New South Wales

Diving in Wollongong & Kiama

Between Sydney and the Shoalhaven the Illawarra coast has a quiet collection of shore reefs, rock platforms and boat dives. Bass Point at Shellharbour is the standout, a marine reserve with the Gutter, the Arch and a resident population of blue gropers and Port Jackson sharks; Kiama's Cathedral Rocks and Bushrangers Bay are also worth the drive.

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YouDive turtle in an illustrated New South Wales setting; not a photograph of Wollongong & Kiama

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

Wollongong & Kiama at a glance

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

Explore
37 site records
Recorded settings
Shore/Rock Platform · Reef · Wall
Map coverage
37 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 Wollongong & Kiama 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.

37 matching records · 37 with a map location · 0 without a usable position.

The local notebook

Where should you start in Wollongong & Kiama?

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
Wollongong Offshore Artificial ReefPort KemblaBoatRecorded source ↗
Blue Devil CaveShellharbourShore or BoatRecorded source ↗
Blue Pool (Carrington Falls)RobertsonShoreRecorded source ↗
Bass Point Gravel LoaderShellharbourShoreRecorded 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 Wollongong & Kiama

Get a feel for the diving

Our Wollongong & Kiama directory currently includes 37 published site records. The largest recorded category is shore/rock platform (15 records). Use the mix below to decide what you would like to read about first.

The YouDive turtle introducing this destination’s guide

Wollongong & Kiama: what’s in the directory?

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

Shore/Rock Platform15 records
Reef7 records
Wall6 records
Cave/Cavern2 records
Pinnacle/Bommie2 records
Other recorded types5 records

Source: published YouDive directory records for Wollongong & Kiama. 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 Wollongong Offshore Artificial Reef, Blue Devil Cave, Blue Pool (Carrington Falls). 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
Wollongong Offshore Artificial ReefArtificial ReefBoat20–32 m
Blue Devil Cave

Details need confirmation

Cave/CavernShore or BoatDepth not recorded
Blue Pool (Carrington Falls)Freshwater Lake/RiverShore1–4 m
Bass Point Gravel LoaderJetty/PierShore2–12 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.

Blue Devil CaveDepth 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 Wollongong & Kiama 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 Wollongong & Kiama

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

Shellharbour Scuba

Shellharbour

A Shellharbour Village dive shop giving access to Bass Point and Bushrangers Bay, teaching SDI and TDI courses from beginner to technical levels.

Listed agencies: sdi, tdi. 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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THE LOCAL PLANNING BRIEF

Understand the options around Wollongong & Kiama

What this regional directory records

There are 37 published site records in Wollongong & Kiama. The recorded categories include shore/rock platform (15), reef (7), wall (6), cave/cavern (2). These categories reflect the database; they are not a ranking, a conditions report or an assessment of your suitability.

Use the Wollongong & Kiama 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 Wollongong & Kiama?

Begin with the individual site and its source notes, then discuss the proposed trip with a local provider. The 37 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 Wollongong & Kiama 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 siteShore/Rock Platform

Wollongong & Kiama

Afghan Reef

Kelp-covered reef and wall below the Kiama Blowhole with good schools and sea dragons, and a safe ramp exit.

ShoreUp to 18 m
NSWYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the sitePinnacle/Bommie

Wollongong & Kiama

Bass Point Bommie

Pinnacle with a sheer southern wall and massive schools of yellowtail, seapike and nannygai.

BoatUp to 25 m
NSWYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteJetty/Pier

Wollongong & Kiama

Bass Point Gravel Loader

Shallow, sheltered jetty dive with a resident group of grey nurse sharks and outstanding night diving.

ShoreUp to 12 m
NSWYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteWall

Wollongong & Kiama

Bass Point Island South

A big sponge-and-gorgonian-covered vertical wall and steep boulder slope with dense schools in the shallows.

BoatUp to 32 m
NSWYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteReef

Wollongong & Kiama

Blind Shark Reef

Resident blind sharks in the overhangs and sea dragons on the sand, a minute from Kiama Harbour.

BoatUp to 15 m
NSWYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteShore/Rock Platform

Wollongong & Kiama

Bushrangers Bay

Protected amphitheatre bay with sea dragons, pygmy pipehorses, cuttlefish and seasonal grey nurse sharks – a no-take aquatic…

ShoreUp to 20 m
NSWYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the sitePinnacle/Bommie

Wollongong & Kiama

Hump One

Compact deep hump densely covered in gorgonians and sponges, circumnavigable in one short dive.

BoatUp to 36 m
NSWYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteWall

Wollongong & Kiama

Hump Wall

Sheer deep wall to 34 m with swarms of mado and carpets of tiny feather stars.

BoatUp to 34 m
NSWYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteShore/Rock Platform

Wollongong & Kiama

Kiama Gutter

One-way dive from the Blowhole Point pool, over a wall and through rock valleys, finishing in sheltered Kiama Harbour.

ShoreUp to 17 m
NSWYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteReef

Wollongong & Kiama

Lous Reef – Bass Point Island North

Deep-to-shallow island dive finishing in fish-filled cracks, with winter Port Jackson sharks.

BoatUp to 26 m
NSWYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteWall

Wollongong & Kiama

Martin Island

Winter fur seal encounters on a colourful sponge and gorgonian wall only 15 minutes from Port Kembla.

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

Wollongong & Kiama

Pig Island – North East

Kelp, sponge-covered outlier rocks and a pink-rock slope with rays and seasonal tropical visitors.

BoatUp to 26 m
NSWYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteReef

Wollongong & Kiama

Pig Island – South East

Dense sponge, gorgonian and lace-coral growth on a small wall with huge schools of pomfret, nannygai and sweep.

BoatUp to 25 m
NSWYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteWall

Wollongong & Kiama

Rons Wall

Colourful gorgonian-lined wall with unusually friendly male eastern king wrasse and an easy flat reef top.

BoatUp to 29 m
NSWYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteWall

Wollongong & Kiama

Slipper Reef

A bay-like amphitheatre around the mooring, wobbegong caves and a colourful vertical reef edge.

BoatUp to 29 m
NSWYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteWreck

Wollongong & Kiama

SS Bombo

Upturned 46 m collier broken open by storms, with an exposed triple-expansion engine, boiler and a separated upright stern…

BoatUp to 32 m
NSWYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteReef

Wollongong & Kiama

The Arch (Bass Point)

Swim-through arch on a seaward ridge plus a two-chamber cave guarded by a large bull ray; winter Port Jackson shark aggregations.

Shore or BoatUp to 26 m
NSWYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteShore/Rock Platform

Wollongong & Kiama

The Gutter (Bass Point)

Sheltered gutter and canyon system with sea dragons and sponge gullies – diveable even in a southerly gale.

ShoreUp to 20 m
NSWYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteReef

Wollongong & Kiama

The Gutter Sponge Gardens

Deep shore-accessible sponge garden at 20–23 m with excellent macro life, sheltered from southerlies.

ShoreUp to 23 m
NSWYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteCave/Cavern

Wollongong & Kiama

Toothbrush Island Cave

A gutter maze leading to a 10 m-deep sea cave that runs back under the island, with sea dragons in the kelp outside.

BoatUp to 16 m
NSWYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteWall

Wollongong & Kiama

Toothpaste

Easy circuit along a colourful pink-rock wall with big bullseye schools and resting bull rays.

BoatUp to 24 m
NSWYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteFreshwater Lake/River

Wollongong & Kiama

Blue Pool (Carrington Falls)

Novel tannin-stained highland creek pool dive in Budderoo National Park with an adjoining campground.

ShoreUp to 4 m
NSWYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteShore/Rock Platform

Wollongong & Kiama

Flagstaff Point

Zoanthid-covered walls, boulders and small caves right under the Wollongong lighthouse, with an easy bail-out into the harbour.

ShoreUp to 12 m
NSWYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteWreck

Wollongong & Kiama

SS Cities Service Boston

Boilers and engine remains of a 146 m US tanker wrecked in 1943, with a dramatic rescue story commemorated on the headland.

Shore or BoatDepth not recorded