Crocodile Head

Meet the site

Crocodile Head is a dramatic headland on the outer Beecroft Peninsula about 1.6 km north of Point Perpendicular, where the sandstone cliffs rise more than 100 m from the sea. Its signature feature is a large L-shaped arch that extends from below the surface – its shallow entrance at 5–7 m – right up to perhaps 20 m above the waterline. In extremely calm seas divers can swim through it, an unforgettable experience with the sky visible through the opening overhead.

The dive also includes several caves. One extends a good distance back beyond the arch's main entrance, and a long, narrow cave runs under the cliff in the inlet to the north. Smaller caves lie west of the shallow entrance. The bottom, around 24 m at the base of the wall, is strewn with boulders full of nooks and crannies.

Fish life is prolific. Luderick, bream and black reef leatherjackets are common, and the site is known for eastern blue devilfish – McFadyen has seen up to seven on a single dive. Wobbegongs, blue groper and schools of yellowtail and sweep are also regulars. Visibility is usually very good. Because the depth range is flexible and the caves can be viewed from outside, the site suits Open Water divers in calm conditions, while more experienced divers can explore the caverns with a torch. Surface conditions dictate the dive: the arch and shallow caves are only safe when the sea is flat. It combines well with The Caves just to the west and the deeper Crocodile Head Gorge to the north.

What you might see

Eastern blue devilfish (up to seven per dive), luderick, bream, black reef leatherjackets, wobbegongs, blue groper, yellowtail, silver sweep, sponges

Location

Headland about 1.6 km north of Point Perpendicular with a large L-shaped arch rising from below the surface to 20 m above it, caves and a boulder bottom to 24 m.

Facilities nearby

Departure from Huskisson: Dive Jervis Bay shop (air, nitrox, hire), cafés, parking; Huskisson and Callala ramps.