Meet the site
Stoney Creek is regarded by many as one of the best deep dives in New South Wales. The Marine Life Network calls it an extraordinary dive, and McFadyen describes the colours as superior to many coral reefs. It lies 1.5–2 km offshore about 4 km south of Bowen Island, where a reef rises to a top at about 37 m and drops as walls past 50 m in its main zone and to 40 m in secondary areas. In the southern section a flat area at 38 m meets a wall rising to 34 m.
The reef is flattish and covered entirely in sea whips, sponges, sea squirts, gorgonians and other colourful life, with tiger anemones and feather stars adding to the display. Because it lies in clear oceanic water, visibility consistently exceeds 25 m and often reaches 30–35 m, so the scale and colour of the reef are unusually apparent at depth. Pelagic fish pass over the wall, and the invertebrate life is outstanding.
The site is nearly always subject to strong, variable currents, which is why Deep 6 describes it as a dive not for the faint-hearted and notes it is often done as a twin-tank or technical dive, sometimes as a drift. With the reef top at 37 m, any meaningful bottom time involves decompression on air or nitrox, and trimix is the sensible choice for the wall. Teams need a competent boat crew to follow drifting divers, good current awareness and conservative planning. When conditions allow, it rewards qualified divers with one of the finest deep temperate reef scenes in Australia.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Stoney Creek is recorded as Wall in Jervis Bay. 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.
- Current and timing
- Ask how the operator assesses the current window for the actual route. Historical tide notes are not a departure instruction.
- 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.
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 Stoney Creek suitable for my certification?
The record lists Technical (decompression). 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 Stoney Creek 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
Sea whips, gorgonians, sponges, sea squirts, tiger anemones, feather stars, kingfish and other pelagics, leatherjackets, butterfly perch
Location
Deep reef 1.5–2 km offshore about 4 km south of Bowen Island; reef top at 37 m with walls dropping past 50 m, covered in sea whips and gorgonians, almost always current-swept.
Facilities nearby
Departure from Huskisson (Dive Jervis Bay shop, air/nitrox, cafés) or Murrays Beach ramp (Booderee; toilets, parking, park pass required).
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.infodeep6divingjervisbay.com.aumarinelife.org.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.