Dive slate · divesites.com.au · printed 7 Nov 2026
Hole in the Wall (Booderee)
Jervis Bay, New South Wales · near Jervis Bay Village
| Depth | Depth not published |
|---|---|
| Minimum level | Snorkel/Any |
| Difficulty | Beginner |
| Access | Shore |
| Entry | Walk 400 m from the car park and enter from the beach beside the rock formation |
| Current | None |
| Visibility | 8-15 m |
| Water | summer 19-23 °C, winter 15-17 °C |
| Suit | 5–7 mm wetsuit with hood in summer–autumn; 7 mm semi-dry or drysuit June–October |
| Best season | Year-round; low tide |
| Bottom time | 45 min |
| Position | -35.13700, 150.72700 (approximate) |
| Permit | Booderee National Park (Commonwealth) – park entry pass required for vehicles; waters within the park are no-take for most species and Booderee sanctuary zones apply; Jervis Bay Marine Park rules apply to adjoining NSW waters. |
| Nearest chamber | Prince of Wales Hospital (Randwick, Sydney) – approx. 3 h by road from Jervis Bay; call 000 and DAN Asia-Pacific hotline (evacuation usually by air) |
| Emergency | 000 · DAN Asia-Pacific diving emergency 1800 088 200 |
Hole in the Wall (Booderee)
Also known as Hole in the Wall, Jervis Bay
Striking eroded sandstone 'hole in the wall' with clear shallow snorkelling and rock pools.
Near Jervis Bay Village · Jervis Bay, New South Wales
- Depth
- Depth not published
- Minimum level
- Snorkel/Any
- Access
- Shore
- Boat ride
- Shore entry
- Water
- 19-23 °C
- Visibility
- 8-15 m
Hole in the Wall (Booderee)Depth not published · Snorkel/Any · Shore
Dive factsDepths, conditions, location & safety
Season
In season nowBest months: year-round.
Dive facts
- Depth
- Depth not published
- Typical depth
- 3 m
- Certification
- Snorkel/Any
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Access
- Shore
- Dive centre needed
- No – independently diveable
- Shore / independent
- Yes
- Current
- None
- Visibility
- 8-15 m
- Water temp (summer)
- 19-23 °C
- Water temp (winter)
- 15-17 °C
- Water
- Temperate
- Bottom time
- 45 min
- Dive traffic
- Rarely dived (private boat/club only)
- Night dive
- No
- Snorkel friendly
- Yes
Exposure suit
5–7 mm wetsuit with hood in summer–autumn; 7 mm semi-dry or drysuit June–October
Location
Jervis Bay – Booderee (southern shore) · Shoalhaven – Jervis Bay
-35.13700, 150.72700
Approximate position — not for navigation.
Open in Google MapsPrimary source: travelmademedoit.comMarine park & permits
Booderee National Park (Commonwealth) – park entry pass required for vehicles; waters within the park are no-take for most species and Booderee sanctuary zones apply; Jervis Bay Marine Park rules apply to adjoining NSW waters.
Nearest recompression chamber
Prince of Wales Hospital (Randwick, Sydney) – approx. 3 h by road from Jervis Bay; call 000 and DAN Asia-Pacific hotline (evacuation usually by air)
Diving emergency: call 000, then DAN AP 1800 088 200.
Trip planner
Build a trip around Hole in the Wall (Booderee) →
A day-by-day plan for Jervis Bay 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
Hole in the Wall (Booderee) is a shore / rock platform shore dive you can do independently in Jervis Bay, NSW, suitable for snorkellers and first-time divers.
Rated beginner: sheltered, shallow and manageable for a newly certified diver on a normal day, though note cold water.
Why dive here
- Striking eroded sandstone 'hole in the wall' with clear shallow snorkelling and rock pools.
- 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 Hole in the Wall (Booderee)
Hole in the Wall is a well-known landmark on the northern edge of Booderee National Park, between Green Patch and Murrays Beach: a U-shaped gap in a sandstone rock wall carved by erosion. The original 'hole' collapsed some years ago, but the formation remains striking and is reached by a 400 m gravel track from a small car park. Travel guides recommend visiting at low tide to get close and pairing it with Scottish Rocks, which lies nearby and offers the park's best snorkelling.
The rock platform around the formation and the shallow reef below it are typical of the southern shore of the bay: sandstone ledges with weed and kelp, sand patches and very clear water. Snorkellers can expect blue groper, luderick, leatherjackets, sea stars and small schooling fish, and rays on the sand. Rock pools at low tide add interest for families.
There is no scuba-specific documentation for this site, so it is included as a sightseeing and snorkel stop rather than a formal dive; divers wanting depth should use Murrays Beach instead. The car park is small and fills early in summer, and a Booderee vehicle pass is required. The site is sheltered from southerly swell but choppy in strong north-easterlies. All marine life is protected within Booderee National Park. The walk passes through coastal heath and woodland typical of the park, so allow time and carry water; the combination of scenery, a short walk and a snorkel makes it a popular half-day outing. Water temperatures range from about 15 °C in late winter to 23 °C in late summer, so a 5–7 mm wetsuit is sensible for anything longer than a quick summer snorkel, and a hood helps from June to October.
Getting there & entry
U-shaped gap in an eroded sandstone rock wall on the northern edge of Booderee National Park between Green Patch and Murrays Beach; rock platform and shallow reef best at low tide.
Jervis Bay is about 2.5–3 hours south of Sydney via the M1 and Princes Highway, turning onto Jervis Bay Road at Falls Creek. Enter Booderee National Park (vehicle pass required) and follow Jervis Bay Road; the Hole in the Wall car park is a small unsealed area (about 12 spaces) signposted off the road. A 400 m gravel walking track leads to the beach and rock formation.
Visit at low tide to approach the formation; snorkel or dive from the adjoining beach in calm conditions.
Entry: Walk 400 m from the car park and enter from the beach beside the rock formation
Facilities: Small unsealed car park only; toilets and picnic areas at Green Patch and Murrays Beach.
Weather, swell & tides
Inside Jervis Bay the water is sheltered from ocean swell, but the bay is big enough for wind chop: strong north-easterlies (summer afternoons) make the western and southern shores choppy, and southerly or westerly winds affect the northern shore less. Diving is possible on most days of the year at one shore or another. Visibility is usually 8–15 m, better in winter, and drops after heavy rain when Currambene Creek and Moona Moona Creek flush tannin water into the bay.
Tides are small but high tide gives better visibility at the beach entries. Hole in the Wall faces north-west into the bay and is sheltered from southerly swell; check tide times, as low tide is needed to reach the formation.
Best season: Year-round; low tide
If it's blown out
Sheltered or shore sites within 25 km that often work when Hole in the Wall (Booderee) doesn't.
- Murrays Beach · 3 km · Max 12 m
- Scottish Rocks · 1 km · Depth not published
- Hyams Beach · 5 km · Max 10 m
- Green Patch · 1 km · Depth not published
How the dive is usually run
Snorkel along the rock platform edge and the reef below the eroded sandstone wall at mid to high tide, or walk out at low tide to view the formation and explore rock pools.
Marine life
- Blue groper →
- luderick
- leatherjackets
- sea stars
- rays
- small schooling fish
- rock-pool fauna
Linked species have their own page listing every site where they are recorded. All marine life →
Training required
Courses that help here
- Drysuit Diver – Cold water; locals dive dry for much of the year.
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
Slippery sandstone platform; unstable eroded rock – do not climb; tide-dependent access; Booderee park pass required.
Dive centres that go here
No operator; a self-guided sightseeing and snorkel spot.
Operators recorded for Hole in the Wall (Booderee)
Other dive centres in Jervis Bay
Indepth Scuba
ProfiledBelconnen · Jervis Bay · NSW
A Canberra operation that functions as both a training school and a life-support service facility, with cylinder testing and a full range of gas fills.
indepthscuba.com.au · (02) 6251 1070
Lady of the Sea Diving Academy
ProfiledTuggeranong (Canberra, ACT) · Jervis Bay · NSW
A Canberra operation with an unusually complete set of facilities for an inland centre, including an onsite pool, classroom, retail shop and dive boat.
ladyofthesea.com.au · +61 407 487 735
Crest Diving
Named by sitesJervis Bay · Jervis Bay · NSW
Escorted shore dive tours; no shopfront address published.
crestdiving.com.au · 0414 787 281
Woebegone Freedive
Named by sitesHuskisson · Jervis Bay · NSW
Freediving school; official site live (Unit 3/1 Erina Rd Huskisson) with online bookings and a TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice 2026 award.
woebegone.com.au
Deep 6 Diving Jervis Bay
Reported closedHuskisson · Jervis Bay · NSW
Former domain deep6divingjervisbay.com.au now serves unrelated SEO content; only stale directory listings remain.
Map
7 pinned sites. Pins marked approximate on their pages show the general area only; not for navigation.
Satellite views


Hole in the Wall (Booderee): frequently asked questions
What certification do I need to dive Hole in the Wall (Booderee)?
No certification is needed to snorkel it, and it suits introductory dives. Rated beginner: sheltered, shallow and manageable for a newly certified diver on a normal day, though note cold water.
Can I shore dive Hole in the Wall (Booderee)?
Yes. Hole in the Wall (Booderee) is a shore dive that can be done independently: walk 400 m from the car park and enter from the beach beside the rock formation.
When is the best time to dive Hole in the Wall (Booderee)?
Year-round; low tide.
What marine life will I see at Hole in the Wall (Booderee)?
Regularly recorded: Blue groper, luderick, leatherjackets, sea stars, rays, small schooling fish, rock-pool fauna.
What wetsuit do I need at Hole in the Wall (Booderee)?
5–7 mm wetsuit with hood in summer–autumn; 7 mm semi-dry or drysuit June–October.
How cold is the water at Hole in the Wall (Booderee)?
Typically 19-23 °C in summer and 15-17 °C in winter.
What are the main hazards at Hole in the Wall (Booderee)?
Slippery sandstone platform; unstable eroded rock – do not climb; tide-dependent access; Booderee park pass required. See the hazards section above for the full list.
Where is the nearest recompression chamber to Hole in the Wall (Booderee)?
Prince of Wales Hospital (Randwick, Sydney) – approx. 3 h by road from Jervis Bay; call 000 and DAN Asia-Pacific hotline (evacuation usually by air). In an emergency call 000, then DAN Asia-Pacific on 1800 088 200.
Diving in Jervis Bay
Jervis Bay's white sand and clear water make it the best-known dive destination on the NSW south coast. The Docks, Stoney Creek and the Arch on the northern headland, and Cabbage Tree Point on the south, are boat dives with sponge gardens, grey nurse sharks in season and fur seals from Drum and Drumsticks. Inside the bay, Hyams Beach, Murrays Beach and the Green Patch reefs are gentle shore dives with seadragons and octopus.
Getting there: Two and a half hours south of Sydney. Dive shops in Huskisson run daily charters; shore dives inside the bay have car parks at Hyams, Murrays and Green Patch (Booderee National Park entry fee applies).
Sources
- travelmademedoit.com/hole-in-the-wall-jervis-bay
- booderee.gov.au/things-do/visit/beaches/green-patch-beach
Data confidence: Low · Being verified: Coordinates approximate; no scuba documentation.. Last updated September 2026. Know this site better? How to send a correction
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