Dive slate · divesites.com.au · printed 8 Nov 2026
Crowdy Head reefs
Port Macquarie & Camden Haven, New South Wales · near Crowdy Head
| Depth | 8–22 m |
|---|---|
| Minimum level | Advanced Open Water |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Access | Shore or Boat |
| Entry | Boat launch from Crowdy Head ramp, or rock entry from the breakwall/headland in calm conditions |
| Current | Mild |
| Visibility | 8-20 m |
| Water | summer 22-25 °C, winter 17-20 °C |
| Suit | 3-5 mm steamer summer; 5-7 mm full suit or semi-dry winter |
| Best season | Autumn–winter for clearest water |
| Bottom time | 40 min |
| Position | -31.84000, 152.75000 (approximate) |
| Permit | None required |
| Nearest chamber | Prince of Wales Hospital (Randwick, Sydney) — John Hunter Hospital Newcastle has no recompression chamber |
| Emergency | 000 · DAN Asia-Pacific diving emergency 1800 088 200 |
Crowdy Head reefs
Also known as Crowdy Head
A little-documented cluster of headland reefs off a small fishing village, dived mainly by private boat.
Near Crowdy Head · Port Macquarie & Camden Haven, New South Wales
- Depth
- 8–22 m
- Minimum level
- Advanced Open Water
- Access
- Shore or Boat
- Boat ride
- ~15 min
- Water
- 22-25 °C
- Visibility
- 8-20 m
Crowdy Head reefs8–22 m · Advanced Open Water · Shore
Dive factsDepths, conditions, location & safety
Season
Off-peak nowBest months: March, April, May, June, July, August.
Autumn–winter for clearest water
- Best months
- Now (November)
- Stinger suit Nov–May
Dive facts
- Depth
- 8–22 m
- Typical depth
- 15 m
- Certification
- Advanced Open Water
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Depth tier
- Advanced Open Water (18–30 m)
- Access
- Shore or Boat
- Offshore
- 2 km
- Dive centre needed
- Recommended
- Shore / independent
- Possible (experienced only)
- Boat ride
- ~15 min
- Current
- Mild
- Visibility
- 8-20 m
- Water temp (summer)
- 22-25 °C
- Water temp (winter)
- 17-20 °C
- Water
- Subtropical
- Bottom time
- 40 min
- Dive traffic
- Rarely dived (private boat/club only)
- Night dive
- Possible
- Snorkel friendly
- Partial
Exposure suit
3-5 mm steamer summer; 5-7 mm full suit or semi-dry winter
Location
Crowdy Head · NSW Mid North Coast — Port Macquarie & Camden Haven
-31.84000, 152.75000
Approximate position — not for navigation.
Open in Google MapsPrimary source: mudgeediveandtravel.comMarine park & permits
None required
Nearest recompression chamber
Prince of Wales Hospital (Randwick, Sydney) — John Hunter Hospital Newcastle has no recompression chamber
Diving emergency: call 000, then DAN AP 1800 088 200.
Trip planner
Build a trip around Crowdy Head reefs →
A day-by-day plan for Port Macquarie & Camden Haven with this site locked in.
This guide is a planning aid. Conditions change daily — confirm with a local dive centre and dive within your training. Data & safety notes.
Dive profile
How this site rates
Scores are computed from the recorded data, not opinions. How?
At a glance
Crowdy Head reefs is a reef shore dive for experienced divers in Port Macquarie & Camden Haven, NSW, 8–22 m, suited to Advanced Open Water divers, about 15 minutes by boat.
Rated intermediate because of depth beyond 18 m.
Why dive here
- A little-documented cluster of headland reefs off a small fishing village, dived mainly by private boat.
- Rarely dived: expect to have the site to yourself, and plan your own logistics.
- Visibility often reaches 8-20 m.
Conditions to avoid
- Outgoing tide or run-off after rain (poor visibility)
About Crowdy Head reefs
Crowdy Head is a small, working fishing village between Port Macquarie and Harrington whose surrounding reefs see relatively little dedicated recreational diving compared with the better-known sites either side, despite reasonable rock and gutter structure within a short boat run of the town's breakwall and ramp. The reefs here are typical of the mid-north-coast's rocky headland formations — broken rock, gutters and occasional small bommies in a moderate depth range, supporting temperate reef fish, rays and, at times, grey nurse sharks moving between the better-documented aggregation sites at Fish Rock, Cod Grounds and further south. The historic Crowdy Head Lighthouse on the headland above is a well-known landmark and whale-watching point, and the same waters below are occasionally used for whale-watching-linked charter trips in season.
Because Crowdy Head lacks a dedicated dive shop, most diving here is done by private boat owners launching from the town ramp, or as an occasional stop for operators based in Port Macquarie or Camden Haven when conditions or client interest justify the run. This makes it one of the more genuinely under-explored parts of the region from a documented-dive-site perspective — locals know productive patches of reef, but little of that knowledge has made it into published dive guides. Visiting divers without local contacts or their own boat should not expect to easily arrange a charter here, and are better served treating Crowdy Head as a scenic coastal stop and possible future dive destination rather than a planned diving day, unless travelling with a private vessel or an operator willing to make the trip.
Getting there & entry
A cluster of rocky reefs and gutters off the small fishing village of Crowdy Head, between Port Macquarie and Harrington, reached from the town's boat ramp and breakwall.
Crowdy Head is reached via Crowdy Head Road off the Pacific Highway, roughly 35 km south of Port Macquarie. A small boat ramp beside the breakwall gives access to the offshore reefs, a short run of 10-20 minutes depending on the exact site; the breakwall and headland rocks themselves can be dived or snorkelled from shore in calm conditions.
Entry: Boat launch from Crowdy Head ramp, or rock entry from the breakwall/headland in calm conditions
Facilities: Boat ramp, breakwall, small township with limited services at Crowdy Head.
Weather, swell & tides
An exposed stretch of coast with the small Crowdy Head breakwall offering limited protection — best dived on calm, low-swell days; visibility is affected by the nearby Manning River outflow after rain.
Best season: Autumn–winter for clearest water
How the dive is usually run
Launch from the Crowdy Head ramp and run a short distance to the chosen reef patch, descending onto rock and gutter terrain at 8-22 m and working the structure for reef fish, rays and the occasional grey nurse shark before returning to the ramp.
Marine life
- Temperate reef fish
- rays
- occasional grey nurse sharks →
- small reef sharks →
- invertebrates
Linked species have their own page listing every site where they are recorded. All marine life →
Training required
Beyond 18 m an Advanced certification (which includes a deep dive to 30 m) is the accepted minimum. Anything past 25 m is a deep dive in practice.
Open Water divers can dive the shallower section (typical depth 15 m); the full site to 22 m needs Advanced Open Water. Operators often quote Open Water.
Operators' own listing: Open Water.
Depth tiers: 0–10 m easy · to 18 m Open Water · 18–30 m Advanced (25 m+ is a deep dive) · 30–40 m Deep specialty · 40 m+ technical. All courses
Hazards & warnings
Limited shelter from swell; no dedicated dive operator based in town; Manning River outflow affects visibility after rain.
Dive centres that go here
No dedicated dive charter based in Crowdy Head; dived mainly by private boat owners and occasional trips from Port Macquarie or Camden Haven operators.
Other dive centres in Port Macquarie & Camden Haven
All dive centres in New South Wales →
Operators mentioned: No dedicated local operator — private boat or Port Macquarie/Camden Haven charters
Map
7 pinned sites. Pins marked approximate on their pages show the general area only; not for navigation.
Satellite views


Crowdy Head reefs: frequently asked questions
How deep is Crowdy Head reefs?
Crowdy Head reefs reaches a maximum depth of 22 m, with the shallowest part at about 8 m; most of the dive is spent around 15 m.
What certification do I need to dive Crowdy Head reefs?
Advanced Open Water is the recommended minimum. Open Water divers can dive the shallower section (typical depth 15 m); the full site to 22 m needs Advanced Open Water. Operators often quote Open Water. Rated intermediate because of depth beyond 18 m.
Can I shore dive Crowdy Head reefs?
Experienced divers do dive Crowdy Head reefs from the shore, but the entry or conditions make it unsuitable for newer divers without local guidance. Entry: Boat launch from Crowdy Head ramp, or rock entry from the breakwall/headland in calm conditions.
When is the best time to dive Crowdy Head reefs?
Autumn–winter for clearest water.
What marine life will I see at Crowdy Head reefs?
Regularly recorded: Temperate reef fish, rays, occasional grey nurse sharks, small reef sharks, invertebrates.
What wetsuit do I need at Crowdy Head reefs?
3-5 mm steamer summer; 5-7 mm full suit or semi-dry winter.
How cold is the water at Crowdy Head reefs?
Typically 22-25 °C in summer and 17-20 °C in winter.
What are the main hazards at Crowdy Head reefs?
Limited shelter from swell; no dedicated dive operator based in town; Manning River outflow affects visibility after rain. See the hazards section above for the full list.
Where is the nearest recompression chamber to Crowdy Head reefs?
Prince of Wales Hospital (Randwick, Sydney) — John Hunter Hospital Newcastle has no recompression chamber. In an emergency call 000, then DAN Asia-Pacific on 1800 088 200.
Diving in Port Macquarie & Camden Haven
Port Macquarie's reefs are a step down in fame from Fish Rock and Forster but not in quality. The Cod Hole and the Pinnacle off Tacking Point have grey nurse sharks and big schools of fish; the Coral Reef off Camden Haven is a genuine subtropical hard-coral patch; and the Wreck of the Ellenborough, a 1901 collier in 46 m, suits deep divers.
Getting there: Four hours north of Sydney or a one-hour flight. Charters run from Port Macquarie's marina; Flynns and Shelly beaches are sheltered shore snorkels.
All Port Macquarie & Camden Haven dive sites and a suggested itinerary →
Sources
Data confidence: Low · Being verified: Limited specific site-by-site documentation found for Crowdy Head itself; description generalised from regional geography — verify with a Port Macquarie or Camden Haven operator.. Last updated September 2026. Know this site better? How to send a correction
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