Meet the site
Tomaree Head, Boat Harbour, One Mile Beach and Birubi Point together make up the scenic ocean-facing string of beaches and headlands along the Tomaree Peninsula and toward Anna Bay at the southern entrance to Port Stephens, and while they are firmly part of the area's tourism and outdoor recreation identity, none of them functions as a dedicated scuba diving destination in published dive guides. Tomaree Head, with its well-known summit walking track and sweeping coastal views, has rocky platforms at its base that offer occasional calm-day snorkelling, while Boat Harbour is a small, genuinely sheltered cove that is the most consistently calm and swimmable of the group, making it the most realistic option for an easy shore snorkel or shallow dive among this cluster. One Mile Beach and Birubi Point, by contrast, are open surf beaches — beautiful and popular for swimming, surfing and, at Birubi, sandboarding on the adjacent Stockton sand dunes, but generally unsuitable for diving given their exposure and the genuine rip current risk in typical surf conditions. Marine life at any of these spots, where diveable, reflects the general open-coast, low-relief sand-and-rock habitat typical of exposed ocean beaches rather than anything distinctive enough to draw dedicated dive traffic. This cluster is best understood as part of the broader Port Stephens tourism landscape — beaches to visit, walk and swim at — rather than as scuba dive sites in their own right, and visiting divers should direct their diving time to the area's genuine dive destinations (Fly Point, Halifax Park, the Port Stephens islands and Broughton Island) rather than expecting a serious dive experience here.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Tomaree Head, Boat Harbour, One Mile & Birubi Point shore/snorkel sites is recorded as Shore/Rock Platform in Port Stephens. 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.
- Current and timing
- Ask how the operator assesses the current window for the actual route. Historical tide notes are not a departure instruction.
- 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 Tomaree Head, Boat Harbour, One Mile & Birubi Point shore/snorkel sites 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 Tomaree Head, Boat Harbour, One Mile & Birubi Point shore/snorkel sites 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
General open-coast sand-and-rock fauna where diveable; not otherwise notable for marine life
Location
A string of ocean beaches and headlands along the seaward side of the Tomaree Peninsula and toward Anna Bay — Tomaree Head, Boat Harbour, One Mile Beach and Birubi Point — offering scenic snorkelling and occasional calm-day shore diving rather than dedicated scuba destinations.
Facilities nearby
Beach car parks, toilets, patrolled sections in season at the main beaches; Tomaree Head walking track; Birubi Point sand dune access.
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.
Record updated 27 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.