Werri Point

Meet the site

Werri Point, at the southern end of Werri Beach in Gerringong, is a small, shallow shore site that local snorkellers and divers use on calm days. The reef begins close to the rock platform at 3–4 m and slopes to a sandy bottom at around 10 m, with kelp and broken rock providing habitat along the way.

Leatherjackets pick at the algae, eastern blue groper cruise the sand and reef edges, and cuttlefish hover near the kelp canopy. Octopus, moray eels and nudibranchs are found in the cracks, wobbegongs rest under ledges, flathead lie on the sand, and Port Jackson sharks visit in winter. Visibility is typically 4–8 m, occasionally more than 10 m on clear days.

The entry is easy by rock-platform standards: at low to mid tide the platform near the Ourie pool is mostly dry, so divers can walk right to the water's edge. The hazard is wave wash – even a moderate swell pushes water across the platform, and surge builds in the gutters – so the site should only be dived on calm days with less than 1 m of swell. Surfers use the lineup off the point, and the algae-covered rock is slippery. It is a pleasant, low-key option for divers staying in Gerringong or Kiama, a good snorkel for families, and a useful training venue on flat days, but not a destination in its own right. Divers wanting more depth or variety should head north to Kiama's Blowhole Point sites or to Bass Point, both within 25 minutes' drive, and use Werri Point for an easy second dive or a snorkel with non-diving family members on the way home.

What you might see

Leatherjackets, eastern blue groper, cuttlefish, octopus, moray eels, nudibranchs, wobbegongs, Port Jackson sharks (winter), flathead, kelp

Location

Shallow reef off the rock platform at the southern end of Werri Beach near the Ourie ocean pool, Gerringong; reef at 3–4 m sloping to sand at about 10 m.

Facilities nearby

Parking and ocean pool at the southern end of Werri Beach; toilets nearby; cafés in Gerringong; nearest fills at Shellharbour.