Explore Newcastle

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.

There are a number of dive centres here offering courses from complete beginner right up to professional levels. There are no dive resorts or liveaboards.

Highlights of diving in Newcastle are varied. There are several wrecks to explore, multiple species of shark for fish lovers, and caves galore. Many of the dive sites are located in nearby Port Stephens or Nelsons Bay but the famous Moon Island is only a few minutes offshore.

Top Dive Sites Map

★★★★☆ 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

★★★★☆ Flagstaff

Two entry options for the site - through bay or over rocks (easiest on high tide). Sandy bottom site. Shallow dive. Explore the rocks at the bay entrance or go for a swim outside the bay for more rocky structures.

723
Logs
390
Divers
7.0 m
⌀ Depth
7.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Aqualung

★★★★☆ Chris’ Wall

Chris’ Wall is a boat dive to explore along a beautiful wall. This dive can be catered to experience levels of divers - keeping less than 20m for open water divers, or going between 20-30m for advanced divers.

24
Logs
19
Divers
20.0 m
⌀ Depth
8.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Aqualung

★★★☆☆ Lucy’s Wall

Shallow dive site that is good to training and to refresh skills. Can be classed as confined water. Beach entry and contained by breakwall in the channel.

151
Logs
122
Divers
7.0 m
⌀ Depth
4.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Mares, Janez Kranjc

★★★★☆ Moon Island

You can choose from arches to swim through, caves to explore, rocky shelves or just drift down the side of the rock where you can find soft and hard coral beds and loads of marine life!

214
Logs
114
Divers
19.0 m
⌀ Depth
9.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Mares, Janez Kranjc

★★★☆☆ Blacksmiths Western Artificial Reef

Single steel pinnacle reef tower installed August 2019. 7.8m wide, 12m high. Watch as the ocean takes over the structure and all the sealife make it their new home.

79
Logs
49
Divers
28.0 m
⌀ Depth
7.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Scubapro

★★★★☆ Redhead Point

This site is a boat dive off the rock face of Redhead. There is a sandy bottom with many bommies and weedy patches to explore. Dive depth is under 20m, perfect for beginner and advanced divers.

19
Logs
13
Divers
12.0 m
⌀ Depth
11.0 m
⌀ Visibility

Diving in Newcastle

There are a number of wrecks in the waters around Newcastle, including the coal transporter Yarra Yarra and the Stockton Breakwall Wrecks, which is actually the remains of five ships, stacked akimbo and protructing from the water.

Moon Island has some lovely topography - there are steep walls, large arches and caves to explore. There are a number of reefs, featuring corals, sponges and seaweeds which are flourishing in the cooler waters. There is a good mixture of beginner and advanced dive sites.

The best Months to dive in Newcastle

Due to the temperate climate, diving in Newcastle is possible year round. The summer (November - March) temperatures in the water are around 24oC, with humid winds from the north - daytime temperatures sometimes exceed 40oC.

The winters (May - September) are colder and drier, with average lows of about 8oC. The water temperature rarely drops below 10oC. Though cold, the visibility can be very good during winter - you’ll just need a thicker wetsuit.

Statistics

Historical data and trends

Dive Activity & Environmental Conditions

Centers Map

Dive Swansea

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

DIVE NEWCASTLE

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