The Blue Pool is a curiosity rather than a destination: a freshwater creek pool high on the Illawarra escarpment in Budderoo National Park, a few kilometres from Carrington Falls. It sits at about 590 m altitude, is roughly 60 m long north to south and 40 m wide, and reaches exactly 4 m at its deepest, with 2–3 m around the sides. Water flows in from the north over a rock bar.

Despite the name, the water is not blue but tannin-stained, the colour of tea, and visibility is limited to about 3 m, dropping to a metre or less if the fine bottom is disturbed. The bottom is a mix of sand, rocky areas and many fallen tree branches that have washed or dropped into the pool. Life is freshwater and modest: yabbies (freshwater crayfish), tadpoles, aquatic insects and spiders. McFadyen also noted rubbish such as batteries and bottles – a clean-up dive would not go amiss.

The appeal is the novelty of a highland bush dive and the setting, with a camping area beside the pool offering wood barbecues, tables and space for tents and camper trailers. It is extremely easy – air consumption on a 20-minute dive is minimal – and it can make a pleasant add-on to a Southern Highlands weekend or a chance for divers to try freshwater conditions. Divers should watch torch cords and hoses around the branches, use good buoyancy to preserve the little visibility there is, and remember that the altitude slightly alters dive-computer and table calculations.

From the Princes Highway at Albion Park take the Illawarra Highway up Macquarie Pass towards Robertson. Turn onto Jamberoo Mountain Road (opposite the Robertson Pie Shop), drive 4.75 km to the Carrington Falls road, then another 1.5 km to a small sign for the Blue Pool and camping area. Park at the camping area; the pool is a short walk away.

Allow about 1 hour 45 minutes from Sydney or 45 minutes from Wollongong.

No swell or tide; the only variables are rainfall and temperature. After heavy rain the creek runs strongly through the pool and visibility drops to near zero; after dry spells it is still and tannin-coloured with about 3 m visibility at best. Winter water and air temperatures at 590 m altitude are cold, and frost is possible.

Fallen branches can shift after floods.

Enter at the easy entry, circle the pool along the sandy and rocky margins at 2–3 m, then cross the 4 m centre. Keep off the bottom to protect visibility and avoid snagging on submerged branches; exit at the inflow rock.

Altitude diving at ~590 m – set computers to altitude mode; minimal depth so no deco concerns.

No operator; a novelty freshwater dive for clubs and curious divers.