Afghan Reef takes its name – in McFadyen's words 'perhaps cruelly' – from people who were washed off the rock platform here some years before it became a known dive. The name is a sober reminder that Blowhole Point is a dangerous place in swell; on calm days, however, it provides a good shore dive on the northern side of the point.

The bottom is cleared igneous rock with a covering of kelp, stepping gradually from 4–5 m near the entry to about 18 m on the sand before rising again to 15 m. A fairly obvious wall at 12–13 m gives a navigational reference on the return. Fish life is good: one-spot pullers, black reef and mosaic leatherjackets, schools of luderick, blackfish and bream, snapper, kingfish, yellowtail, striped seapike and bullseyes. Weedy sea dragons are found in the kelp.

The entry gutter, directly below the northern car park, has a wide ramp that makes for a very safe exit – but there are many similar gutters along the point, so surface and check before committing. The platform is heavily fished and lines and hooks are everywhere, so a knife or line cutter is essential. The site needs calm seas or a small southerly swell; if conditions are marginal, the Kiama Gutter route finishing in the harbour is the safer choice. For competent shore divers it is a satisfying, fishy dive right beside one of the South Coast's biggest tourist attractions. Tourists gather on the platform, so gear up considerately and keep entries and exits away from the crowds.

Kiama is 60–75 minutes south of Sydney via the Princes Highway. Follow the signs to the Kiama Blowhole and park in the northern-most car park on Blowhole Point. The entry gutter is almost directly below the car park, behind a large rock.

The gutter has a wide ramp that makes a safe exit; alternatively exit west past the small ocean pool. Other entries require crossing difficult rock platform.

Kiama's reefs face east and are exposed to swell from the north-east round to the south-east; a southerly swell wraps into the northern side of Blowhole Point less than an easterly does. Shore entries over the rock platforms need a swell under about 1 m and preferably a low-to-mid tide with a predictable surge cycle. North-easterly sea breezes build on most summer afternoons, so dive early.

Visibility is typically 8–15 m, sometimes 20 m in winter westerly weather, and drops after heavy rain and big seas. Afghan Reef needs calm seas or a small southerly swell; if it is rough, start from Kiama Harbour instead (see Kiama Gutter).

Enter in the gutter and swim north-west, descending over kelp-covered rock. Follow the reef edge south-east at depth (to about 18 m on the sand), traverse the wall at 12–13 m heading south-west, then return towards the entry gutter. Surface to confirm you are in the correct gutter before exiting.

Total dive 33–35 minutes.

No local operator; dived independently and by visiting clubs.