Tathra is a relaxed shore dive along a rocky reef that suits beginners well, with depths running from 7 to 18 metres giving you room to stay shallow while you build confidence. Visibility here is variable, so conditions can change from one visit to the next, and currents shift too, so it pays to check before you get in. The reef supports a good mix of gorgonian corals, sponges, soft corals, and sea squirts covering the structure, while weedy sea dragons, blue gropers, octopus, stingrays, moray eels, and butterflyfish turn up regularly. Watch for boat traffic near the entry and stay clear of any fishing lines or gear on the reef.

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.