Cape Byron itself — the easternmost point of the Australian mainland — is better known for its lighthouse walk, whale-watching and surf breaks than as a scuba diving destination, and no local dive centre runs boat or shore trips specifically to the headland; all of the serious diving in the area happens 2.5 km offshore at Julian Rocks. That said, the small pocket beaches and rock platforms tucked around the cape — Wategos Beach, Little Wategos and the channel by The Pass — offer an easy, informal shallow dive or snorkel for locals and visitors on the rare days the swell drops away completely. The terrain is simple: shallow, sandy-bottomed gutters between low rock outcrops running from the shoreline to about 5-8 m, colonised by typical inshore subtropical species — small reef fish, occasional wobbegongs tucked against the rocks, blue gropers working the shallows, and turtles that pass close to shore on their way to and from Julian Rocks.

It is not a site anyone plans a dive trip around, and the value here is convenience and the novelty of diving at Australia's most easterly point rather than any exceptional marine life or topography that could not be seen better at Julian Rocks itself. The bigger factor governing this stretch of coast is that it is fundamentally a surf coast: the same swell that makes The Pass and Wategos famous surf breaks means the water here is rarely calm enough, or clear enough, for an enjoyable dive, and rip currents around the points are a real hazard for anyone entering casually. Divers and snorkellers who do use these spots should treat it as an opportunistic, settled-weather activity rather than a planned trip, keep close to shore, and default to the boat-accessed Julian Rocks — a short paddle away by comparison and vastly richer in marine life — whenever conditions allow a boat to run.

Park at the Cape Byron headland car park or Wategos Beach car park (limited spaces, arrive early) and walk down the short track to the beach or rock platform. Gear up on the sand and enter over the rocks at Little Wategos on the northern end, or from the beach itself at Wategos on a flat day; there are no ladders or steps, just a beach/rock entry that depends entirely on swell size.

This is a surf coast, not a diving coast, and Cape Byron is exposed to swell from most directions; it is only worth entering the water here on days with very small (under 0.5-1 m) swell and light winds, which are uncommon. Rip currents around the points are a serious hazard even on quiet days. Visibility is generally poor to moderate compared with the boat-accessed sites just offshore.

Enter from the rocks at Little Wategos or the sand at Wategos Beach only when the swell is minimal, stay close to the rocks in the shallow gutters at 1-5 m, and exit before the tide or swell picks up; this is a snorkel/shallow-dive spot, not a planned deep or extended dive.

No dive centre operates scuba trips here; it is a self-guided snorkel and shallow shore-dive spot used by locals and the surf/snorkel tour operators based in Byron Bay.