Meet the site
Spider Cave and Bubble Cave sit within the same general cluster of features as the Looking Glass and Shark Gutters on Broughton Island's protected northern side, adding a genuine cave and cavern dimension to what is already one of the richest single dive areas on the NSW coast. Spider Cave is a low, tight cave that has been documented as a breeding site for grey nurse sharks — a significant finding given the species' critically endangered status and the importance of protecting any confirmed breeding or pupping habitat — and it also shelters a strong population of crayfish in its cracks and recesses. Its low profile demands careful buoyancy and a respectful, minimal-disturbance approach given both the ecological sensitivity of a breeding site and the practical risk of silting out a confined space. Bubble Cave, close by, offers a different character: a larger chamber with a genuine internal air space, similar in concept to the celebrated air pockets at Fish Rock further north, where divers can surface briefly inside the rock, and it is also known to hold resident cod using the cave's shelter. Together the two caves give Broughton Island a genuine claim to being one of the most topographically varied dive locations in NSW — swim-through, wall, gutter, kelp bed and now true cave habitat all within a short boat ride of Nelson Bay. Divers should treat both caves with particular care given the ecological significance of Spider Cave as shark breeding habitat, following any specific guide instructions about approach distance and group size closely.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Broughton Island – Spider Cave & Bubble Cave is recorded as Cave/Cavern in Port Stephens. The listed access is 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.
- Overhead environments
- Ask whether the plan stays entirely in open water. A wreck or cave listing is not permission or training to enter.
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 Broughton Island – Spider Cave & Bubble Cave 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 Broughton Island – Spider Cave & Bubble Cave 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
Grey nurse sharks (breeding site at Spider Cave), crayfish, resident cod (Bubble Cave), general cave-associated invertebrates
Location
Two adjoining cave features on Broughton Island's north side at around 12 m — Spider Cave, a low cave used by breeding grey nurse sharks and crayfish, and Bubble Cave, a larger cave with an internal air space and resident cod.
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
mudgeediveandtravel.comRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.