Dive slate · divesites.com.au · printed 9 Nov 2026
Dolphin Point
Ulladulla, New South Wales · near Burrill Lake
| Depth | 2–12 m |
|---|---|
| Minimum level | Open Water |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Access | Shore or Boat |
| Entry | Rock entry from the point in calm seas; or from a small boat |
| Current | Mild |
| Visibility | 5–12 m m |
| Water | summer 19–22 °C °C, winter 13–16 °C °C |
| Suit | 7 mm wetsuit with hood most of the year (5 mm adequate Feb–Apr); semi-dry or drysuit and gloves Jul–Oct |
| Best season | Calm spells in summer and autumn |
| Bottom time | 50 min |
| Position | -35.40500, 150.45500 (approximate) |
| Permit | None required – not in a NSW marine park |
| Nearest chamber | Prince of Wales Hospital Hyperbaric Unit (Randwick, Sydney) |
| Emergency | 000 · DAN Asia-Pacific diving emergency 1800 088 200 |
Dolphin Point
Also known as Dolphin Point Burrill Lake
Calm-weather shore reef just south of Burrill Lake, close to the Burrill Rocks group.
Near Burrill Lake · Ulladulla, New South Wales
- Depth
- 2–12 m
- Minimum level
- Open Water
- Access
- Shore or Boat
- Boat ride
- —
- Water
- 19–22 °C
- Visibility
- 5–12 m
Dolphin Point2–12 m · Open Water · Shore
Dive factsDepths, conditions, location & safety
Season
Off-peak nowBest months: January, February, March, April, May, December.
Dive facts
- Depth
- 2–12 m
- Typical depth
- 6 m
- Certification
- Open Water
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Depth tier
- Open Water (10–18 m)
- Access
- Shore or Boat
- Dive centre needed
- No – independently diveable
- Shore / independent
- Possible (experienced only)
- Current
- Mild
- Visibility
- 5–12 m
- Water temp (summer)
- 19–22 °C
- Water temp (winter)
- 13–16 °C
- Water
- Temperate
- Bottom time
- 50 min
- Dive traffic
- Rarely dived (private boat/club only)
- Night dive
- No
- Snorkel friendly
- Yes
Exposure suit
7 mm wetsuit with hood most of the year (5 mm adequate Feb–Apr); semi-dry or drysuit and gloves Jul–Oct
Location
Burrill Lake – Dolphin Point · Ulladulla – Mollymook & Bawley Point
-35.40500, 150.45500
Approximate position — not for navigation.
Open in Google MapsPrimary source: marinelife.org.auMarine park & permits
None required – not in a NSW marine park
Nearest recompression chamber
Prince of Wales Hospital Hyperbaric Unit (Randwick, Sydney)
Diving emergency: call 000, then DAN AP 1800 088 200.
Trip planner
Build a trip around Dolphin Point →
A day-by-day plan for Ulladulla 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
Dolphin Point is a shore / rock platform shore dive for experienced divers in Ulladulla, NSW, 2–12 m, suited to Open Water divers.
Rated intermediate because of cold water.
Why dive here
- Calm-weather shore reef just south of Burrill Lake, close to the Burrill Rocks group.
- Snorkel-friendly, so non-diving companions can join at the surface.
- Rarely dived: expect to have the site to yourself, and plan your own logistics.
Conditions to avoid
- Strong southerly or south-east swell and wind
- Afternoon north-easterlies
- Outgoing tide or run-off after rain (poor visibility)
About Dolphin Point
Dolphin Point is a small residential point just south of the Burrill Lake entrance, about 5 km south of Ulladulla. The Marine Life Network lists it as a rocky shoreline offering good snorkelling and diving in calm weather, with shore or boat access. It is the shore complement to the Burrill Rocks group, which lies offshore a little to the north.
The shoreline is rock platform and boulders dropping into shallow reef with kelp, crayweed and urchin barrens, and patches of sand. Typical fish include blue groper, luderick, eastern rock blackfish, silver sweep, red morwong, leatherjackets and several wrasse species, with wobbegongs and Port Jackson sharks under ledges. Octopus, nudibranchs and sea urchins are common. When Burrill Lake is open, estuary fish such as bream and mullet move along the shore.
The point is exposed, and the Marine Life Network is clear that it needs calm weather. On a flat day it gives snorkellers and shore divers an easy, uncrowded reef close to Ulladulla, but it is not a site to attempt in any significant swell. Published information is limited to the Marine Life Network summary, so depths and layout here are indicative. Local divers should inspect it from the point before entering, and beginners should go with someone who knows the entry. For a boat dive in the same area, Burrill Rocks and The Hole are only a few minutes away and are much better documented. On calm summer days the point is also a pleasant snorkel, with blue groper often following swimmers along the rocks and schools of sweep in the shallows.
Getting there & entry
Rocky shoreline at Dolphin Point about 5 km south of Ulladulla, just south of the Burrill Lake entrance; snorkelling and diving in calm weather.
From Ulladulla drive about 5 km south on the Princes Highway across the Burrill Lake bridge and turn left into Dolphin Point Road. Park at the end of the road near the point and walk down to the rocks. Pick a sheltered gully for entry and exit.
Boats from Ulladulla Harbour can reach the reef off the point in about 10 minutes, passing Burrill Rocks on the way.
Entry: Rock entry from the point in calm seas; or from a small boat
Facilities: Street parking at Dolphin Point; shops at Burrill Lake and Ulladulla.
Weather, swell & tides
The point faces east to south-east and is exposed to southerly and easterly swell, which makes rock entries dangerous. The Marine Life Network notes it is only good in calm weather. Dive on a westerly or light north-westerly with swell under about 1 m.
Visibility is reduced after heavy rain when Burrill Lake is open and flushing. Avoid strong afternoon north-easterlies.
Best season: Calm spells in summer and autumn
If it's blown out
Sheltered or shore sites within 25 km that often work when Dolphin Point doesn't.
- Ulladulla Harbour · 6 km · Max 8 m
- Narrawallee Beach and Inlet · 11 km · Max 8 m
- Bawley Point · 14 km · Max 13 m
- Pretty Beach (Murramarang) · 20 km · Max 10 m
How the dive is usually run
Enter from a sheltered gully and follow the reef along the point at 5–10 m, keeping the rocks on one side for navigation, turning at half gas and returning along a shallower line. Surface well short of the rocks to check the exit and time your approach with the swell before coming in.
Marine life
- Blue groper →
- luderick
- eastern rock blackfish
- silver sweep
- red morwong
- leatherjackets
- wrasse
- wobbegongs →
- Port Jackson sharks →
- octopus →
- nudibranchs →
- kelp
Linked species have their own page listing every site where they are recorded. All marine life →
Training required
Within the 18 m limit of an entry-level certification.
Courses that help here
- Drysuit Diver – Cold water; locals dive dry for much of the year.
- Underwater Navigation – Navigation is part of the dive plan.
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
Exposed rock entry – dangerous in swell. Tidal outflow near the Burrill Lake entrance. Fishing line on the rocks.
Dive centres that go here
Listed by the Marine Life Network; no scheduled operator trips. Dive Adventures Ulladulla is the nearest shop.
Operators recorded for Dolphin Point
Other dive centres in Ulladulla
Map
7 pinned sites. Pins marked approximate on their pages show the general area only; not for navigation.
Satellite views


Dolphin Point: frequently asked questions
How deep is Dolphin Point?
Dolphin Point reaches a maximum depth of 12 m, with the shallowest part at about 2 m; most of the dive is spent around 6 m.
What certification do I need to dive Dolphin Point?
Open Water is the recommended minimum. Rated intermediate because of cold water.
Can I shore dive Dolphin Point?
Experienced divers do dive Dolphin Point from the shore, but the entry or conditions make it unsuitable for newer divers without local guidance. Entry: Rock entry from the point in calm seas; or from a small boat.
When is the best time to dive Dolphin Point?
Calm spells in summer and autumn.
What marine life will I see at Dolphin Point?
Regularly recorded: Blue groper, luderick, eastern rock blackfish, silver sweep, red morwong, leatherjackets, wrasse, wobbegongs, Port Jackson sharks, octopus, nudibranchs, kelp.
What wetsuit do I need at Dolphin Point?
7 mm wetsuit with hood most of the year (5 mm adequate Feb–Apr); semi-dry or drysuit and gloves Jul–Oct.
How cold is the water at Dolphin Point?
Typically 19–22 °C in summer and 13–16 °C in winter.
What are the main hazards at Dolphin Point?
Exposed rock entry – dangerous in swell. See the hazards section above for the full list.
Where is the nearest recompression chamber to Dolphin Point?
Prince of Wales Hospital Hyperbaric Unit (Randwick, Sydney). In an emergency call 000, then DAN Asia-Pacific on 1800 088 200.
Diving in Ulladulla
Ulladulla is the quiet middle of the south coast, with the Lighthouse Reef and the Bommie off Warden Head, the Burrill Rocks, and a series of gutters and caves that hold grey nurse sharks and eastern blue devils. It is dived mainly by locals and Canberra clubs.
Getting there: Three hours south of Sydney. A local dive shop runs charters from the harbour; the Ulladulla harbour breakwall is a sheltered shore dive.
Sources
Data confidence: Low · Being verified: Coordinates approximate; depths indicative.. Last updated September 2026. Know this site better? How to send a correction
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