Meet the site
Pig Island – officially Bass Islet – is the most offshore of the Five Islands and, in Michael McFadyen's words, its northern and eastern sides are 'very good' diving. The south-eastern site is a rocky bottom scattered with large boulders where a small wall runs first north-east and then north along the island's seaward face. The reef steps up from about 25 m to 18 m, and the kelp line sits above that.
What sets Pig Island apart from the inner islands is the density of fixed life and fish. The wall and boulders are thick with sponges, sea tulips and gorgonians, and there is an unusual amount of lace coral (bryozoan) for this coast. Huge schools of ladder-finned pomfret, nannygai and silver sweep hang off the wall, with trevally and yellowtail above them. Blue groper and combfish work the reef, moray eels peer from cracks, rays rest on the sand and wobbegongs tuck under the boulders. Giant cuttlefish are common, especially in the cooler months.
The dive is simple to navigate: out along the base of the wall, back along the top. At 20–25 m it is best suited to Advanced divers, and air consumption and no-deco time rather than navigation will usually end the dive. Because it is the most exposed of the island sites it needs a calm day, and it is often combined with the northern end of the same island or with Martin Island. For Wollongong divers it offers the kind of colourful wall diving that most people associate with Jervis Bay, only 15 minutes from the ramp.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Pig Island – South East is recorded as Reef in Wollongong & Kiama. 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.
- Other water users
- Ask about vessel activity, exclusion areas and the agreed surface arrangements.
- Planned depth
- Confirm the intended route and training requirements; the recorded maximum is not a target.
- 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 Pig Island – South East 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 Pig Island – South East 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
Ladder-finned pomfret, nannygai, silver sweep, trevally, yellowtail, blue groper, combfish, moray eels, wobbegong sharks, giant cuttlefish, rays, sponges, sea tulips, gorgonians, lace coral
Location
Sponge- and lace-coral-covered wall and rocky reef on the south-eastern side of Pig Island (Bass Islet), the outermost of the Five Islands off Port Kembla.
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.infogooddive.comRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.
