Jervis Bay Diving Activities & Best Fits

Scuba

What It Feels Like

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.

Signature Sites

Start Here

The Docks
A signature Jervis Bay Marine Park dive known for rocky reef, gutters and the chance of grey nurse sharks when conditions allow.
Drum and Drumsticks
Dramatic rock structure and ledges that make for an adventurous boat dive when the open coast is running gently.
Stoney Creek
A popular marine park reef dive often used as an alternative when swell makes more exposed options uncomfortable.

Level Up

Bowen Island Marine Area Sanctuary Zone
A notake sanctuary zone where swimming, snorkelling and scuba are permitted, but anchoring is prohibited.
Scottish Rocks
Rockplatform access to temperate reef life.

Advanced

Slot Cave
A wellknown cave and gutter style site in the marine park.
SS Merimbula
Historic steamship wreckage lying roughly between {{ 4 | distance:m }} and {{ 13 | distance:m }}, suitable for a confident snorkel and shallow scuba when seas are settled on the Beecroft Peninsula.

Planning Playbook

Operator Checklist

Booking and operators
If you want shark-focused dives, ask which sites are suitable and what group-size limits they run.
Marine park and Booderee rules
Check Jervis Bay Marine Park zoning before each dive. Sanctuary zones are no-take areas.
In Booderee waters, anchoring is restricted to protect seagrass and is prohibited in sanctuary zones. Bowen Island also has a special purpose area closed to public access.

Conditions Fallback

For a first visit, book a boat day with a local operator out of Huskisson so the skipper can choose the best site for that day's swell.
If you want shark-focused dives, ask which sites are suitable and what group-size limits they run.
Plan conservative profiles if you are doing multiple days, and build in a weather buffer.

Avoid

For a first visit, book a boat day with a local operator out of Huskisson so the skipper can choose the best site for that day's swell.
Do not touch, feed, chase or harass sharks.
Avoid blocking caves and gutters and keep groups small.

Jervis Bay

Jervis Bay activity planning