If you’re looking for a beautiful and diverse place to enjoy a holiday, look no farther than the Jervis Bay area of New South Wales, Australia. With over 30 dive sites from which to select, you’ll find it hard to narrow your choices down – so we’ve done it for you! Here are five top Jervis Bay dive sites to get you started.
The Docks
New divers and open water students flock to this popular dive site. Its maximum depth is around 20 meters, and it contains diverse topography, from boulders to caves to drop-offs to swim-throughs. The highlight of the dive is a double-decker cave at the southwestern end of the site. While there’s not much sea life inside the caves themselves, colorful streams of schooling fish swim outside the caves’ mouths. You’ll also find kelp beds and sponge gardens interspersed between the boulders. For a truly spectacular night dive, try the docks!
Stoney Creek
A site for only the more experienced diver, Stoney Creek, found on the southern exterior of Jervis Bay, offers a really spectacular dive experience. Depths here range from 25 to over 50 meters, and strong currents allow for some great drift diving. While dives here are often set up as technical or twin tank dives, this dive isn’t just about performance. Enjoy a gorgeous underwater vista of gorgonian fans, sponges, and sea whips. Watch for the occasional seal, ready to join you for a swim.
Bowen Island
Located south of the bay entrance, Bowen Island contains several great dive spots. A favorite is the Nursery, named for its sheltered waters. It provides a wonderful open water dive for beginners, with a maximum depth of only 12 meters. Site topography consists of groups of rock formations, scattered over a beautiful sandy bottom. Marine life is plentiful, including juvenile fish schools seeking shelter here from larger sea animals, and the oceanic sun fish (mola mola).
Move away from the Nursery, and you’ll find a nice multi-level area all divers can enjoy. Reef features begin at five meters and eventually lead to the sandy seabed at thirty meters. The island’s northernmost area features large numbers of swim-throughs and boulders. Fish life here is both tremendous and spectacular!
The Arch
Named for the striking formation extending like a suspended stone bridge over the site, the Arch is one of area’s best dives, particularly for more experienced divers. Beneath the archway, wobbegong and Port Jackson sharks swim the bottom waters. The arch itself is covered with white and orange anemones, gorgonians, and blue and pink solitary corals. Silver and butterfly pike are also plentiful. Site depths range from 10 to 40 meters, but you don’t need to be a deep diver to enjoy everything! At a depth of15-20 meters, there are plenty of swim-throughs and this area boasts the best fish life, so don’t forget to bring your camera.
Spider Cave
If you enjoy cave diving, a trip to Spider Cave is a must. The main cavern extends as far back as 100 meters under a large cliff, with three entrances to explore. The bottom entrance is at 24 meters, the middle entrance at 21 meters, and the upper entrance is at 17 meters. The cave tops off at a depth of 7 meters. This layered cave dive is a fascinating experience for the practiced underwater cave diver.
For varied underwater adventures catering to diverse skill levels, try any of these breathtaking and memorable Jervis Bay dive sites, or see them all, if you have time!