Shellharbour
14 site records refer to this town or area.
Look for operators around Shellharbour →New South Wales
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.

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.
37 matching records · 37 with a map location · 0 without a usable position.
Shore/Rock Platform · 4–18 m
Approximate area
Shore/Rock Platform · 2–12 m
Approximate area
Pinnacle/Bommie · 3–25 m
Recorded location
Jetty/Pier · 2–12 m
Approximate area
Wall · 12–32 m
Recorded location
Shore/Rock Platform · 2–17 m
Approximate area
Reef · 10–15 m
Recorded location
Cave/Cavern · Not recorded
Approximate area
Freshwater Lake/River · 1–4 m
Approximate area
Shore/Rock Platform · Not recorded
Approximate area
Shore/Rock Platform · 2–20 m
Approximate area
Shore/Rock Platform · Not recorded
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 Shellharbour →5 site records refer to this town or area.
Look for operators around Port Kembla / Wollongong →4 site records refer to this town or area.
Look for operators around Kiama →2 site records refer to this town or area.
Look for operators around Gerringong →2 site records refer to this town or area.
Look for operators around Port Kembla →2 site records refer to this town or area.
Look for operators around Wollongong →| Local example | Recorded nearby place | Recorded access | Follow the evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wollongong Offshore Artificial Reef | Port Kembla | Boat | Recorded source ↗ |
| Blue Devil Cave | Shellharbour | Shore or Boat | Recorded source ↗ |
| Blue Pool (Carrington Falls) | Robertson | Shore | Recorded source ↗ |
| Bass Point Gravel Loader | Shellharbour | Shore | 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 Wollongong & Kiama
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.

A visual guide to recorded site types. Counts show coverage, not popularity or current availability.
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.
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.
| Site | Recorded type | Access | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wollongong Offshore Artificial Reef | Artificial Reef | Boat | 20–32 m |
| Blue Devil Cave Details need confirmation | Cave/Cavern | Shore or Boat | Depth not recorded |
| Blue Pool (Carrington Falls) | Freshwater Lake/River | Shore | 1–4 m |
| Bass Point Gravel Loader | Jetty/Pier | Shore | 2–12 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
Windang
Open the profile for contact details and recorded services, then ask about current arrangements.
Meet this operator →Listed in this region
Sydney
Open the profile for contact details and recorded services, then ask about current arrangements.
Meet this operator →Listed in this region
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 →Listed in this region
Shellharbour
Open the profile for contact details and recorded services, then ask about current arrangements.
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
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 →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 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.
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 Wollongong & Kiama, or narrow the list to a recorded dive type. Open a site for its map, sources and access notes.
37 matching site records. Listings do not confirm current access or availability.
ReefWollongong & Kiama
Maze of giant boulders on sand at 24 m, reminiscent of Kata Tjuta, very rarely dived.
Artificial ReefWollongong & Kiama
Tall steel reef towers rising 12 m from 32 m sand, built to attract kingfish and other pelagics.
Shore/Rock PlatformWollongong & Kiama
Kelp-to-sponge-garden reef with friendly blue groper beside one of the Illawarra's prettiest beaches.
Details need confirmation
Shore/Rock PlatformWollongong & Kiama
Deeper-than-usual northern Illawarra shore dive with Port Jackson and blind sharks under the ledges.
Details need confirmation
Cave/CavernWollongong & Kiama
Blue devilfish in the cave and one of Bass Point's best chances of a Sydney pygmy pipehorse.
Details need confirmation
Shore/Rock PlatformWollongong & Kiama
Sheltered ocean pool and small harbour with easy snorkelling and good family facilities.
Details need confirmation
Shore/Rock PlatformWollongong & Kiama
Snorkelling or diving around Kiama's famous basalt sea stacks on a rare flat day.
Details need confirmation
Shore/Rock PlatformWollongong & Kiama
Gutter entry to a wobbegong-rich reef under the escarpment beside the Sea Cliff Bridge.
Details need confirmation
Shore/Rock PlatformWollongong & Kiama
Shallow ledges packed with resting wobbegong sharks, accessible from the beach.
Details need confirmation
Shore/Rock PlatformWollongong & Kiama
Convenient suburban shore dive with wobbegongs and reef to 15 m within 50 m of the platform.
Details need confirmation
Shore/Rock PlatformWollongong & Kiama
Easy platform entry near the Ourie pool onto a shallow kelp reef with blue groper and cuttlefish.
Details need confirmation
Shore/Rock PlatformWollongong & Kiama
Uncrowded kelp and boulder reef at the mouth of Lake Illawarra, accessible on foot at low tide.
Details need confirmation
Shore/Rock PlatformWollongong & Kiama
Sheltered, shallow harbour dive in central Wollongong for training, snorkelling and night dives.
Details need confirmation