Kianinny Bay is a sheltered shore entry site that suits beginners well, with depths ranging from 1 to 18 metres and a mild current. Visibility can be variable, so conditions vary from visit to visit. The bay is a good place to find smooth rays and stingrays resting on sandy patches, and smaller critters like nudibranchs and sea hares reward anyone willing to slow down and look carefully. Yellowtail, leather jackets, puffer fish, and gurnards are common sightings, while sea urchins are present throughout. Watch for boat traffic and surge, and take care around the urchins when entering and exiting.

Merimbula offers a straightforward shore entry onto a reef that suits newer divers well. Depths run from 2 to 16 metres, so you can stay shallow while you build confidence or venture a little deeper as you feel ready. Visibility is generally good, ranging from 8 to 15 metres, which helps when you are still learning to read your surroundings underwater. You will encounter various reef species as you explore, and the reef structure itself gives the dive plenty of character. Currents can be variable, so check conditions before you get in, and watch out for sharp coral when finning close to the reef.

Bar Beach combines three distinct underwater environments in a single dive: reef, cave, and wreck. Depths run from a shallow 4 metres down to 22 metres in the deeper sections, giving you room to manage your dive profile and spend time at the features that interest you most. Visibility holds at a consistent 20 metres, which makes navigating between sites straightforward. Current is variable, so check conditions before you commit to a plan. Entry is by boat only. Various reef species populate the structures throughout, and the mix of habitats means there is usually something moving regardless of where you focus your attention.

Merrimbula Wharf is a genuinely rewarding shore dive for beginners, with mild current and excellent visibility of 8 to 15 metres making conditions manageable and enjoyable. Depths run from 2 to 16 metres, so you can stay shallow while you build confidence. The structure of the wharf itself attracts a wide range of marine life worth taking time to look for: weedy sea dragons, cuttlefish, nudibranchs, and octopus tend to appear when you slow down and look carefully. Blue groper, leatherjackets, and moray eels are regular visitors, and port Jackson sharks, wobbegongs, and stingrays rest on the bottom. A cave adds a small navigational feature worth exploring. Watch for breaking waves at entry and be mindful of lines and ropes that present an entanglement risk.

Bermagui Blue Pool is a natural rock pool fed by the ocean, offering one of the most accessible snorkelling experiences on the New South Wales south coast. With depths of just 1 to 2 metres and mild current, it suits first-time snorkellers and those wanting a relaxed, sheltered session. Visibility varies, so conditions can change day to day. Explore the rocky edges slowly and you will find sea stars, anemones, crabs, marine snails, and small fish tucked into crevices. Seals occasionally visit the area. Watch your footing around sharp surfaces, and be mindful of surge and breaking waves near the pool edges.

The Ben Boyd is a deliberately sunk vessel sitting upright on a sandy bottom at 10 to 11 metres, making it one of the more accessible wreck dives in New South Wales. Visibility typically holds around 10 metres, so you can take in the whole structure without much effort. The wreck now acts as an artificial reef, attracting schools of yellowtail and silver sweep that move in loose clouds around the superstructure. Blue gropers, wrasse, and leatherjackets are regulars here, often unbothered by divers. Banded morwong and blackfish tend to hold position near the hull. Be aware that currents can run moderately strong, and some surge is possible, so pick a settled day if you're newer to diving.

Mystery Bay is a shore entry reef dive in New South Wales that suits beginners well, with depths running from 8 to 15 metres and visibility that can reach 30 metres on a good day. The reef hosts a variety of local species, so take your time and look carefully around the coral structures. Be aware that currents here are moderate, so pick a calm day and plan your entry and exit before you get in the water. Watch where you put your hands and fins, as the coral is sharp and easily damaged.

Mystery Bay Rock Pool is a sheltered shore entry site ideal for beginners and snorkellers exploring the New South Wales coast. The shallow, calm waters make it a forgiving environment to build confidence underwater. Visibility varies depending on conditions, so calmer days reward you with clearer water. Look out for red morwong, luderick, and bream moving through the reef, along with gropers, rays, and starfish resting on the bottom. Sea anemones, sponges, shellfish, and tube worms add texture to the rocky reef structure. Be aware that a rip current can develop in the area, so always check conditions before entering.