit points are Blackneds Bay, the concrete ledge, or boat ramp. Explore the bridge structure or the artificial reef at 18m.

4,159
Logs
1,067
Divers
13.0 m
⌀ Depth
6.0 m
⌀ Visibility

Diving in New South Wales

New South Wales offers a diverse range of dive sites perfect for enthusiasts of all levels. Notably, the HMAS Adelaide wreck near Terrigal is a popular site, providing divers with a stunning artificial reef teeming with marine life. This wreck offers an immersive experience, with opportunities to explore the ship's interiors. Another key site is Byron Bay's Julian Rocks, renowned for its rich biodiversity, including turtles, rays, and seasonal visits from grey nurse sharks.

For those seeking shore dives, Nelson Bay offers Fly Point, where divers can witness colorful corals and vibrant fish just a short swim from the beach. Unique experiences include night diving opportunities, where divers can observe nocturnal marine life behaviors. New South Wales provides a balance between shore dives accessible from the coast and more adventurous liveaboard options for those looking to explore less frequented waters.

The best Months to dive in New South Wales

New South Wales offers diverse diving conditions, making it a year-round destination for divers. Water temperatures range from 18°C–24°C/64°F–75°F depending on the season, with the warmest waters typically between December and February. Visibility varies significantly, often ranging from 10 to 30 meters/33 to 98 feet, influenced by local weather and coastal currents. During winter months, while the water temperature is cooler, the visibility can be excellent, offering clear sights of marine life. The East Australian Current, which brings warmer waters from the north, can influence diving conditions, particularly in the northern regions of the state. Wind is generally mild, but occasional storms can affect sea conditions, making some areas less favorable for diving during these events. Overall, diving is possible throughout the year, although spring and autumn offer a balance of pleasant water temperatures and good visibility.

Statistics

Historical data and trends

Dive Activity & Environmental Conditions

Centers Map

Eunoia Freediving

82 Riviera Avenue, 2107 Avalon Beach, NSW - AUS

CENTRAL COAST DIVERS

163 Wyong Road, 2261 KILLARNEY VALE, NSW - AUS

GIBBERAGONG ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTRE

P.O BOX 3276, 2077 BOBBIN HEAD, NSW - AUS

SCUBA HAVEN

20 Merrigal Rd, 2444 PORT MACQUARIE, NSW - AUS

DIVE NEWCASTLE

4/17 Babilla Close, 2232 BERESFIELD, NSW - AUS

East Coast Freediving

30 Manor Hill Close, 2250 Holgate, NSW - AUS

MERIMBULA DIVERS LODGE

15 Park Street, 2548 MERIMBULA, NSW - AUS

ST PETERS ANGLICAN COLLEGE

61 TRAIN STREET, 2537 BROULEE, NSW - AUS

DIVE NEAR ME

1/239 WINDANG ROAD, 2528 WINDANG, NSW - AUS

FEET FIRST DIVE Newcastle & Nelson Bay

97 Stockton St, 2315 NELSON BAY, NSW - AUS

INSPIRED FREEDIVING

83 KOOLANG RD, 2251 GREEN POINT, NSW - AUS

Dive Swansea

shop 2/2 Belmont street, 2281 Swansea, NSW - AUS

DIVE EDEN

3/201 IMLAY STREET, 2551 EDEN, NSW - AUS

FREEDIVING CENTRAL

38 West Kahala Ave, 2262 BUDGEWOI, NSW - AUS

Shark Dive Xtreme

SEA LIFE - SYDNEY AQUARIUM, 2000 SYDNEY, NSW - AUS

INDEPTH SCUBA

2/2 OATLEY COURT, 2617 BELCONNEN, ACT - AUS

Deep Sensations Freediving

281/A Lawrence Hargrave Dr, 2515 Thirroul, NSW - AUS

William Clarke College

1 Morris Grove, 2155 Kellyville, NSW - AUS