

Best for advanced divers, 18-23m, shore & boat entry, moderate current.
Leisure Coast at Bass Point offers advanced technical diving featuring a wall dropping from 18 to 23 metres and a cavern system. Divers encounter grey nurse sharks, wobbegong sharks, giant cuttlefish, blue devilfish, and weedy seadragons among sponge gardens. Invertebrates such as snails, sea hares, crabs, sea stars, and nudibranchs like the Clown Doris and Jorunna are also present. Access is available via boat or a challenging shore entry from Bushrangers Bay, which requires a long swim and calm seas to manage surge. Currents are moderate but can be strong, necessitating careful planning around slack water. Divers should carry a torch for the cavern sections and maintain awareness of the overhead environment.
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Time your dive for slack water to navigate the cavern safely, and bring a torch even on sunny days as the overhead sections get dark quickly. The grey nurse sharks tend to gather near the deeper sections of the wall during winter months.
The site can be accessed as a boat dive or a shore dive. For shore diving, park at the Bushrangers Bay car park within Bass Point Reserve and enter the water there. This involves a long surface swim of approximately 600m to reach The Arch. The shore entry should only be attempted in very calm conditions.
Recorded at this site
Depth
18-23m
Visibility
4-10m
Skill Level
Advanced
Entry
Shore & Boat
Water Temp
18-23°C
Current
Moderate
Best Time
Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Divers regularly encounter grey nurse sharks, wobbegong sharks, giant cuttlefish, blue devilfish, and weedy seadragons. Smaller species include snails, sea hares, crabs, sea stars, and nudibranchs such as the Clown Doris and Jorunna.
No, this site is intended for advanced divers due to the cavern system, overhead environment, potential for strong currents, and challenging shore entry.
The site features a wall that drops from 18 to 23 metres, with an average depth of 22 metres.
Yes, shore access is possible via Bushrangers Bay, though it involves a long swim and should only be attempted in very calm conditions due to surge and current.
The best months to visit are July, August, September, and October.
Diving at Leisure Coast in Wollongong requires the following certifications: Advanced, Open Water. Always dive within your training limits.
A 5mm wetsuit is recommended for diving at Leisure Coast in Wollongong. Water temperatures range from 18°C to 23°C.
Divers at Leisure Coast in Wollongong should be aware of sharks. These encounters are generally rare and avoidable with proper awareness. Follow local safety guidance and maintain a respectful distance from all marine life.
Expect moderate currents at Leisure Coast in Wollongong. Good buoyancy control and some drift diving experience is helpful.
Visibility at Leisure Coast in Wollongong typically ranges from 4 metres to 10 metres. Conditions vary with weather, tides, and seasons.