Meet the site
Angourie, immediately south of Yamba, is known across Australia as a classic point surf break, and the volcanic basalt reef beneath and around that point is a genuine dive site in its own right — just one that is workable on only a handful of days a year, when the swell that makes the surf break famous drops away almost entirely. Local sources are blunt about this being an experienced diver's site: rugged trenches and canyons carved into the basalt bedrock create swim-throughs, overhangs and small caverns that are excellent underwater terrain but unforgiving in any surge, and the entry itself, over sharp rock timed between wave sets, is not for beginners. When conditions allow, the reward is one of the most interesting basalt reef systems on this part of the coast: blue groper patrol the open ground, estuary cod and striped snapper work the gutters, bream, tarwhine, drummer, sweep and bullseyes school through the canyons, and reef sharks — wobbegongs and Port Jackson sharks — tuck into the overhangs. Turtles and eagle rays are seen seasonally, and the site has a long-standing reputation among local spearfishers as one of the more productive rock platforms on the Far North Coast, a reputation that carries over directly to scuba divers willing to put in the local knowledge. The basalt itself, rather than the more typical sedimentary or granite rock found at many NSW dive sites, gives Angourie a distinctive dark, angular topography of trenches and canyons rather than rounded boulders, and this geology is part of what makes the site's swim-throughs and overhangs so structurally interesting when visibility allows them to be appreciated. Visibility, at a typical 6 to 10 m, is modest compared with the offshore reefs further out, and drops further after rain or any meaningful swell. For visiting divers, Angourie is best treated as a bonus dive to fit in around a longer Yamba/Iluka trip on the rare day the forecast lines up, rather than a site to plan a visit specifically around.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Angourie Point / Green Point reef is recorded as Shore/Rock Platform in Yamba & Iluka. The listed access is shore or boat. 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.
- Current and timing
- Ask how the operator assesses the current window for the actual route. Historical tide notes are not a departure instruction.
- Other water users
- Ask about vessel activity, exclusion areas and the agreed surface arrangements.
- 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 Angourie Point / Green Point reef suitable for my certification?
The record lists Advanced 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 Angourie Point / Green Point 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
Blue groper, estuary cod, striped snapper, bream, tarwhine, drummer, sweep, bullseyes, silver trevally, wobbegongs, Port Jackson sharks, nudibranchs, soft corals, anemones, turtles and eagle rays seasonally
Location
Volcanic basalt reef with rugged trenches, canyons, swim-throughs and overhangs off Angourie Point and Green Point, immediately south of Yamba, beloved by local shore divers and spearfishers on the rare calm day at this world-famous surf break.
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
scubadownunder.commarinelife.org.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.