Meet the site
Horseshoe Bay is the small, sheltered beach in the centre of Bermagui, right beside the main street and just north of the fishing harbour. It is a family swimming beach and a popular snorkel. No dive directory describes it in detail. The site-guide aggregator Scubago lists a Horseshoe Bay dive described as shallow but beautiful, easy to navigate, rarely with current, and needing a high-tide entry because it is otherwise extremely shallow – but its page does not clearly identify the location, so that description may not refer to Bermagui.
The bay has a sandy bottom with patches of weed and seagrass and rocky edges at either end. It is the kind of habitat where snorkellers find juvenile fish, bream, whiting, leatherjackets and small wrasse, with stingrays and fiddler rays on the sand and octopus and nudibranchs in the rocks. Bermagui's nearby Blue Pool tidal rock pool is known for nudibranchs, and Peter Fuller recorded about eight species there, which suggests a rich invertebrate fauna along this coast.
The site suits snorkellers, children and new divers on calm days. It is right in town, with cafés and toilets a few steps away. Its shelter from southerly swell makes it useful when other sites are closed. It is also a pleasant post-dive swim after a boat trip from the harbour.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Horseshoe Bay (Bermagui) is recorded as Shore/Rock Platform in Bermagui & Tathra. 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.
- Other water users
- Ask about vessel activity, exclusion areas and the agreed surface arrangements.
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 Horseshoe Bay (Bermagui) suitable for my certification?
The record lists Snorkel/Any. 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 Horseshoe Bay (Bermagui) 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
Bream, whiting, leatherjackets, wrasse, juvenile fish, stingrays, fiddler rays, octopus, nudibranchs, seagrass
Location
Small sheltered bay beside Bermagui harbour and the town centre; shallow sand, weed and rock for snorkelling and easy dives, best at high tide.
Facilities nearby
Toilets, cafés and shops on the main street; Bermagui harbour ramp nearby.
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
scubago.competerfuller.com.auRecord updated 27 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.