First Point is a headland wall that only makes the schedule on good days. The Terrigal Underwater Group lists it at 26 m and says plainly that it is accessible only in low swell, but rewards divers with a nice reef wall, swim-throughs and great marine life. That combination - real structure close to the rock and a strict weather window - puts it in the category of sites local divers watch the forecast for.

The wall drops from the shallows near the headland to sand in the mid-20s, with the face broken by cracks, overhangs and boulders. The swim-throughs, formed where large blocks have fallen against the wall, are the highlight, but they are also why swell matters: even moderate surge pushes water through them hard. On a calm day the site feels much like the better Sydney headland walls, with sponges, sea squirts and small gorgonians on the vertical surfaces and kelp on the upper ledges.

Fish life is typically dense because of the structure. Expect schools of yellowtail and silver sweep along the face, one-spot pullers and bullseyes in the overhangs, eastern blue gropers and red morwong patrolling, and wobbegongs tucked into crevices. Nudibranchs are plentiful on the wall, and cuttlefish and octopus are regular finds.

Because published detail is limited and the site depends on local knowledge, this is a dive to do with a Terrigal operator or club member. It suits Advanced divers with good buoyancy who are comfortable close to rock and can judge when surge makes the swim-throughs unwise. For regular Terrigal divers it offers a change from the offshore reefs; for visitors it is worth asking about if a genuinely flat day coincides with a trip.

All boat dives in this area launch from the Terrigal Haven boat ramp at the southern end of Terrigal Beach, tucked behind The Skillion headland. From the Central Coast Highway follow Terrigal Drive into Terrigal, then Kurrawyba Avenue and Terrigal Esplanade to The Haven, where there is a paid car park beside the ramp; Pro Dive Central Coast's shop is a short walk away and gear is loaded on the ramp or the adjacent beach. Private boats need a ramp with good parking early on weekends as the car park fills by mid-morning in summer.

First Point is a short run from The Haven along the headland coastline, typically under 10 minutes. The boat anchors or drops divers close to the rock face, so skippers only visit on genuinely calm days.

Terrigal's offshore reefs are open to the Tasman Sea and are dived only when swell is below roughly 1.5 m; a north-east sea breeze building through the afternoon in summer and strong southerlies after a front are the usual reasons trips are cancelled, so morning departures are the norm. The Haven boat ramp is sheltered by The Skillion but the run out past the headland can be lumpy in a south-easterly. Visibility is best in late summer and autumn when the East Australian Current pushes warm blue water inshore, and worst after heavy rain when Terrigal Lagoon, Wamberal Lagoon and Avoca Lagoon open and stain the inshore water.

Winter water is cooler (around 15-17 °C) but often clear. First Point sits close against the headland and TUG stresses it is only accessible in low swell - below about 1 m is ideal, as surge through the swim-throughs builds quickly.

Descend near the base of the wall, then follow it with the rock on one shoulder, checking the swim-throughs only if surge is minimal. Work gradually shallower on the return leg along the upper wall and finish with a safety stop off the face before being collected.

Terrigal Underwater Group and Pro Dive Central Coast visit on low-swell days only; not a scheduled site.