Meet the site
Afghan Reef takes its name – in McFadyen's words 'perhaps cruelly' – from people who were washed off the rock platform here some years before it became a known dive. The name is a sober reminder that Blowhole Point is a dangerous place in swell; on calm days, however, it provides a good shore dive on the northern side of the point.
The bottom is cleared igneous rock with a covering of kelp, stepping gradually from 4–5 m near the entry to about 18 m on the sand before rising again to 15 m. A fairly obvious wall at 12–13 m gives a navigational reference on the return. Fish life is good: one-spot pullers, black reef and mosaic leatherjackets, schools of luderick, blackfish and bream, snapper, kingfish, yellowtail, striped seapike and bullseyes. Weedy sea dragons are found in the kelp.
The entry gutter, directly below the northern car park, has a wide ramp that makes for a very safe exit – but there are many similar gutters along the point, so surface and check before committing. The platform is heavily fished and lines and hooks are everywhere, so a knife or line cutter is essential. The site needs calm seas or a small southerly swell; if conditions are marginal, the Kiama Gutter route finishing in the harbour is the safer choice. For competent shore divers it is a satisfying, fishy dive right beside one of the South Coast's biggest tourist attractions. Tourists gather on the platform, so gear up considerately and keep entries and exits away from the crowds.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Afghan Reef is recorded as Shore/Rock Platform in Wollongong & Kiama. The listed access is shore. Confirm the actual meeting point, route and permission to visit; a map pin does not establish any of these.
Topics flagged by the stored research
These are questions prompted by the existing notes, not a verified or complete hazard assessment.
- Lines and obstructions
- Discuss any known entanglement concerns and the suitability of the planned area.
- Water movement
- Ask how swell and local exposure affect the proposed entry, exit and route.
Historical access notes exist for this record, but have not been independently verified for current use. Request current directions from the operator or site manager rather than following an old entry description.
Questions, answered
Is Afghan Reef suitable for my certification?
The record lists Open Water. That does not establish suitability for every route or day. Share your training, recent experience and equipment needs with the operator and ask about the specific proposed dive.
Can I book Afghan Reef through YouDive?
YouDive is an independent research directory. Contact an operator directly to confirm whether it currently runs the trip, the inclusions and the booking terms.
What you might see
Weedy sea dragons, one-spot pullers, black reef and mosaic leatherjackets, luderick, blackfish, bream, snapper, kingfish, yellowtail, striped seapike, bullseyes, kelp
Location
Shore dive from a gutter below the northern-most Blowhole Point car park at Kiama; kelp-covered rock stepping from 4 m to sand at 18 m with a wall at 12–13 m.
Facilities nearby
Blowhole Point car parks, toilets beside the ocean pool, cafés in Kiama town centre; nearest air fills at Shellharbour Scuba and Photography Centre (20 minutes).
Before you make plans
Conditions, access and operator schedules can change. This is a location guide, not a dive plan. Ask a local operator about current conditions and suitability for your training and experience.
Sources & further reading
michaelmcfadyenscuba.infoRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.
