Narooma
14 site records refer to this town or area.
Look for operators around Narooma →New South Wales
Montague Island, 9 km off Narooma, is the seal dive of the east coast. Several hundred Australian and New Zealand fur seals haul out on the island and play with divers in the shallows; the deeper reefs, the Pinnacles, Shark Gutters and the Keyhole, have grey nurse sharks, kingfish and clear water pushed in by the East Australian Current.

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
Start with the local site mix, explore the map and find people to ask about your trip.
Directory counts describe published records, not bookable trips. Location confidence is shown separately in the map list. How we check information →
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
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.
16 matching records · 16 with a map location · 0 without a usable position.
Pinnacle/Bommie · 5–30 m
Approximate area
Cave/Cavern · 5–30 m
Approximate area
Reef · 5–16 m
Approximate area
Island · 3–15 m
Approximate area
Shore/Rock Platform · 1–10 m
Approximate area
Shore/Rock Platform · 1–6 m
Approximate area
Reef · Not recorded
Approximate area
Jetty/Pier · 3–8 m
Approximate area
Shore/Rock Platform · 2–12 m
Approximate area
Reef · 14–35 m
Approximate area
Wreck · 25–31 m
Approximate area
Reef · 20–40 m
Approximate area
The local notebook
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.
14 site records refer to this town or area.
Look for operators around Narooma →1 site record refers to this town or area.
Look for operators around Mystery Bay →1 site record refers to this town or area.
Look for operators around Potato Point →| Local example | Recorded nearby place | Recorded access | Follow the evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bubble Cave (Montague Island) | Narooma | Boat (day trip) | Recorded source ↗ |
| The Plateau (Montague Island) | Narooma | Boat (day trip) | Recorded source ↗ |
| Montague Island Seal Colony | Narooma | Boat (day trip) | Recorded source ↗ |
| Old Wharf (Montague Island) | Narooma | Boat (day trip) | Recorded source ↗ |
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 Narooma & Montague Island
Our Narooma & Montague Island directory currently includes 16 published site records. The largest recorded category is reef (5 records). Use the mix below to decide what you would like to read about first.

A visual guide to recorded site types. Counts show coverage, not popularity or current availability.
Source: published YouDive directory records for Narooma & Montague Island. Bars use the same scale within this graphic; the longest is the largest category, not 100% of the destination.
Start with Bubble Cave (Montague Island), The Plateau (Montague Island), Montague Island Seal Colony. 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.
| Site | Recorded type | Access | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bubble Cave (Montague Island) | Cave/Cavern | Boat (day trip) | 5–30 m |
| The Plateau (Montague Island) Details need confirmation | Drift | Boat (day trip) | 20–33 m |
| Montague Island Seal Colony | Island | Boat (day trip) | 3–15 m |
| Old Wharf (Montague Island) Details need confirmation | Jetty/Pier | Boat (day trip) | 3–8 m |
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Where do we meet and collect the equipment?
Check the full access arrangement.
What does the ticket include for each person?
Separate diving from sightseeing products.
What observation guidance applies?
Keep sightings as a possibility.
From “that looks lovely” to a plan
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.
Find out how a first course works, compare your options and get comfortable asking questions.
Connect your next outing with useful reading and a conversation about the right training and support.
Explore the professional pathway and prepare better questions for a training centre.
These are learning paths to explore, not prerequisites for every local site. Confirm the actual course, instructor and your readiness with the provider.
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
Narooma
Open the profile for contact details and recorded services, then ask about current arrangements.
Meet this operator →Listed in this region
Narooma
Ocean Hut is a fishing and dive shop in Narooma on the NSW South Coast.
Meet this operator →Listed in this region
Narooma
A small-group Narooma operator running seal dives and snorkels at Montague Island (Barunguba) since 2014, with seasonal grey nurse shark dives.
Listed agencies: padi. Check current affiliations and course availability.
Meet this operator →Start with the place and your questions. Add dates and prices once you have spoken with the people running the trip.
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
Narooma is a mainland base for excursions towards Montague Island, also known as Barunguba. Destination NSW describes wildlife excursions as well as in-water activities in the region. These product names can sound similar while involving different participation requirements. Establish whether you are booking certified diving, snorkelling or sightseeing before comparing inclusions or planning the rest of the day.
One useful question: Which activity is included for each member of our group, and are the departure and return arrangements shared?
| Your interest | Research next | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Mainland base | Check accommodation against the actual meeting point, not the island map marker. | Confirm where equipment is collected. |
| Island wildlife interest | Describe the desired activity rather than requesting a generic seal trip. | Wildlife interest is not a guaranteed encounter. |
| Mixed group | List divers, snorkellers and spectators separately when enquiring. | Ask whether one product can actually accommodate the whole group. |
Local context: Destination NSW — Narooma. Prepared 1 October 2026; this is destination research, not current access verification.
There are 16 published site records in Narooma & Montague Island. The recorded categories include reef (5), shore/rock platform (3), pinnacle/bommie (2), cave/cavern (1). These categories reflect the database; they are not a ranking, a conditions report or an assessment of your suitability.
Use the Narooma & Montague Island 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 →Save the answers with the contact name and date. Separate confirmed arrangements from items still waiting for a reply.
Record your trip questions →Begin with the individual site and its source notes, then discuss the proposed trip with a local provider. The 16 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.
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.
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.
Search within Narooma & Montague Island, or narrow the list to a recorded dive type. Open a site for its map, sources and access notes.
16 matching site records. Listings do not confirm current access or availability.
IslandNarooma & Montague Island
Shallow, playful encounters with fur seals at the largest seal colony in NSW.
WreckNarooma & Montague Island
An intact stern with upright engine and boiler, covered in jewel anemones – one of the best wreck dives in NSW.
Pinnacle/BommieNarooma & Montague Island
Isolated plateau with sponge- and soft-coral-covered walls to 30 m; the reef that sank the Lady Darling.
Cave/CavernNarooma & Montague Island
An air-pocket cave on Montague's northern headland, with seals often joining the dive.
ReefNarooma & Montague Island
Sea cave, swim-throughs and dramatic rock formations in a bay sheltered from northerlies.
Shore/Rock PlatformNarooma & Montague Island
Coves facing different directions give a sheltered snorkel or shore dive in most weathers, with a notable variety of kelp.
Shore/Rock PlatformNarooma & Montague Island
Sheltered, easy snorkel and dive with seahorses on the swimming net, diveable in almost any weather.
Shore/Rock PlatformNarooma & Montague Island
Exposed calm-day shore dive with kelp forest, bommies, morays and rays.
ReefNarooma & Montague Island
Grey nurse sharks in rocky gutters on the northern side of Montague Island, with seals passing through.
Pinnacle/BommieNarooma & Montague Island
Kelp-topped pinnacles dropping into a deep sponge garden at the northern tip of Montague Island.
ReefNarooma & Montague Island
Old site name near the seal colony at the northern end of Montague Island.
Details need confirmation
Jetty/PierNarooma & Montague Island
Shallow, calm dive among the remains of the 1880s lighthouse jetty.
Details need confirmation
ReefNarooma & Montague Island
Deep sponge gardens with large sea fans and pelagic schools beside the seal colony.
Details need confirmation
WallNarooma & Montague Island
Step-like underwater cliffs on Montague's eastern side, away from the strong northern currents.
Details need confirmation
DriftNarooma & Montague Island
Fast drift over a boulder plateau east of the seal colony – experienced divers only.
Details need confirmation
ReefNarooma & Montague Island
Deep sponge gardens and sea pens with plentiful fish at Montague Island.
Details need confirmation