Meet the site
Green Island sits only a few dozen metres off the mainland south of Gap Beach in Hat Head National Park, close enough to touch by eye from the beach yet effectively impossible to reach except by dive boat because of the surf and rock in between. That short boat hop delivers one of South West Rocks' most consistently good second dives: a low reef encircling the island that starts gentle on its northern and eastern faces, around fourteen to seventeen metres over sand-fringed rock, and steepens dramatically on the south-eastern corner into a near-vertical wall cut with narrow gutters and overhangs. The site can be dived as a full loop of the island or as a drift, usually run north to south with the boat picking divers up at the southern end once the reef and current dictate the direction. Green Island's status as a declared grey nurse shark critical habitat since December 2002 is the main reason for its popularity: in winter and spring aggregations of twenty, and on exceptional days as many as fifty, sharks have been recorded holding in the deeper gutters and along the wall, a scale that rivals Fish Rock itself despite the island's much lower profile among visiting divers. Away from the sharks, the reef supports a broad mix of temperate and subtropical fish — fiddler and eagle rays, resident loggerhead and green turtles, and large schools of drummer, bream, yellowtail and morwong — and the island has also had documented sightings of migrating humpback whales, including a mother with two calves, passing close by during the winter migration. Because the average depth is shallow and the site is well sheltered compared with the exposed outer reefs, Green Island is regularly used as an easier, confidence-building second dive on a South West Rocks trip, and works well for divers not yet ready for Fish Rock's currents and depths but wanting a genuine chance at a big grey nurse shark aggregation.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Green Island (South West Rocks) is recorded as Island in South West Rocks. 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.
- 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 Green Island (South West Rocks) suitable for my certification?
The record lists 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 Green Island (South West Rocks) 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 (20-50+ in season), green and loggerhead turtles, fiddler rays, eagle rays, drummer, bream, yellowtail, morwong, luderick, humpback whales (migration)
Location
A small offshore island south of Gap Beach in Hat Head National Park, close to shore but boat-access only, ringed by low reef and a grey nurse shark critical habitat site.
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.infofishrock.com.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.