Meet the site
Bushrangers Bay is one of the classic training and photography dives of the NSW coast and the centrepiece of the Bushrangers Bay Aquatic Reserve, where it is an offence to take or kill any marine life. The bay is a figure-of-eight shape, about 75 m wide and 200 m long, facing east with a small opening to the sea. Its rocky walls form an amphitheatre full of cracks and ledges, and the floor steps from 3 m near the entry to 6–8 m in the middle and 15–18 m beyond the mouth, reaching 20 m further out.
The protected status shows in the fish life. Schools of bullseyes, luderick, bream, yellowtail, one-spot pullers and white-ear crowd the reef, leatherjackets are everywhere, and silver drummer patrol the open water at the mouth. Squid and giant cuttlefish are common, small rays rest on the sand, and the kelp and weed around the edges are prime habitat for weedy sea dragons and the tiny Sydney pygmy pipehorse, which draws macro photographers from Sydney. Since about 2018 grey nurse sharks have appeared seasonally, usually in April to June, sometimes lingering longer.
The dive is easy to navigate – follow one wall out and the other back – and depths allow long, relaxed dives, making it ideal for newly certified divers, training and night dives. Kelp has become thicker in recent years. The main costs are the steep stairs (a good set installed in 2002 replaced a rough track) and a narrow window of conditions: easterly swell turns it into a washing machine. Picnic lawns and toilets at the car park make it a pleasant day out.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Bushrangers Bay 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.
- 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 Bushrangers Bay 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 Bushrangers Bay 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, Sydney pygmy pipehorse, giant cuttlefish, squid, bullseyes, luderick, bream, yellowtail, one-spot pullers, white-ear, leatherjackets, silver drummer, small rays, grey nurse sharks (seasonal), sea urchins, anemones, sponges, seagrass
Location
Figure-of-eight bay about 75 m wide and 200 m long on the eastern side of Bass Point, opening to the ocean through a narrow gap; a no-take aquatic reserve.
Facilities nearby
Bass Point Reserve: toilets, picnic tables and grassed gear-up areas, no fresh water or barbecues (bring your own); reserve gate may close on total fire ban days. Air fills at Shellharbour Scuba and Photography Centre (Shellharbour Village).
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.infovisitnsw.comshellharbourscuba.com.augooddive.comRecord updated 27 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.
