Activities · Destination Guide
Jervis Bay Australia
White sand beaches above, temperate reefs and grey nurse shark dives below
Updated Jan 23, 2026 • 19 sources
Jervis Bay Activity Planning
Pick an activity mode to compare signature sites, skill fit, and gear planning notes before you lock your trip.
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
A signature Jervis Bay Marine Park dive known for rocky reef, gutters and the chance of grey nurse sharks when conditions allow.
Dramatic rock structure and ledges that make for an adventurous boat dive when the open coast is running gently.
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.
Rockplatform access to temperate reef life.
Advanced
A wellknown cave and gutter style site in the marine park.
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.