Australia’s East Coast isn’t just about tropical reefs. From Coffs Harbour down to Kiama, the coastline delivers a rawer, wilder underwater experience — think rocky reefs, dramatic drop-offs, migrating giants, and some of the best temperate-water marine life in the country.
If you enjoy kelp forests, turtles, grey nurse sharks, seals, and seasonal whales, this stretch is pure gold.
🦈 South West Rocks
South West Rocks is legendary — and it earns that reputation. Fish Rock Cave is consistently ranked among Australia’s best dive sites, and for experienced divers, it’s absolutely a bucket-list dive.
But this is not an easy or forgiving site.
I’ve dived here multiple times, and dives do get cancelled fairly often due to weather and swell. Even on go-days, conditions can be challenging. One of my Open Water–certified friends, fresh out of training, found it extremely demanding — and honestly, that’s a common experience.
To reach the main attraction, you must enter and pass through a long, dark cave, usually at depths around 18–24 metres, with parts dropping deeper. The exit of the cave opens into blue water where depth can reach 30 metres or more, depending on conditions. There’s no quick bailout, and buoyancy control matters a lot.
On one dive, my tank actually came loose inside the cave. I had to stop, stay calm, and wait for my buddy to secure it — all while inside an overhead environment. It was manageable because of experience, but it’s exactly why this site is not suitable for beginners.
That said — once you exit the cave, the payoff is unreal.
Grey nurse sharks are almost always there, calmly circling just a few metres away, often passing right in front of you. It’s thrilling, humbling, and unforgettable.
⚠️ Not suitable for beginners or casual snorkelers. Depth, current, overhead cave penetration, and changing conditions demand solid experience, calm problem-solving, and good dive planning.