Meet the site
Quarantine Bay, 3 km south of Eden, is the town's main boat ramp and a pleasant reserve with toilets, picnic tables and fish-cleaning tables. It was the site of a quarantine station in the 1800s. Eden's tourism site describes resident seals and stingrays, which gather around the cleaning tables when fishers return.
The bay has a sandy bottom with rocky edges and some seagrass and kelp. Big smooth stingrays and eagle rays are regular visitors, particularly near the ramp, and fur seals often cruise the bay. Fish include bream, luderick, leatherjackets, flathead and whiting, with blue groper and wrasse on the rocks. Octopus, cuttlefish and nudibranchs are found around the rocks and weed.
The site suits snorkellers and new divers wanting a sheltered, shallow swim with a good chance of rays and seals. The main hazard is boat traffic from the four-lane ramp, especially on calm mornings when everyone is heading out, so stay well away from the ramp and use a dive flag. Divers leaving on boat trips from here often have time for a snorkel while waiting. Don't feed the seals or stingrays, however tame they appear. The reserve is also a good place to watch whales in spring, and pelicans are usually around the cleaning tables. Divers waiting for a boat trip often snorkel here first, and it makes an easy check-out dive for new gear or weighting before heading out to deeper Twofold Bay sites.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Quarantine Bay is recorded as Shore/Rock Platform in Eden & Green Cape. 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 Quarantine Bay 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 Quarantine Bay 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
Smooth stingrays, eagle rays, Australian fur seals, bream, luderick, leatherjackets, flathead, whiting, blue groper, wrasse, octopus, cuttlefish, nudibranchs
Location
Sheltered bay 3 km south of Eden with the main four-lane boat ramp, resident seals and stingrays; shallow sand and rock for easy snorkelling and shore dives.
Facilities nearby
Four-lane boat ramp, parking, toilets, picnic tables, fish-cleaning tables, boat wash.
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
eden.nsw.auvisitnsw.comRecord updated 27 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.