Diving in New South Wales

Explore diving in New South Wales

Stretching along Australia’s east coast, diving in New South Wales offers a diverse mix of temperate and subtropical marine environments. Dive sites feature rocky reefs, sponge gardens, kelp forests, and vibrant coral communities influenced by the East Australian Current. Popular areas include Sydney, Byron Bay, Jervis Bay, and the South Coast. Divers commonly encounter grey nurse sharks, turtles, rays, cuttlefish, weedy seadragons, and schooling fish. With easy shore access and excellent marine biodiversity, New South Wales scuba diving suits all experience levels.

When to dive in New South Wales

This beautiful coastline can be dived year-round. When scuba diving in New South Wales, consider what marine life you'd most like to see and what sea temperature you're comfortable diving in. Each season comes with its own perks.

During summer, water temperature can be anywhere between 68-86˚F (20-30˚C). In winter, especially to the south, water temperatures dip to 50˚F (10˚C) - experienced cold water divers love it. The highlight of diving in cooler temps is the super clear water. Less algae blooms when it's cold so visibility reaches 25m.

New South Wales diving offers marine life that moves with the seasons. This creates a good variety of ever-changing underwater encounters: fur seals from September to November, humpbacks in May to November, and sea turtles year-round.

Book your diving in New South Wales

Common marine life sightings for New South Wales

More Information

Accessing New South Wales dive sites is straightforward via major airports in Sydney, Newcastle, and Byron Bay (Ballina). From these hubs, many dive locations are reachable by car, with Sydney offering some of Australia’s best shore diving. Local dive centres provide guided shore and boat dives, equipment rental, and certification courses. With excellent infrastructure and diverse coastal access, diving in New South Wales is easy to plan and ideal for both local and visiting divers.

Time Zone

UTC+09:30

Phone

+61

Currency

AUD

Voltage

230 V

Pressure

Bar (bar)

Plug

Languages

English

1st Stage

INT / Yoke / K

International airports

Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD)

New South Wales: top locations for diving

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