Explore 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.
There are three dive centres in the town offering the full spectrum of dive courses. There are no dive resorts and no liveaboards, as all the dive sites are conveniently located a short boat ride from the shore.
Some of the best things to see in Ulladulla are the grey nurse sharks and the bright coral reefs.
Top Ulladulla Dive Sites
1. Magic Reef
Located at depths of 18–27m, this advanced site offers a deep dive into vibrant sponge gardens and rich macro life. Scuba only. Ideal for those who enjoy searching for small critters and photographing colorful invertebrates.
2. Lighthouse Wall
A long, dramatic wall dive that can be explored as a drift. Covered in sea tulips and gorgonians, divers can spot Port Jackson sharks and numb rays resting in the sandy stretches. Best for intermediate to advanced scuba divers.
3. Burrill Rocks
A scalable site from 12–30m, perfect for both novice and experienced divers. Swim through caves and boulder formations filled with coral and schooling fish. A versatile reef site with varied topography and marine life.
4. North Bommie
At a max depth of 18m, this is a great site for open water divers and freedivers. Expect to see yellowtail, cuttlefish, and several shark species including wobbegong and Port Jackson. It’s a bustling hotspot for marine life.
5. The Gantry
A shallow, accessible shore dive (max 11m) perfect for beginners and macro lovers. Explore remnants of an 1800s jetty now inhabited by seahorses, octopus, and blind sharks. Great for night dives and underwater photography.
The best Months to dive in Ulladulla
The mild climate means that diving in Ulladulla is available all year round. The water temperatures in the summer months (November - March) reach around 24°C. During the winter (May - September), the daytime and the water temperatures are in the mid teens. The climate is influenced by the warm Tasman sea and is protected from drastic variations in temperature. Though it is colder, the winter is still a great time to dive as there are often more grey nurse sharks then - you will just need a thicker wetsuit.
Top Wildlife Sightings in Ulladulla
The nooks and crannies in the rocks and among the seaweed make for excellent macro finds. Nudibranch, shrimp, octopus, weedy sea dragons and more are all found nestled in the reefs. Fish are found in many varieties - camouflaged pipefish, scorpionfish and frogfish; schooling yellowtail, trevally, pike and whiting; colourful reef fish like butterfly fish and wrasse.
Big, friendly blue groupers sometimes follow divers for their whole dive. Several species of ray (eagle, bull, sting, shovelnose) and shark (grey nurse, wobbegong, Port Jackson, shy and blind) haunt many of the dive sites. Even seals have been seen on dives here, inquisitively swimming right up to divers.
Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content
Shutterstock-Shane Myers Photography
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Reef Manta Ray
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Loggerhead Turtle
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Whitetip Reef Shark
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The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 120
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Cuttlefish
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The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 80
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Stingrays
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Wobbegong
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The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 90
Shutterstock-Rich Carey
Angelfish
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