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Reef listing for Shelly 18 in the Shelly Beach maritime zone.
Dive Spot Guide•
Shelly 18
Sheltered Port Macquarie reef off Shelly Beach.
Calm-day shore reef in the Shelly Beach area with easy facilities nearby.
About Shelly 18
Port Macquarie's Shelly Beach reef is a sheltered local dive with a calm-day shore-access feel. The dive is more about rocky structure, fish life, and open reef than dramatic depth, and it suits unhurried buoyancy, tide awareness, and a relaxed local plan. Rays and the occasional shark are part of the area's draw, so it works best when the swell is soft and the cove is settled.
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Research Estimate At Shelly 18
Conservative baseline from public research. No community dives logged yet.
VisibilityVisibility: 12m
AccessChallenging entry effort
CoralSome damage
Aquatic LifeAverage variety
FacilitiesGood facilities
Crowd / PopularityModerate
CurrentNo current
SurgeFlat calm
Where Is Shelly 18?
This spotNearby spotsExplore nearby spots on the map
Community sourced coordinates.
Shelly 18 Planning Details
Depth range, seasonality, and planning context.
Reported Depth
4m - 18m
Depth Note
Shallow reef system that opens into an upper-teen profile farther out.
Best Season
Year round
Typical Conditions
Sheltered shore reef with gentle wave action, a shallow-to-mid profile, and better comfort on settled days.
Safety & Access At Shelly 18
Hazards, restrictions, and access requirements.
Key Hazards
Surge
Safety Notes
Check swell and tide before entering, and watch the reef edge if the surface picks up.
Access Restrictions
Best on low-swell days; shore entry can get awkward if the beach is exposed.
Legal Notes
Respect reserve rules and any local marine or fishing restrictions that apply to the Shelly Beach lagoon and reef area.
Local Intel For Shelly 18
Community notes to help plan your visit.
Scuba Diving
Best as a relaxed shore dive with steady buoyancy around rocky reef edges.
Freediving
Only suitable on the calmest shallow sections; it is better known as a snorkel and scuba site.
Snorkeling
Strong snorkel potential on calm days thanks to the sheltered cove and reef close to shore.
Recent Logged Visits At Shelly 18
Community dive logs and visit reports for this site.
Dive Spot Log Averages At Shelly 18
Average conditions based on logged dives & visits.
Conditions
Avg. Visibility12m
Activity
No dive activity logged yet.
