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

Explore South West RocksSouth West Rocks lies on the middle of the north coast of New South Wales. I

Ulladulla

Explore UlladullaA coastal town on the east coast of Australia lies Ulladulla. Only 230km south of S

Tweed Heads

Explore Tweed HeadsAt the northern edge of NSW in Australia lies the town of Tweed Heads, and its tw

Sydney

4 Divesites 5 Centers

Explore SydneySydney is located in New South Wales and is one of the biggest cities in Australia. It

Newcastle

7 Divesites 2 Centers

Explore NewcastleOn the east coast of Australia lies the busy city of Newcastle. With a combination

Narooma

Explore NaroomaNarooma is found on the east coast of Australia, in NSW. The most famous diving desti

Lord Howe Island

Explore Lord Howe IslandNew South Wales lies just over 600km to the northwest. There is nothing in s

Forster

Explore ForsterFound in New South Wales, Forster has long been known as a dive destination. Directly

Coffs Harbour

Explore Coffs HarbourLying on the coast of New South Wales, midway between Brisbane and Sydney, lies

Batemans Bay

2 Divesites 1 Center

Explore Batemans BayBatemans Bay is located in the state in New South Wales on the Eastern coast of

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

Explore ACTThe Australian Capital Territory (ACT) contains Australia’s capital Canberra and is an

Upcoming Events

Diver Level Programs / Courses

CENTRAL COAST DIVERS

Open Water Diver (Weekend program)

03 Jan 2026 + 7 more

Come along or grab a few of your friends and get underwater swimming around, breathing air underwater, during your Pro-Dive Central Coast Open Water SCUBA diving course. You can look around at the small stingrays swimming by and the tiny fish with whiskers fanning through the sand looking for worms, whilst the Blue Gropers tempt you with their eyes to feed them, as you scuba dive the local bay. Course is conducted on weekends- This globally recognised 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.

Diver Level Programs / Courses

DIVE EDEN

Scuba Skills Update

18 Jan 2026 + 1 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

CENTRAL COAST DIVERS

Advanced Open Water Diver

21 Feb 2026 + 3 more

If you cannot decide which specialty programs are the best choice for you, join the SSI Advanced Open Water Diver program! With this program, you can try a variety of specialties before committing to full specialty programs. 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 try out 5 different specialties. You will complete one open water training dive per specialty after a comprehensive briefing with your SSI Instructor. With this trial program in specialty diving, you will have total freedom to explore. You can complete the full specialty programs any time in the future and credit your Advanced Open Water Diver training towards them.

Professional Level Programs / Courses

CENTRAL COAST DIVERS

Assistant Instructor

09 Mar 2026 + 1 more

As a ProDive qualified Divemaster-You are now ready and about to embark upon a marvellous journey, to become a Pro-Dive Assistant Instructor. You are about to discover there is quite a difference between the two levels!During your time as a ProDive Divemaster, you were responsible for running dive trips, giving dive briefings at the dive sites and of course, leading dives. Now, you are about to step up to a higher level- There is a strong demand in the recreational scuba industry for passionate individuals who can share their love of the sport and the underwater world with others.SSI Open Water Instructors are the backbone of the dive industry, teaching new divers to safely explore the underwater world, providing introductory courses to those who are considering a scuba certification, and teaching continuing education programs that create life-long and enthusiastic divers.This program trains you to be a well-prepared, versatile and marketable dive professional, with the ability to provide high quality training to entry-level and experienced divers alike.It is intended to be a fun and challenging learning experience, that will present you with new skills and knowledge that will increase your abilities as a dive professional.You are expected to ask questions and to take an active role in the training process. Your basic dive skills and knowledge will be rehoned and tested as you develop into a capable and professional dive leader.Assistant Instructors are authorised to teach selected portions of the Open Water Diver program and selected dive Specialties, under the indirect supervision of an SSI Instructor. To become an effective Assistant Instructor, you must accept the role and engage responsibility of being, a dive professional.During the program, you will learn how to become an effective asset to SSI Instructors, whilst assisting in the Open Water Diver program, and conducting Snorkelling, Scuba Skills Updates and Try Scuba pool experiences on your own.All of our training programs, regardless of the level, are based upon our signature training method — the SSI Diver Diamond — Dive Professional Training, is no different. Proper KnowledgeKnowledge replaces fears and fantasies with correct information. During your Assistant Instructor program, you will acquire the specific knowledge to handle student questions and concerns about diving.Proper SkillsYour dive skill levels will be heightened and challenged. You will be required to know how to control new students during training exercises and respond to their needs.You will begin to understand the commitment we must take, to make students comfortable and competent in the underwater world.Proper EquipmentAt this level a Total Diving System will take on a totally different meaning. You will learn about ProDives’ Merchandising Policy and how it plays an important role in customer development — instructor uniforms, training equipment and the dive stores inventory. Proper ExperienceGaining the knowledge, skills and equipment to become a respected Pro-Dive Assistant Instructo is only one part of the journey. Teaching and demonstrating, is the only way to gain the actual experience. All PRO-Dive Professional programs are designed to be home study. The candidate must be competent to read the manual and answer all of the review questions online.What are you waiting for?Book today and start down the road to a great career in Scuba diving.

Diver Level Programs / Courses

CENTRAL COAST DIVERS

Dive Guide / DiveMaster

20 Apr 2026 + 1 more

Are you looking for underwater experience? Do you have what it takes to lead divers about underwater with confidence and safety? Are you struggling to take holidays to complete a program? The Dive Guide course teaches you the necessary skills and experiences, required to safely lead underwater groups of certified divers. The Dive Guide course is also the first step towards an exciting career as an SSI Dive Professional- without requiring you to complete a Dive Instructor program. Once you have completed the Dive Guide and Science of Diving specialty course, you automatically become qualified, as a Pro-Dive DiveMaster. This program is after hours via ZOOM online training, with in water sessions on weekends- between 3pm and 7:30pm- Professional Dive Guides can work for SSI Dive Centres, guiding divers in a variety of environments and conditions. After completing this program, you will earn the SSI Dive Guide certification FACTS Minimum Age: 18 Certification Prerequisites: Advanced Open Water Diver, Diver Stress & Rescue certification, Forty logged Dives, Suggested Duration: 35 - 45 hours Certification or equivalent experience: Navigation, Night & Limited Visibility, Deep Diving, Enriched Air Science of Diving.

Diver Level Programs / Courses

CENTRAL COAST DIVERS

Stress & Rescue

30 May 2026

The SSI Diver Stress and Rescue specialty program teaches you the skills you need to protect yourself and other divers. You will learn how to identify stress, how to prevent accidents and be taught practical techniques to conduct rescues and provide emergency care. With a combination of pool and open water practice sessions, you will become well prepared and confident at handling emergency and rescue situations. Upon completion, you will earn the SSI Diver Stress and Rescue Specialty certification.

Dive Sites Show on map

FEET FIRST DIVE PTY LTD, 2315 NELSON BAY

Fly Point (★4.0)

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.

FEET FIRST DIVE PTY LTD, 2315 NELSON BAY

Pipeline (★3.8)

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.

FEET FIRST DIVE PTY LTD, 2315 NELSON BAY

Broughton Island The Looking Glass (★4.2)

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.

FEET FIRST DIVE PTY LTD, 2315 NELSON BAY

Little Beach - NSW (★4.0)

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.

SOUTH WEST ROCKS DIVE CENTRE, 2431 SOUTH WEST ROCKS

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.

BYRON BAY DIVE CENTRE, 2481 BYRON BAY

Julian Rocks - Nursery (★4.3)

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.

BYRON BAY DIVE CENTRE, 2481 BYRON BAY

Julian Rocks - Hugos Trench (★4.2)

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.

BYRON BAY DIVE CENTRE, 2481 BYRON BAY

Julian Rocks - Split Bommie (★4.1)

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.

BYRON BAY DIVE CENTRE, 2481 BYRON BAY

Julian Rocks - Cod Hole (★4.2)

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.

FEET FIRST DIVE PTY LTD, 2315 NELSON BAY

Halifax Point (★4.0)

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.

BYRON BAY DIVE CENTRE, 2481 BYRON BAY

Julian Rocks - Needles (★4.3)

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.

SSI AUSTRALIA, 4207 YATALA

Bushrangers Bay (★4.1)

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.

DIVE NEAR ME PTY LTD, 2500 Wollongong

3rd Gutter (★3.7)

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.

DIVE NEAR ME PTY LTD, 2500 Wollongong

Blue Devil Cave (★3.8)

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.

Dive Newcastle, 2281 SWANSEA

Swansea Bridge (★3.8)

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.

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.