North Bowen Island is one of Jervis Bay's most versatile dives. Bowen Island forms the southern side of the bay entrance, and its northern face is protected from southerly winds and seas, making this the one outer anchorage that is often available when the rest of the coast is closed by a southerly blow.

The dive combines depth and shallow structure. From an anchorage in about 20 m the sand edge is met at around 24 m, with boulder fields extending up to 30 m from the main reef and depths beyond 27 m past the boulders. The bottom is small boulders with kelp, giving way to sand with larger scattered boulders. Closer to the island, huge boulders create small canyons and swim-throughs in 5–10 m, with multiple caves and overhangs – the most enjoyable part of the dive for many.

Weedy sea dragons are a highlight, with up to ten recorded on one dive. Squid, kingfish, leatherjackets, yellowtail, one-spot pullers, striped seapike, bream, luderick and blackfish are common, and large rays glide over the sand. Deep 6 also describes a Bowen Island multilevel site where oceanic sunfish visit cleaning stations. The profile suits Open Water divers who stay in the shallows as well as Advanced divers who start on the deeper boulders. The island is part of Booderee National Park and a sanctuary zone, and landing on it is prohibited because of its little penguin colony. Because it is so often the only outer site available in southerly weather, it can be busy with several boats on the same day; tow an SMB when surfacing away from the anchor line.

Charters depart Huskisson (Dive Jervis Bay; boats in Currambene Creek), about 15–20 minutes across the bay to Bowen Island. Private boats can launch at the Murrays Beach ramp in Booderee National Park (park entry fee; ramp faces Bowen Island, 5 minutes away) or at Huskisson/Callala. Run to the northern side of Bowen Island (35° 06.739' S 150° 46.187' E) and anchor in about 20 m.

Jervis Bay is about 180 km (2.5–3 hours) south of Sydney by road.

Bowen Island shelters the southern side of the Jervis Bay entrance. The inside and north-western corner (Nursery, Aztec, North Bowen) are protected from southerly swell and are often the only diveable sites when big southerlies close the outer coast, although waves can break on the points in large seas. The eastern and southern faces are exposed to south-easterly and southerly swell and want under about 1.5 m.

An outgoing tide can produce strong current around the island's points. Visibility typically 10–20 m. North Bowen is often the only protected outer anchorage in big southerly seas.

Descend to the sand edge at about 24 m and explore the boulder field out to 27–30 m, then work back towards the island into the shallow reef at 5–10 m, threading through the canyons, caves and swim-throughs under the huge boulders.

Dive Jervis Bay (Huskisson; boats Avalon and Genesis) runs double boat dives most days, and Deep 6 Diving Jervis Bay / other Huskisson operators also visit; site chosen on the day according to swell and wind.