Elbow Cave is a beginner-friendly boat dive in New South Wales that combines a cave, canyon, and reef in a compact depth range of 6 to 13 metres. Visibility regularly reaches 10 to 25 metres, making it easy to take in the surroundings, though the current can run strong so stay close to your buddy and hold the reef when needed. The cave is a regular resting spot for grey nurse sharks and wobbegong sharks, both of which are harmless when given space. Beyond the cave, keep an eye out for eagle rays, turtles, painted crayfish, anemonefish, firefish, nudibranchs, and barracuda moving through the canyon.

The Mackerel Run earns its name from the pelagic action that defines it. Strong currents push bait schools along the wall and reef structure, drawing kingfish and barracuda into feeding formation, with manta rays and eagle rays riding the same flow. Visibility frequently reaches 20 to 40 metres, so you can watch the action unfold well before it reaches you. Leopard sharks and grey nurse sharks work the reef, while bull rays and sea turtles move through at their own pace. Giant cuttlefish round out the cast. This is a drift dive requiring solid buoyancy and current-reading skills, and depth here is a genuine consideration.

North Solitary Islands sits off the New South Wales coast and offers reef diving across a wide depth range, from shallow 5 metre sections right down to 42 metres of deep diving territory. Visibility here regularly reaches 20 to 30 metres, so you get a clear view of the corals, reef fish, anemone fish, and passing schools of fish. Sharks and rays are regular visitors, which sounds dramatic but is genuinely part of what makes this place worth the boat ride. Be aware that currents can run strong, so stick close to your guide and stay away from the sharp coral edges.

Anemone Bay sits on the northern side of North Solitary Island, where a dramatic wall drops from 5 to 27 metres into deeper waters. The moderate current makes this a proper drift dive, sweeping you along the reef while you scan the blue for pelagic action. Visibility runs between 15 and 30 metres, giving you excellent sightlines to spot grey nurse sharks cruising the wall and wobbegong sharks tucked into ledges. The bay earns its name from the dense anemone gardens hosting resident clownfish and anemonefish, though the real draw is the variety of larger marine life. Eagle rays glide past in the current, while manta rays appear seasonally. Turtles are common, often found resting on the reef or surfacing for air. Look for black cod in the deeper sections and cuttlefish displaying their colour changes near the wall. The moderate current demands good buoyancy control and situational awareness. You need to stay alert for grey nurse sharks, which frequent this site year-round. The current can strengthen without warning, so maintain proper positioning relative to your group. This is a boat-only site with extended seasons running October through June, taking advantage of New South Wales' most settled conditions.

Fish Soup N/W Rock earns its name from the dense aggregations of fish life that gather around this New South Wales reef. Depths run from 8 to 18 metres, making it accessible for intermediate divers comfortable handling moderate current and occasional surge. Visibility swings considerably, anywhere from 3 to 25 metres, so conditions dictate the experience on any given day. The fish life is the main draw here, with goat fish, bream, mangrove jack, and jewfish working the reef alongside giant cod. Grey nurse sharks and other pelagics move through the area, giving the site genuine open-water energy. All dives are boat access only.

Fish Soup sits on the northern end of North Solitary Island, a reef site accessible to beginner divers that tops out at 18 metres. The name gives you a sense of what to expect underwater: a busy, life-filled reef where various species congregate in the kind of numbers that make for an engaging dive at almost any depth. Visibility is variable, so conditions can shift, and currents do the same, which means checking conditions before you head out is worth doing. Entry is by boat, and the site is diveable year-round, giving you plenty of opportunities to find a good weather window.

Pimpernel Rock is a deepwater pinnacle off New South Wales that earns its advanced rating through strong, unpredictable currents and a depth range pushing to 48 metres. The structure drops through a thermocline-layered water column, with visibility running anywhere from 10 to 30 metres depending on conditions. Grey Nurse Sharks and large Black Cod work the deeper sections around the pinnacle and cave, while Kingfish, Mulloway, and occasional Wahoo push through in the current. Eagle Rays cruise the mid-water column. Sea Whips and Sea Tulips colonise the rock itself. Decompression planning is not optional here.

Woolgoolga Headland is a gentle shore entry site suited to newer snorkellers and divers wanting to explore intertidal and shallow reef life. The waters here are calm and shallow, though visibility can vary depending on swell and recent rainfall, so picking a settled day makes a real difference. Keep your eyes close to the rock surfaces and you will find barnacles, limpets, oysters, and snails going about their business, along with crabs tucked into crevices and starfish resting on the reef. Watch where you put your hands and fins, as sea urchins and sharp coral edges are present. Good facilities including parking, showers, and toilets are available on site.