Broughton Island near Hawks Nest offers a diverse underwater landscape featuring walls, canyons, caves, and reef structures. This site is suited for intermediate divers, with depths ranging from 8 to 40 metres and an average depth of 16 metres. Access is by boat only, as the site is located 14 kilometres offshore. Conditions vary significantly, with visibility between 5 and 25 metres and moderate currents. The area is highly exposed to ocean swells, which can create strong surge within the caves and canyon entries. Divers should remain cautious of boat traffic and potential hazards including jellyfish, sea urchins, and sharp coral.

North Rock is a marine reef site located 20 kilometres offshore from Hawks Nest, New South Wales. This site is suitable for intermediate divers, with depths ranging from 5 to 20 metres and an average depth of 14 metres. Access is by boat only, and conditions include moderate currents and visibility between 7 and 15 metres. Water temperatures fluctuate between 19C and 24C throughout the year. Divers should be aware of potential hazards including strong currents, entanglement risks, and the presence of sharks. Guided tours are recommended to navigate the variable conditions and local currents effectively.

The SS Oakland is an upright, largely intact steamship wreck located 7000 metres off Hawks Nest. Resting at depths between 24 and 28 metres, this site is suited for advanced divers with wreck experience. Divers encounter Spotted Wobbegong, Eastern Blue Groper, Green Moray, and Blind Shark among the iron hull. The site presents overhead environment challenges and requires careful gas management. Visibility typically ranges from 7 to 18 metres. Dives are best timed for slack high tide to mitigate moderate currents. Due to the depth and potential for weakened structural sections, precise buoyancy control is essential. Typical bottom time is 40 minutes.

Little Island is a reef and cave site located 1000 metres off the coast of Hawks Nest, Australia. Suitable for beginners, the site features depths ranging from 1 to 15 metres with an average of 12 metres. Divers access the site by boat, encountering mild currents and visibility that varies significantly between 2 and 20 metres. The topography includes reef structures and caves that provide interest but require caution regarding entanglement and sharp coral. Species recorded around this area include green sea turtles, green morays, fiddler rays, eastern blue gropers, stonefish, rock cod, sea slugs, and soft corals. Divers should remain aware of their surroundings as sharks are occasionally present.

The SS Macleay is a freighter that sank in 1913, resting in 21 to 43 metres of water off Hawks Nest. This advanced dive site is located 100 metres from shore and requires boat access. Divers encounter moderate currents, which can increase during the dive, and visibility typically ranges from 5 to 18 metres. Due to the depth, this site necessitates mandatory decompression stops and careful management of nitrogen narcosis. Water temperatures fluctuate between 18C and 21C, with potential thermoclines. Given the exposure to open ocean conditions and the technical nature of the wreck, this site is suitable only for experienced divers.

Cabbage Tree Island, located 1000 metres off Shoal Bay, offers a diverse underwater environment featuring reefs, walls, and seagrass beds. Depths range from 4 to 20 metres, with an average of 10 metres, making it suitable for beginners. Access is by boat only. The western side provides protection from swells, while northern and eastern sides remain exposed. Visibility fluctuates between 1 and 15 metres, influenced by tidal currents. Divers should be aware of surge near the walls, as well as boat traffic and sharks. Water temperatures range from 19C to 24C throughout the year. Facilities including boat charters, equipment rental, and air fills are available nearby.

Bennetts Beach in Shoal Bay is a shore entry site primarily suited for snorkelling in shallow, near-shore waters. As a surf beach, it is subject to variable conditions, including surf and strong rip currents that require careful assessment before entering. Water temperatures range from 19C to 25C throughout the year. Facilities at the site include parking and toilets. Due to the presence of rips, snorkelling should only be attempted in calm conditions, and divers or snorkellers should remain close to the shallows. Visibility can fluctuate significantly depending on local weather and swell patterns.

Jimmy's Beach in Shoal Bay is a gentle shore dive suitable for beginners. The site features a combination of seagrass beds and reef, with depths ranging from 1 to 5 metres and an average depth of 2 metres. Divers enter directly from the beach, though caution is required regarding the shore break. Visibility varies significantly, ranging from 1 to 15 metres. Species recorded around this area include Ornate Wobbegong, New Holland Seahorse, Pineapplefish, and Eastern Blue Groper. To manage the surf, shuffle your feet during entry and exit and remain in the shallows. Parking is available at the site, though amenities can vary.