New South Wales

Diving in Coffs Harbour & Solitary Islands

The Solitary Islands Marine Park is where the tropics meet the temperate zone: hard corals grow alongside kelp, anemonefish share ledges with blue gropers, and grey nurse sharks, turtles, mantas and leopard sharks all pass through. North Solitary's Anemone Bay has the densest carpet of anemones and clownfish in the country; South Solitary has the lighthouse, Manta Arch and Buchanan's Wall. Split Solitary and North West Solitary are closer in and quieter.

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YouDive turtle in an illustrated New South Wales setting; not a photograph of Coffs Harbour & Solitary Islands

Custom YouDive mascot art inspired by New South Wales. An imaginative illustration, not a photograph or map of this destination.

Your bearings, in a minute

Coffs Harbour & Solitary Islands at a glance

Start with the local site mix, explore the map and find people to ask about your trip.

Explore
38 site records
Recorded settings
Reef · Pinnacle/Bommie · Cave/Cavern
Map coverage
38 locations to explore
Plan with local help
Meet the listed operators

Directory counts describe published records, not bookable trips. Location confidence is shown separately in the map list. How we check information →

Sources, authorship and review status

Prepared by YouDive editorial with AI assistance. No firsthand visit, equipment test or instructor review is implied.

Independent specialist review: pending. We publish a reviewer’s name, qualifications, date and exact review scope only after the review has actually happened.

Who can contribute and how reviews work →

Find your bearings

Explore Coffs Harbour & Solitary Islands on the map

Compare where the recorded sites sit, then open a site to read its access and source notes. Locations are for orientation, not marine navigation or entry instructions.

38 matching records · 38 with a map location · 0 without a usable position.

The local notebook

Where should you start in Coffs Harbour & Solitary Islands?

Use the actual places attached to the local records to narrow your research. These are recorded nearby towns and areas, not verified departure points or accommodation recommendations.

Different outings to look into

Details drawn from individual published site records
Local exampleRecorded nearby placeRecorded accessFollow the evidence
North Solitary Island – Bubble CaveWooliBoat (day trip)Recorded source ↗
North West Solitary IslandCoffs HarbourBoat (day trip)Recorded source ↗
Pimpernel RockWooliBoat (multi-day/liveaboard)Recorded source ↗
Black Rock (Coffs Harbour)Coffs HarbourBoatRecorded source ↗
How to use this shortlist

Choose the named outing that interests you first. Compare its recorded place and access with your accommodation plans, then obtain the actual meeting address and schedule from the provider. The site links show the underlying depth, location confidence and source notes. Similar town names or map positions do not establish that two outings can be combined in a day.

A closer look at Coffs Harbour & Solitary Islands

Get a feel for the diving

Our Coffs Harbour & Solitary Islands directory currently includes 38 published site records. The largest recorded category is reef (20 records). Use the mix below to decide what you would like to read about first.

The YouDive turtle introducing this destination’s guide

Coffs Harbour & Solitary Islands: what’s in the directory?

A visual guide to recorded site types. Counts show coverage, not popularity or current availability.

Reef20 records
Pinnacle/Bommie5 records
Cave/Cavern4 records
Wall4 records
Island2 records
Other recorded types3 records

Source: published YouDive directory records for Coffs Harbour & Solitary Islands. Bars use the same scale within this graphic; the longest is the largest category, not 100% of the destination.

A few local records to compare

Start with North Solitary Island – Bubble Cave, North West Solitary Island, Pimpernel Rock. These are examples from different recorded categories, not a recommended route or a list of the best sites. Open each record for its sources, map and review notes.

One alphabetical example per recorded type, up to four types
SiteRecorded typeAccessDepth
North Solitary Island – Bubble Cave

Details need confirmation

Cave/CavernBoat (day trip)6–18 m
North West Solitary IslandIslandBoat (day trip)8–18 m
Pimpernel RockPinnacle/BommieBoat (multi-day/liveaboard)10–40 m
Black Rock (Coffs Harbour)ReefBoat10–30 m

How the recorded depths compare

A dot shows a recorded maximum. A line joins the recorded minimum and maximum when both are available. These are site descriptions, not target depths or certification limits.

The table above contains the same depth values. Depth alone cannot establish suitability, and records may require correction. Source: the linked site records.

Make a NSW diving weekend your own

Start with one local base and explore from there. A region can contain several different shore and boat options, so the useful comparison is the whole outing: access, support, equipment collection and the time you have.

Compare the shore day with the boat day

For a shore outing, ask about the meeting place, equipment collection, facilities and the actual entry arrangements. For a boat booking, include boarding, return times and what you bring aboard. Neither access label tells you that a site is suitable for you. Share your recent experience and ask about the route the provider proposes for that particular day.

Follow an interest, then check the setting

You might be drawn to a wreck record, a rocky reef or a marine-life photograph. Use that interest to start a conversation about the environment and support involved. A wildlife highlight is a reason to look more closely, not a sighting promise. Likewise, seeing a cave or wreck feature in a description does not establish that entering it is part of an appropriate outing.

Keep the weekend comfortable

Work out where you collect and return hire equipment, where the group meets and how much of the day the activity occupies. Plan meals, accommodation and any non-diving company around those details. If the preferred outing changes, ask which alternatives would still suit the group. A short list with clear arrangements is easier to use than a long list of famous sites.

Three conversations worth having before you book

Shore outing

Where do we meet and collect the equipment?

Check the full access arrangement.

Boat outing

What does the ticket include for each person?

Separate diving from sightseeing products.

Wildlife interest

What observation guidance applies?

Keep sightings as a possibility.

From “that looks lovely” to a plan

Make Coffs Harbour & Solitary Islands your kind of dive trip

Find your starting point, meet the local options and keep your ideas together. You do not need to have the whole trip worked out yet.

Where are you on your diving journey?

These are learning paths to explore, not prerequisites for every local site. Confirm the actual course, instructor and your readiness with the provider.

People to talk to about Coffs Harbour & Solitary Islands

These profiles are based in the region or have a sourced link to one of its sites. Shown alphabetically, not as a quality ranking. Ask about the specific trip or course you want.

Listed in this region

Jetty Dive Centre

Coffs Harbour

Coffs Harbour's PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Centre, running the Solitary Islands dive fleet from the Jetty Strip with training, retail, Nitrox and whale swims.

Listed agencies: padi. Check current affiliations and course availability.

Meet this operator →

Listed in this region

Wooli Dive Centre

Wooli

The closest operator to North Solitary Island and Pimpernel Rock, with its own 12-metre catamaran and riverside divers' accommodation in Wooli.

Listed agencies: padi. Check current affiliations and course availability.

Meet this operator →

Compare these local operators →

Browse all operator profiles in this state or territory →

Let’s put the pieces together

Start with the place and your questions. Add dates and prices once you have spoken with the people running the trip.

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Creates a new trip with this destination, useful reading and starter questions. Saved on this browser; export a backup from My trips.

THE LOCAL PLANNING BRIEF

Understand the options around Coffs Harbour & Solitary Islands

What this regional directory records

There are 38 published site records in Coffs Harbour & Solitary Islands. The recorded categories include reef (20), pinnacle/bommie (5), cave/cavern (4), wall (4). These categories reflect the database; they are not a ranking, a conditions report or an assessment of your suitability.

Use the Coffs Harbour & Solitary Islands site cards to compare recorded access and depth, then open the individual pages for the map accuracy and source notes. Sites grouped in a region are not necessarily close enough to combine in one day.

Research operators in New South Wales →

Ask before booking

  1. Where does the trip meet, and is parking or a transfer needed?
  2. Which alternative itinerary might be offered?
  3. What local park or access information should we check?

Save the answers with the contact name and date. Separate confirmed arrangements from items still waiting for a reply.

Record your trip questions →

Questions, answered

How do I choose a dive in Coffs Harbour & Solitary Islands?

Begin with the individual site and its source notes, then discuss the proposed trip with a local provider. The 38 published records are research options, not a list of trips available today. Match the plan to your training, recent experience and the operator’s current requirements.

When should I visit Coffs Harbour & Solitary Islands for diving?

Choose dates with a provider who runs the activity you want, then discuss seasonal patterns, recent conditions and alternative itineraries. A generic best-month claim cannot establish the conditions at your exact site or guarantee a wildlife encounter.

Can I use these maps to enter or navigate a dive site?

No. Recorded and approximate map positions support orientation only. Confirm the exact access, permissions, meeting point and route with the responsible local provider or manager.

Regional planning context: Destination NSW — beaches and water activities ↗. Directory counts come from published YouDive records. Individual site claims remain subject to their source and review notes.

Dive sites in this region

Find local operators
NSWYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteReef

Coffs Harbour & Solitary Islands

Marsh Shoal

A lightly documented local reef used as an occasional Coffs Harbour backup site.

BoatUp to 25 m
Details need confirmation
NSWYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteCave/Cavern

Coffs Harbour & Solitary Islands

North Solitary Island – Bubble Cave

A novelty air-pocket cave where divers can briefly surface inside the rock, set within North Solitary Island's rich broader reef…

Boat (day trip)Up to 18 m
Details need confirmation
NSWYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteReef

Coffs Harbour & Solitary Islands

North Solitary Island – Grey Nurse Gutters

A remote, lightly dived grey nurse shark gutter system at North Solitary Island, offering quieter encounters than the busier…

Boat (day trip)Up to 22 m
Details need confirmation
NSWYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteReef

Coffs Harbour & Solitary Islands

North Solitary Island – Muttonbird Gutter

A reef gutter named for the wedge-tailed shearwater (muttonbird) colony nesting on North Solitary Island above.

Boat (day trip)Up to 20 m
Details need confirmation
NSWYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteReef

Coffs Harbour & Solitary Islands

North Solitary Island – The Aquarium

An exceptionally fish-dense, easy patch of reef near Anemone Bay, valued for sheer density and variety rather than any single…

Boat (day trip)Up to 18 m
Details need confirmation
NSWYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteReef

Coffs Harbour & Solitary Islands

Sawtell Reef

A local headland reef south of Coffs Harbour, dived occasionally on the rare calm day.

Shore or BoatUp to 15 m
Details need confirmation
NSWYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteReef

Coffs Harbour & Solitary Islands

South Solitary Island – Anemone Flat

A shallow, sheltered anemone-bed dive on South Solitary Island's western side, ideal for long, relaxed macro photography.

Boat (day trip)Up to 14 m
Details need confirmation
NSWYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteCave/Cavern

Coffs Harbour & Solitary Islands

South Solitary Island – Archie's Cave

A lesser-known cave/overhang site at South Solitary Island, dived on request as a quieter alternative to the marquee moorings.

Boat (day trip)Up to 20 m
Details need confirmation
NSWYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the sitePinnacle/Bommie

Coffs Harbour & Solitary Islands

South Solitary Island – Lighthouse Bommie

A sheltered bommie below South Solitary Island's historic 1880 lighthouse, a reliable easy dive on the island's lee side.

Boat (day trip)Up to 20 m
Details need confirmation
NSWYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteWreck

Coffs Harbour & Solitary Islands

South Solitary Island – Steam Boiler

A heavily overgrown historic steam boiler, now effectively a small artificial reef near South Solitary Island.

Boat (day trip)Up to 20 m
Details need confirmation
NSWYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the sitePinnacle/Bommie

Coffs Harbour & Solitary Islands

Split Bommie (Coffs Harbour)

A compact bommie near Split Solitary Island offering an easy extension to a main island dive.

BoatUp to 20 m
Details need confirmation
NSWYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteCave/Cavern

Coffs Harbour & Solitary Islands

Split Solitary Island – The Arch

A small, scenic natural archway near Split Solitary Island's namesake split, an easy bonus feature on a broader island dive.

Boat (day trip)Up to 16 m
Details need confirmation
NSWYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteReef

Coffs Harbour & Solitary Islands

The Wash (Coffs Harbour)

A deeper, current-swept reef used as an occasional Jetty Dive Centre backup, good for kingfish and mulloway.

BoatUp to 30 m
Details need confirmation
NSWYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteReef

Coffs Harbour & Solitary Islands

Wooli – Sandon Shoals

Wooli Dive Centre's reliable, closer-in fallback reef system, used whenever weather rules out the longer runs to North Solitary…

BoatUp to 25 m
Details need confirmation