Meet the site
Montague Island is one of the main grey nurse shark aggregation sites on the NSW South Coast. The Marine Life Network lists Shark Gutters on the northern side of the island at 25–35 m, describing rocky gutters with up to half a dozen grey nurse sharks, alongside several deeper sites. Underwater Safaris runs dedicated grey nurse dives at 14–26 m from November to April and requires Open Water certification. Narooma Charters notes that grey nurse sharks take up residence in the warmer months, from February.
Grey nurse sharks are critically endangered on Australia's east coast. They gather in gutters and caves at a limited number of sites, hovering almost motionless in the current, and are docile if divers behave well. The gutters are rocky channels between reef ridges with sand or gravel floors; the sharks cruise slowly along them, often turning back past divers waiting at the edge. The surrounding reef has kelp in the shallows and sponges and gorgonians deeper, with schools of yellowtail, silver sweep and one-spot pullers, blue groper, red morwong and kingfish. Seals frequently cruise through from the nearby colony.
The dive suits Open Water divers who follow the grey nurse code of conduct, though depth and current mean Advanced certification is an advantage. Montague is grey nurse shark critical habitat, with special rules for fishing and diving. The position of the gutters has not been published and operators prefer to keep it that way; dive with a Narooma operator who will brief on behaviour. Combined with a seal dive, this makes a memorable day.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Shark Gutters (Montague Island) is recorded as Reef in Narooma & Montague Island. The listed access is boat (day trip). 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.
- Current and timing
- Ask how the operator assesses the current window for the actual route. Historical tide notes are not a departure instruction.
- Planned depth
- Confirm the intended route and training requirements; the recorded maximum is not a target.
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 Shark Gutters (Montague Island) suitable for my certification?
The record lists Deep/Advanced + experience. 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 Shark Gutters (Montague Island) 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 (Nov–Apr), fur seals, yellowtail, silver sweep, one-spot pullers, blue groper, red morwong, kingfish, kelp, sponges, gorgonians
Location
Rocky gutters on the northern side of Montague Island where up to half a dozen or more grey nurse sharks gather from November to April; 14–35 m.
Facilities nearby
Narooma town wharf and marina.
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
underwatersafaris.com.aumarinelife.org.aunaroomacharters.com.auRecord updated 27 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.