New South Wales

Diving in Shoalhaven Coast

Between Jervis Bay and Ulladulla, the Shoalhaven's headlands at Currarong, Culburra and Bendalong have wrecks, caves and reefs that are dived far less than their neighbours. The wreck of the Merimbula at Currarong is a shallow shore dive on a 1928 steamer, and Beecroft Peninsula's outer walls are boat dives for experienced divers.

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YouDive turtle in an illustrated New South Wales setting; not a photograph of Shoalhaven Coast

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

Shoalhaven Coast at a glance

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

Explore
10 site records
Recorded settings
Wreck · Shore/Rock Platform · Artificial Reef
Map coverage
10 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 Shoalhaven Coast 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.

10 matching records · 10 with a map location · 0 without a usable position.

The local notebook

Where should you start in Shoalhaven Coast?

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
Shoalhaven Offshore Artificial ReefCulburra Beach / Crookhaven HeadsBoatRecorded source ↗
Sir John Young BanksCulburra Beach / Crookhaven HeadsBoat (day trip)Recorded source ↗
Abrahams Bosom ReserveCurrarongShoreRecorded source ↗
Hive Wreck SiteWreck Bay / Sussex InletShoreRecorded 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 Shoalhaven Coast

Get a feel for the diving

Our Shoalhaven Coast directory currently includes 10 published site records. The largest recorded category is wreck (5 records). Use the mix below to decide what you would like to read about first.

The YouDive turtle introducing this destination’s guide

Shoalhaven Coast: what’s in the directory?

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

Wreck5 records
Shore/Rock Platform3 records
Artificial Reef1 record
Seamount1 record

Source: published YouDive directory records for Shoalhaven Coast. 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 Shoalhaven Offshore Artificial Reef, Sir John Young Banks, Abrahams Bosom Reserve. 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
Shoalhaven Offshore Artificial ReefArtificial ReefBoatMaximum recorded: 33 m
Sir John Young BanksSeamountBoat (day trip)16–50 m
Abrahams Bosom Reserve

Details need confirmation

Shore/Rock PlatformShoreDepth not recorded
Hive Wreck SiteWreckShore1–2 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.

Abrahams Bosom ReserveDepth not recorded

No mark plotted: depth is missing.

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 Shoalhaven Coast 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 Shoalhaven Coast

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.

Source-linked to a site in this region

Dive Jervis Bay

Huskisson

A Huskisson operation with two dive boats and on-site accommodation, diving the walls, sponge gardens and seal sites of Jervis Bay Marine Park.

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

Meet this operator →
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.

Open my trips

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 Shoalhaven Coast

What this regional directory records

There are 10 published site records in Shoalhaven Coast. The recorded categories include wreck (5), shore/rock platform (3), artificial reef (1), seamount (1). These categories reflect the database; they are not a ranking, a conditions report or an assessment of your suitability.

Use the Shoalhaven Coast 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 Shoalhaven Coast?

Begin with the individual site and its source notes, then discuss the proposed trip with a local provider. The 10 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 Shoalhaven Coast 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 siteSeamount

Shoalhaven Coast

Sir John Young Banks

Remote offshore banks with walls to 50 m, pristine colourful sessile life and pelagic sharks including hammerheads.

Boat (day trip)Up to 50 m
NSWYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteWreck

Shoalhaven Coast

TSS Merimbula

Two triple-expansion engines, twin boilers, shafts, winch and anchor of a 1928 coastal passenger steamer in 4–14 m.

Shore or BoatUp to 14 m
NSWYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteWreck

Shoalhaven Coast

Hive Wreck Site

Site of an 1835 convict-ship wreck from which 250 convicts survived; heritage-listed buried remains.

ShoreUp to 2 m
NSWYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteArtificial Reef

Shoalhaven Coast

Shoalhaven Offshore Artificial Reef

Five clusters of concrete reef modules at 33 m attracting kingfish, snapper and mulloway.

BoatUp to 33 m
NSWYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteShore/Rock Platform

Shoalhaven Coast

Abrahams Bosom Reserve

Quiet, sheltered snorkelling coves along scenic walks, including the route to the SS Merimbula wreck.

ShoreDepth not recorded
Details need confirmation
NSWYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteShore/Rock Platform

Shoalhaven Coast

Flat Rock (North Bendalong)

A broad flat platform with snorkelling along its seaward edge at North Bendalong.

ShoreDepth not recorded
Details need confirmation
NSWYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteShore/Rock Platform

Shoalhaven Coast

Lobster Bay

Protected, usually clear shallow bay near Currarong – an easy snorkel or training dive.

ShoreUp to 6 m
Details need confirmation
NSWYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteWreck

Shoalhaven Coast

SS Corangamite

The last traces – ballast blocks and scattered remains – of a large 1886 passenger steamer wrecked in fog.

BoatDepth not recorded
Details need confirmation
NSWYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteWreck

Shoalhaven Coast

SS Plutus

Beach-accessible remains of an 1882 iron collier, a shallow historic snorkel.

ShoreDepth not recorded
Details need confirmation
NSWYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteWreck

Shoalhaven Coast

Walter Hood

Shallow remains of a famous 1870 clipper wreck in which 12 lives were lost.

Shore or BoatUp to 5 m
Details need confirmation