Meet the site
Cod Grounds is a Commonwealth marine park about 30 km south of Port Macquarie, sitting a few kilometres off Perpendicular Point at the mouth of Camden Haven, and it exists specifically to protect a small but critical piece of habitat for the east coast population of critically endangered grey nurse sharks. The seafloor here is not a single obvious feature but a scatter of rocky pinnacles rising off a sand and rubble bottom, ranging from about 18 metres on the shallowest peak down through sandy gutters, ledges and small caves to 46 metres at the deepest points within the four-square-kilometre park boundary. Those pinnacles and their surrounding structure support the crabs, lobsters, squid and reef fish that in turn sustain the sharks, and grey nurse sharks are recorded here year-round, with numbers building through the cooler months as they do at the better-known aggregation sites further north and south. Because there is no boat ramp or town directly adjacent, Cod Grounds has historically been dived less than Fish Rock or Broughton Island, but Commonwealth marine park status and a full anchoring and mooring prohibition — introduced partly to protect underwater acoustic monitoring equipment tracking tagged sharks — have raised its profile and formalised how it must be dived. Divers descend on a shot line placed precisely by an operator who knows the pinnacle positions, since nothing is visible from the surface, and the site rewards divers prepared to work a genuine multi-level profile across the pinnacle tops and the deeper gutters around their base rather than expecting a single fixed route. Beyond the sharks, jewfish and kingfish schools move through the structure, and the deeper margins hold typical mid-north-coast temperate reef life. Humpback whales and foraging seabirds use the surrounding water during migration. This is an advanced site by virtue of its depth range, offshore position and lack of any shallow refuge, and it is best dived with an operator experienced in placing divers accurately on the pinnacles.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Cod Grounds is recorded as Pinnacle/Bommie in Port Macquarie & Camden Haven. 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.
- Current and timing
- Ask how the operator assesses the current window for the actual route. Historical tide notes are not a departure instruction.
- Lines and obstructions
- Discuss any known entanglement concerns and the suitability of the planned area.
- Planned depth
- Confirm the intended route and training requirements; the recorded maximum is not a target.
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 Cod Grounds suitable for my certification?
The record lists Technical (decompression). 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 Cod Grounds 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 (year-round, peak winter), jewfish, kingfish schools, reef fish, lobsters, squid, humpback whales (migration), seabirds
Location
A Commonwealth marine park roughly 30 km south of Port Macquarie off Perpendicular Point, Camden Haven, protecting a cluster of pinnacles and sandy gutters that is critical habitat for grey nurse sharks; depths 21-46 m.
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
australianmarineparks.gov.auen.wikipedia.orgmudgeediveandtravel.comRecord updated 27 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.