New South Wales
Jervis Bay
Exceptionally clear water, dramatic walls, sponge gardens and reliable seal encounters.
Jervis Bay offers reefs, walls, marine life and seal encounters, and deserves a dedicated destination guide rather than being treated as an extension of Sydney.
The bay is large, deep and unusually clear, and its southern and eastern edges include drop-offs and sponge-covered walls that are among the best temperate wall diving in New South Wales.
Seals at Drum and Drumsticks are a signature experience, and the bay's sheltered aspect means there is almost always a diveable site regardless of wind direction.
| Water temperature | Roughly 15–23°C. |
|---|---|
| Visibility | Often 15–30 m, among the best in NSW. |
| Season | Year-round. Winter often produces the clearest water and the most reliable seal activity. |
| Diving types | Wall, Reef, Seals, Photography, Training |
| Businesses documented | 0 |
| Dive sites documented | 1 |
Water clarity here is frequently better than anywhere else on the NSW coast, which changes what the diving feels like — walls read as genuinely dramatic rather than merely deep.
The bay's size and orientation also mean it offers shelter in most conditions, so trips are cancelled less often than at more exposed destinations.
- temperate walls and drop-offs
- dense sponge gardens and soft coral
- Australian fur seals
- weedy seadragons in shallower areas
- grey nurse sharks at specific sites
- sheltered training areas
Before you book
Capabilities and requirements change. Read how to choose a dive centre for what to actually evaluate, and confirm certification requirements, equipment hire and conditions directly with the operator before travelling.