Barry's Bay sits north of Port Macquarie township and offers a bay-format dive area built around multiple gutters rather than a single defined feature, giving Scuba Haven the flexibility to vary the exact route and depth on any given trip depending on conditions and diver interest. The site's marine life list leans toward the area's more charismatic residents: turtles are a regular sighting, octopus and cuttlefish are found with reasonable reliability among the gutters, and wobbegong sharks rest on the sand and rock in typical mid-north-coast fashion. Grey nurse sharks are also recorded here at times, reflecting the general movement of the species along this stretch of coast between the more famous aggregation sites further north and south.

The bay's multiple-gutter structure means a group can spend a full tank exploring just a portion of the site, and repeat visits can reasonably be expected to cover different ground and find different marine life each time — a similar quality to the nearby Wall site, though Barry's Bay is generally regarded as a slightly easier, more approachable dive given its moderate depth range. It functions as a solid, varied option in Port Macquarie's northern waters, complementing the more southerly sites around Tacking Point and Shelly Beach, and gives Scuba Haven a reason to alternate trip destinations depending on wind direction and client preference across a multi-day Port Macquarie diving stay. Ask Scuba Haven which gutters have been most productive recently, since the site's spread-out layout means recent local knowledge matters more here than at a single-feature dive.

Boat departing Port Macquarie's Town Wharf, running north to Barry's Bay, roughly 15-20 minutes.

This stretch of coast is exposed to easterly and south-easterly swell with limited natural shelter; charters want under about 1.5 m swell and moderate wind to run safely. Visibility is best in autumn and early winter after a run of settled weather and drops noticeably after East Coast Lows and river flood outflows.

Descend into the bay and explore its multiple gutters at 8-20 m, checking for resident turtles, octopus, cuttlefish and wobbegongs tucked into the rock, and keeping an eye on open water for grey nurse sharks depending on the season.

Scuba Haven (Port Macquarie) — regular boat dives, year-round, weather permitting.