North Solitary Islands sits off the New South Wales coast and offers reef diving across a wide depth range, from shallow 5 metre sections right down to 42 metres of deep diving territory. Visibility here regularly reaches 20 to 30 metres, so you get a clear view of the corals, reef fish, anemone fish, and passing schools of fish. Sharks and rays are regular visitors, which sounds dramatic but is genuinely part of what makes this place worth the boat ride. Be aware that currents can run strong, so stick close to your guide and stay away from the sharp coral edges.

The Solitary Islands Marine Park sits at a convergence zone where warm tropical currents meet cooler southern waters, which explains the unusually diverse mix of marine life across its reefs, pinnacles, walls, and caves. Depths run from 5 to 30 metres with visibility regularly reaching 10 to 30 metres, though moderate currents demand solid buoyancy control and situational awareness. Grey nurse sharks and leopard sharks are the headline encounters, while manta rays, eagle rays, and loggerhead turtles make regular appearances. Wobbegongs and giant cuttlefish reward slower, more observant divers, and nudibranchs, anemone fish, and blue groper fill the reef between the bigger sightings.

The Mackerel Run earns its name from the pelagic action that defines it. Strong currents push bait schools along the wall and reef structure, drawing kingfish and barracuda into feeding formation, with manta rays and eagle rays riding the same flow. Visibility frequently reaches 20 to 40 metres, so you can watch the action unfold well before it reaches you. Leopard sharks and grey nurse sharks work the reef, while bull rays and sea turtles move through at their own pace. Giant cuttlefish round out the cast. This is a drift dive requiring solid buoyancy and current-reading skills, and depth here is a genuine consideration.

Elbow Cave is a beginner-friendly boat dive in New South Wales that combines a cave, canyon, and reef in a compact depth range of 6 to 13 metres. Visibility regularly reaches 10 to 25 metres, making it easy to take in the surroundings, though the current can run strong so stay close to your buddy and hold the reef when needed. The cave is a regular resting spot for grey nurse sharks and wobbegong sharks, both of which are harmless when given space. Beyond the cave, keep an eye out for eagle rays, turtles, painted crayfish, anemonefish, firefish, nudibranchs, and barracuda moving through the canyon.

Fish Soup N/W Rock earns its name from the dense aggregations of fish life that gather around this New South Wales reef. Depths run from 8 to 18 metres, making it accessible for intermediate divers comfortable handling moderate current and occasional surge. Visibility swings considerably, anywhere from 3 to 25 metres, so conditions dictate the experience on any given day. The fish life is the main draw here, with goat fish, bream, mangrove jack, and jewfish working the reef alongside giant cod. Grey nurse sharks and other pelagics move through the area, giving the site genuine open-water energy. All dives are boat access only.

Fish Soup sits on the northern end of North Solitary Island, a reef site accessible to beginner divers that tops out at 18 metres. The name gives you a sense of what to expect underwater: a busy, life-filled reef where various species congregate in the kind of numbers that make for an engaging dive at almost any depth. Visibility is variable, so conditions can shift, and currents do the same, which means checking conditions before you head out is worth doing. Entry is by boat, and the site is diveable year-round, giving you plenty of opportunities to find a good weather window.

Pimpernel Rock is a deepwater pinnacle off New South Wales that earns its advanced rating through strong, unpredictable currents and a depth range pushing to 48 metres. The structure drops through a thermocline-layered water column, with visibility running anywhere from 10 to 30 metres depending on conditions. Grey Nurse Sharks and large Black Cod work the deeper sections around the pinnacle and cave, while Kingfish, Mulloway, and occasional Wahoo push through in the current. Eagle Rays cruise the mid-water column. Sea Whips and Sea Tulips colonise the rock itself. Decompression planning is not optional here.

Woolgoolga Headland is a gentle shore entry site suited to newer snorkellers and divers wanting to explore intertidal and shallow reef life. The waters here are calm and shallow, though visibility can vary depending on swell and recent rainfall, so picking a settled day makes a real difference. Keep your eyes close to the rock surfaces and you will find barnacles, limpets, oysters, and snails going about their business, along with crabs tucked into crevices and starfish resting on the reef. Watch where you put your hands and fins, as sea urchins and sharp coral edges are present. Good facilities including parking, showers, and toilets are available on site.