White sand beaches above, temperate reefs and grey nurse shark dives below
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Overview
Jervis Bay is a sheltered natural harbour on the NSW South Coast, famous for powder-white beaches and clear temperate water. Inside the bay you get calm coves for training dives and easy snorkelling. Step outside the heads and the scenery turns dramatic: pinnacles, caves and gutters that attract grey nurse sharks and other big-life encounters. The coastline sits within a patchwork of protected areas, including Jervis Bay Marine Park and the Commonwealth-managed Booderee National Park, so zoning and no-take rules matter for planning. Base yourself around Huskisson or Vincentia for boat departures, gear hire and dining, then day-trip to Booderee for Murrays Beach and Scottish Rocks snorkelling, coastal walks and sunset viewpoints. It is an easy road escape from Sydney or Canberra, and winter to spring adds whale season from cliffs and boats.
Jervis Bay sits on the Shoalhaven coast of New South Wales. The bay itself is sheltered, but several signature dive sites sit outside the heads on the open coast (Beecroft Peninsula and the northern side), where ocean swell and surge are part of the plan.
Booderee National Park highlights easy, shore-based snorkelling off rock platforms at Scottish Rocks and Murrays Beach. These areas combine sand, seagrass and rocky reef, which means you can plan sessions for any visibility and confidence level.
Huskisson and Vincentia are the practical hubs for dive boats, gear hire, cafes and groceries. For a quieter, nature-first stay, camp or cabin in Booderee (Green Patch is a classic base for snorkelling and hikes).
Mix two days of boat diving, two days of snorkelling and freedive practice in the bay, and one full topside day for White Sands Walk, Point Perpendicular viewpoints and a whale watching cruise in season.
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Last updated: January 23, 2026 • 19 sources
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Trip callouts
Dive and snorkel planning spans Jervis Bay Marine Park (NSW) plus the Commonwealth-managed Booderee National Park. Expect clear zoning, no-take sanctuaries and site-specific anchoring rules.
Outer-coast sites like The Docks and Slot Cave are known for gutters, swim-throughs and the chance of seeing grey nurse sharks when conditions line up.
The bay's protected coves make it easy to schedule training dives, relaxed snorkels and freedive practice when the open coast is too bumpy.
Jervis Bay is a road-trip friendly destination, around two hours from Sydney and around three hours from Canberra.
scuba
Why Jervis Bay for Scuba Diving
Jervis Bay is one of the closest true boat-diving playgrounds to Sydney and Canberra: a sheltered bay for easy training dives, plus an open-coast edge with caves, gutters and shark habitat when the sea is calm enough. The marine park lists more than 30 dive sites, from beginner-friendly reefs to advanced terrain like Slot Cave and Drum and Drumsticks. Operators based around Huskisson (including Dive Jervis Bay / Jervis Bay Sea Sports) run day boats, hire gear and can tailor sites to conditions and certification levels.
freedive
Why Jervis Bay for Freediving
Jervis Bay suits freedivers because you can choose sheltered coves for technique work, then step up to deeper water near headlands when conditions are calm. Visibility and surge change quickly on the open coast, so many teams use the bay for warm-ups and then go boat-supported for more exposed sites. Start with protected locations like Murrays Beach and Greenfield Beach, then progress with local knowledge and strict buddy procedures.
snorkel
Why Jervis Bay for Snorkelling
Jervis Bay is a high-reward snorkelling destination because many of its best spots are shore-accessible and relatively protected from ocean swell. Booderee National Park highlights snorkelling off rock platforms at Scottish Rocks and Murrays Beach, while Jervis Bay National Park adds calm coves that suit beginners. On good days you can combine sand flats, seagrass and rocky reef in a single session, then warm up on world-famous white sand beaches.
topside
What to do when you're not in the water
Jervis Bay is a complete coastal break even if you never put on a wetsuit. Spend mornings beach-hopping between Huskisson, Vincentia and Hyams, then switch to national-park trails and lookouts for sea cliffs, wildflowers and whale spotting in winter. Huskisson is the launch point for dolphin and whale cruises, and Booderee National Park adds Aboriginal cultural context, botanic gardens, camping and some of the bay's most scenic coves.
