New South Wales

City of Lake Macquarie

Australia

Biggest Tiger Shark breeding site in the world !

Jump from swansea heads at the mouth of the channel. paddle out and around the big island.

Moon Island is also known as Pilo.

Swansea Heads

Moon Island

The Arch dive starts at The Arch - a large natural rock arch big enough for 5 divers to swim through together. It lies at the eastern end of a long low bommie; the dive then follows a circuit passed a more vertical bommie with steep walls covered in growth and a good spot for nudibranchs. Divers continue to meet up with parts of Moon Island's southern wall and a series of caves - the first being the In/Out Cave - go in one side of a rock collapse and out the other, the next cave is hidden behind some large boulders (the Secret Cave). Divers then cross an area of kelp (look out for weedy seadragons) before reaching #3 Cave - the second biggest cave around Moon Island. After leaving #3 the Moon Island wall drops to just a rock platform; swim over this and find the fissure - drop into that and pass through the Squeezy (a narrow swim-through). The dive is completed swimming passed Dog's Head Rock and around the point at the end of this section of the rocky reef coming from Moon Island before crossing the pebbly gutter to return to The Arch and the boat.

Boat dive access from Swansea Channel. Grey Nurse Charters run regular trips to Moon Island and The Arch is one of the most popular sites.

The Arch Moon Island is also known as The Arch.

The Arch Moon Island

Good dive site for beginners. Reef is characterised by boulders with gradual descent sloping uniformily down to 12 meters. Plenty of rays (including bull rays), schools of fish, eels, groupers. Watch out for passing boats - surface in the shallows. If you have a boat this area is a good launching spot for many other local dives.

Park in the Council car park off Terrigal Esp. Parking is free as of May 08. The dive site is a short walk (<50) down to the concrete boat ramp and sand.

Terrigal Haven

It is surprising that this site has not been listed sooner. The wreck lies upright and divers can penetrate safely as there are cutouts everywhere providing immediate escape. Divers need to watch their bottom time to ensure they don't go into deco (people have died diving this site). Terrigal Dive is a local operator that runs double boat dives

This is the wreck of the Frigate EX HMAS Adelaide which was sunk to become an artificial reef and dive site 13 April 2011.

Ex HMAS Adelaide

This site is a bit of a labarynth with several small islands dotting the bay, the site is shallow in most parts. There is an huge old anchor in the gutters out amongst the furthest islands. Not sure if this is part of a scattered larger wreck or just a random peice.

Small car park (free) at the top of a concrete access road within 50m of the sandy waters edge. This bay is protected and calm in all weather conditions. 

Fishermans Bay

An alternative to Halifax Park.

50 metres from the Nelson Bay Fisherman's Co-Op

Sewage Pipe is also known as Pipeline.

Sewage Pipe

A very popular dive site. Dive at slack tide!

North-east of the main marina.

Fly Point

This is probably the best shore dive of the NSW. During summer, the dive site is very crowded.

The marine life is incredible here. The best is probably the huge amount of sea slugs! A must for macro-photographers.

West side of Halifax Park at Nelson Bay; at the end of Nelson Head.

Halifax Park

The Vailant was a tug boat that sunk in 1981. This is ones of Sydneys most recent wrecks.

Vessel size: 22.5m x 5.4 m (72 tons).

The Vailant wreck is off Barrenjoey Head, Palm Beach.

The Valiant is also known as The Valient (mispelled name).

The Valiant

Nice sponge garden.

3 kilometres south of Port Stephens at Point Stephens Lighthouse. Dive the north side to th small rock.

Fingal Head

The cliffs have sluffed off into the sea leaving the floor filled with large boulders.  These provide good habitat for sea life as well as some interesting swimthroughs

Access is by boat usually from the Nelson Bay Marina.  Pro-Dive Nelson bay runs a dive shop and boat right in the marina.  The site is outside of the protected bay and can have rough seas

Halifax Cliffs is also known as Halifax Beach.

Moon Island

Snorkeling and Scuba Diving at Moon Island