Dive slate · divesites.com.au · printed 9 Nov 2026
Lobster Bay
Shoalhaven Coast, New South Wales · near Currarong
| Depth | 1–6 m |
|---|---|
| Minimum level | Snorkel/Any |
| Difficulty | Beginner |
| Access | Shore |
| Entry | Rock or beach entry into the sheltered bay |
| Current | None |
| Visibility | 5-15 m |
| Water | summer 19-23 °C, winter 14-17 °C |
| Suit | 5–7 mm wetsuit with hood in summer–autumn; 7 mm semi-dry or drysuit June–October |
| Best season | Year-round in calm conditions |
| Bottom time | 50 min |
| Position | not published |
| Permit | Jervis Bay Marine Park (NSW) – check the zoning map: sanctuary zones (no take of any kind) cover much of the Beecroft Peninsula coast including Drum and Drumsticks, The Docks area and Bowen Island; special grey nurse shark rules apply. No permit needed for recreational diving. Beecroft Peninsula is the Department of Defence Beecroft Weapons Range. Road access to Point Perpendicular, Honeymoon Bay, Long Beach and the peninsula's bays is only when the range is open to the public (generally Friday afternoon to Sunday and NSW school/public holidays – confirm with Range Control on 02 4448 3411 or the range Facebook page), and sea areas off the peninsula can be closed during live firing; check Notices to Mariners and range notices before a boat trip. |
| 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 |
Lobster Bay
Also known as Lobster Bay (Currarong)
Protected, usually clear shallow bay near Currarong – an easy snorkel or training dive.
Near Currarong · Shoalhaven Coast, New South Wales
- Depth
- 1–6 m
- Minimum level
- Snorkel/Any
- Access
- Shore
- Boat ride
- Shore entry
- Water
- 19-23 °C
- Visibility
- 5-15 m
Lobster Bay1–6 m · Snorkel/Any · Shore
Dive factsDepths, conditions, location & safety
Season
In season nowBest months: year-round.
Dive facts
- Depth
- 1–6 m
- Typical depth
- 4 m
- Certification
- Snorkel/Any
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Depth tier
- Easy (0–10 m)
- Access
- Shore
- Dive centre needed
- No – independently diveable
- Shore / independent
- Yes
- Current
- None
- Visibility
- 5-15 m
- Water temp (summer)
- 19-23 °C
- Water temp (winter)
- 14-17 °C
- Water
- Temperate
- Bottom time
- 50 min
- Dive traffic
- Rarely dived (private boat/club only)
- Night dive
- Possible
- Snorkel friendly
- Yes
Exposure suit
5–7 mm wetsuit with hood in summer–autumn; 7 mm semi-dry or drysuit June–October
Location
Currarong – Beecroft Peninsula north · Shoalhaven – Crookhaven & Currarong
No published coordinates. The map above shows the general area, estimated from other documented sites near Currarong.
Primary source: currarong.org.auMarine park & permits
Jervis Bay Marine Park (NSW) – check the zoning map: sanctuary zones (no take of any kind) cover much of the Beecroft Peninsula coast including Drum and Drumsticks, The Docks area and Bowen Island; special grey nurse shark rules apply. No permit needed for recreational diving. Beecroft Peninsula is the Department of Defence Beecroft Weapons Range. Road access to Point Perpendicular, Honeymoon Bay, Long Beach and the peninsula's bays is only when the range is open to the public (generally Friday afternoon to Sunday and NSW school/public holidays – confirm with Range Control on 02 4448 3411 or the range Facebook page), and sea areas off the peninsula can be closed during live firing; check Notices to Mariners and range notices before a boat trip.
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 Lobster Bay →
A day-by-day plan for Shoalhaven Coast 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
Lobster Bay is a shore / rock platform shore dive you can do independently in Shoalhaven Coast, NSW, 1–6 m, 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
- Protected, usually clear shallow bay near Currarong – an easy snorkel or training dive.
- 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.
About Lobster Bay
Lobster Bay is one of several small, sheltered bays on the northern side of the Beecroft Peninsula near Currarong that the local community lists among its dive and snorkel sites. It is shallow – around 6 m – protected, and usually clear, making it an easy venue for snorkellers, newly certified divers and families.
The Currarong Community Association notes blue damsels, a variety of reef fish and small sharks in the bay. The rocky margins and boulders typical of the peninsula provide cover for leatherjackets, wrasse and juvenile fish, and the sandy patches are worth checking for rays and flathead. Because the bay faces north it is protected from southerly weather and is a good fallback when the ocean ramps are closed by swell.
Published information beyond that brief description is scarce, and the precise access route is best confirmed locally. Parts of the Beecroft Peninsula are within the Beecroft Weapons Range and open to the public only at set times, so check access before planning a visit. Lobster Bay lies within the Jervis Bay Marine Park, and the peninsula coastline includes sanctuary zones where no marine life may be taken; check the zoning map. It is a low-key site with no facilities in the bay itself, and it will appeal mostly to those staying in Currarong who want a gentle snorkel or shallow dive close to the village, perhaps combined with the TSS Merimbula wreck at nearby Whale Point. Bring everything you need, including fills from Huskisson or Nowra.
Getting there & entry
Small protected bay near Currarong on the northern Beecroft Peninsula; clear shallow water to about 6 m.
From Currarong village follow the local tracks along the rocky shore towards Lobster Bay (ask locally or at the Currarong store for the current access; parts of the Beecroft Peninsula are Defence land and only open when the Beecroft Weapons Range allows). Park at the nearest reserve, carry light gear to the bay and enter from the rocks or small beach.
Entry: Rock or beach entry into the sheltered bay
Facilities: None at the bay; toilets, store and parking in Currarong.
Weather, swell & tides
Described locally as protected and usually clear, Lobster Bay is sheltered from the prevailing southerlies by the peninsula. North-easterly winds and swell reduce comfort and visibility. As a shallow bay it is best at high tide and after a spell of calm weather.
Summer afternoon north-easterly sea breezes make entries choppy, so mornings are preferable, and winter westerlies often give the clearest, calmest water.
Best season: Year-round in calm conditions
How the dive is usually run
Snorkel or swim a slow loop around the bay's rocky margins at 2–6 m, checking crevices for fish and small sharks, and return to the entry.
Marine life
- Blue damsels
- reef fish
- small sharks (Port Jackson/wobbegong) →
- leatherjackets
- wrasse
- rays
Linked species have their own page listing every site where they are recorded. All marine life →
Training required
Shallow enough for snorkellers and for a first dive under supervision. Any certified diver can dive it.
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
Access across Defence land only when the Beecroft Weapons Range is open; north-easterly swell; no facilities; marine park sanctuary zone rules may apply.
Dive centres that go here
No operator; local snorkellers and divers.
Operators recorded for Lobster Bay
General area
No position has been published for Lobster Bay. The circle shows where it is likely to be, worked out from other documented sites near Currarong. Ask a local operator for the exact site.
Dashed circle: general area (about 3 km), from other documented sites near Currarong. 6 pinned sites. Pins marked approximate on their pages show the general area only; not for navigation.
Lobster Bay: frequently asked questions
How deep is Lobster Bay?
Lobster Bay reaches a maximum depth of 6 m, with the shallowest part at about 1 m; most of the dive is spent around 4 m.
What certification do I need to dive Lobster Bay?
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 Lobster Bay?
Yes. Lobster Bay is a shore dive that can be done independently: rock or beach entry into the sheltered bay.
When is the best time to dive Lobster Bay?
Year-round in calm conditions.
What marine life will I see at Lobster Bay?
Regularly recorded: Blue damsels, reef fish, small sharks (Port Jackson/wobbegong), leatherjackets, wrasse, rays.
What wetsuit do I need at Lobster Bay?
5–7 mm wetsuit with hood in summer–autumn; 7 mm semi-dry or drysuit June–October.
How cold is the water at Lobster Bay?
Typically 19-23 °C in summer and 14-17 °C in winter.
What are the main hazards at Lobster Bay?
Access across Defence land only when the Beecroft Weapons Range is open; north-easterly swell; no facilities; marine park sanctuary zone rules may apply. See the hazards section above for the full list.
Where is the nearest recompression chamber to Lobster Bay?
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 Shoalhaven Coast
Between Jervis Bay and Ulladulla, the Shoalhaven's headlands at Currarong, Culburra and Bendalong have wrecks, caves and reefs that are dived far less than their neighbours. The wreck of the Merimbula at Currarong is a shallow shore dive on a 1928 steamer, and Beecroft Peninsula's outer walls are boat dives for experienced divers.
Getting there: Two and a half hours from Sydney. Shore entries at Currarong and Bendalong; boat dives via Huskisson or Ulladulla operators.
Sources
Data confidence: Low · Being verified: Location/coordinates and access route unconfirmed.. Last updated September 2026. Know this site better? How to send a correction
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