The northern side of Bass Point Island, known to many as Lou's Reef, is a straightforward and fish-rich multilevel dive a few minutes from Shellharbour Marina. Near the sand at about 26 m the reef is a gently sloping series of rocks; closer to the island it forms more vertical walls. East of the usual anchorage the reef runs another 25 m before turning north, where the walls become steeper. To the south the reef rises to a shallow area of 10–12 m cut by many small cracks running north–south.

The cracks are the highlight of the second half of the dive, holding sweep, one-spot pullers, black reef leatherjackets, bream and drummer, and in winter Port Jackson sharks rest in them in numbers. Over the deeper reef large schools of yellowtail, ladder-finned pomfret and silver drummer are regular, and the walls are covered in sponges and gorgonians like the other outer Bass Point reefs. Some operators also report sunfish, dolphins and seals in season.

The depth range makes the site suitable for Advanced divers who want to start deep and finish with a long, relaxed shallow section, and it is often combined with the southern side of the island or with the bommie on a two-dive trip. The origin of the name 'Lou's Reef' is not recorded in the main sources. Because the island shelters its northern face from southerly swell, this is often the pick of the outer reefs on days when the southern sites are rough. Its short distance from the marina also makes it a practical choice for divers with small private boats.

Launch from the Shellharbour Marina boat ramp (Shellharbour Village; trailer parking and toilets), about 105 km and 1.5 hours south of central Sydney. Head east out of the harbour and around Bass Point; Bass Point Island is the small island off the tip of the point, about 4 km (10 minutes) from the ramp. Anchor off its northern side at 34° 35.756' S 150° 54.431' E in about 23 m (a mooring was once maintained here).

Bass Point juts well out to sea south of Shellharbour, so its outer reefs take swell from the north-east through to the south. Boat dives here want a swell under about 1.5 m and moderate winds; in a south-easterly the outer sites become rough very quickly, and the short run from Shellharbour Marina means operators can come back in if conditions build. Westerly winds in late autumn and winter give the best flat seas and clearest water, often 15–20 m.

Visibility drops after big seas stir the sand and after heavy rain. The northern side of the island offers some lee in southerly swell.

Head east from the anchor along the sand edge at about 26 m for 25 m until the reef turns north and becomes steeper. Return shallower along the bottom of the wall, then finish in the 10–12 m zone to the south, working the north–south cracks for fish.

Shellharbour Scuba and Photography Centre runs boat dives around Bass Point from Shellharbour Marina when numbers allow; United Divers (Fairy Meadow) and Sydney-based operators such as Expedition Dive run occasional charters; most other visits are private and club boats.