Ship Rock Aquatic Reserve delivers a dynamic shore dive that rewards intermediate divers comfortable with changing conditions. The site's strong currents transform this into an exhilarating drift dive along a rocky wall, where depths range from 3 to 18 metres and visibility typically sits between 5 and 15 metres. The marine life here reflects the nutrient-rich waters flowing through the reserve. You'll find pineapplefish tucked into crevices, their distinctive scales catching your torch beam. Decorator crabs and spider crabs work the rocky surfaces, while moray eels and conger eels peer out from darker recesses. Cuttlefish drift past the wall, and schools of fish move with the current. Look closer and you'll spot nudibranchs on the rocks, whilst estuary catfish patrol the shallower sections. The current demands respect and proper planning. Time your dive with the tide tables, and always deploy a surface marker buoy well before your ascent. Boat traffic above can be significant, so your SMB becomes essential safety equipment rather than optional gear. The shore entry requires confident water skills, particularly when surge picks up. Available year-round, the reserve offers consistent diving when conditions align with your experience level.

Gunnamutta Bay Baths is a sheltered, shore-entry site in New South Wales where shallow depths of 1 to 6 metres and a mild current make it genuinely comfortable for beginners. The artificial reef structure here gives marine life somewhere to hide and hunt, which is why patient observers are rewarded with some excellent finds. Visibility runs from 3 to 8 metres, so take your time scanning slowly. The resident White's Seahorse is the standout attraction, but the same structure also shelters pipefish, anglerfish, octopus, and nudibranch. Stingarees, flathead, leatherjackets, and Australian giant cuttlefish round out what is a surprisingly varied shallow-water site.

This drift dive runs from Bass and Flinders along the coast to Oak Park, carried by a moderate current through easy shallow waters of 3 to 8 metres. Visibility typically ranges from 5 to 10 metres, giving you a clear view of the rocky reef below. Keep an eye out for eastern blue devilfish tucked into crevices, cuttlefish hovering near the bottom, and crayfish sheltering under ledges. Sponges and sea tulips colour the reef, while yellowtail, mados, seapike, and leatherjacket move through the water column. Surge can be noticeable, and boat traffic is active in this area, so stay aware of your surroundings and keep well clear of any lines or kelp to avoid entanglement.

Windy Point is a shore dive combining a reef, wall, and cave system in easy shallow waters of 3 to 10 metres, making it a solid choice for beginner divers building confidence. Visibility runs 5 to 10 metres, and the current is generally mild. The site rewards slow, patient exploration. Wobbegong sharks and Port Jackson sharks rest on the bottom, while weedy sea dragons drift close to the reef. Blue groper, cuttlefish, and octopus are regular sightings. Schooling fish including sweep, yellowtail, and ladder-finned pomfret move through the water column above. Watch for rip currents and breaking waves on entry and exit.

Oak Park is a shore dive combining a reef and wall at comfortable depths of 8 to 12 metres, making it a solid choice for beginner divers building confidence in open water. Visibility ranges from 3 to 15 metres depending on conditions, and the current is generally mild. The sponge gardens are a real highlight, providing colour and texture across the reef structure. Keep a slow pace and you stand a good chance of spotting wobbegong sharks resting on the bottom, octopus tucked into crevices, Port Jackson sharks, and the occasional weedy seadragon or seahorse. Nudibranchs and pygmy leatherjackets are also regular visitors, along with blue groper and Australian giant cuttlefish.

The 4th-5th Reefs sit at 15 to 17 metres off the New South Wales coast and offer a solid mix of temperate reef species that reward patient, observant divers. Visibility typically runs 5 to 10 metres, giving you enough range to scan the bottom for resting angel sharks and wobbegong blending into the substrate. Keep a closer eye on rocky ledges and crevices for Port Jackson sharks and the vivid eastern blue devil. Weedy sea dragons and cuttlefish appear regularly, while schools of yellowtail, luderick, and old wife move through mid-water. There is no significant current, so you can take your time. Boat traffic is the main hazard, so a surface marker buoy is essential.

Shark Island combines a reef, wall, and drop-off in a single site, giving intermediate divers a varied underwater landscape to work through. Depths run from 5 metres on the shallower sections down to 27 metres where the wall and drop-off reach deeper water. Visibility swings dramatically, anywhere from 3 to 40 metres depending on conditions, so you may get an intimate close-up dive or wide open water on a good day. The site regularly turns up wobbegong sharks resting on the bottom, Port Jackson sharks, Australian giant cuttlefish, and octopus among the sponge gardens. Nudibranchs reward divers who slow down and look carefully, while eastern blue groper and leatherjackets are common throughout. Current is variable, and surge near the wall warrants attention.

Barrens Hut combines reef, wall, and drop-off terrain in a single boat dive, with depths running from 12 to 28 metres and visibility frequently reaching 35 metres in the clearer months. Moderate currents keep the water productive but demand attention, particularly along the wall where the drop-off accelerates flow. Gorgonians colonise the deeper structure, and patient divers regularly encounter Port Jackson sharks, wobbegong sharks, and Australian giant cuttlefish resting on the reef. Yellowtail kingfish work the mid-water column, while eastern blue groper and sea pike move through the shallower sections. Watch for nudibranchs on the reef face and stay clear of sharp coral on the wall.