Dive slate · divesites.com.au · printed 7 Nov 2026
Pretty Beach (Murramarang)
Ulladulla, New South Wales · near Kioloa
| Depth | 2–10 m |
|---|---|
| Minimum level | Open Water |
| Difficulty | Beginner |
| Access | Shore |
| Entry | Walk-in from the beach to the rocky reef at either end |
| Current | None |
| Visibility | 5–12 m m |
| Water | summer 19–22 °C °C, winter 13–16 °C °C |
| Suit | 7 mm wetsuit with hood most of the year (5 mm adequate Feb–Apr); semi-dry or drysuit and gloves Jul–Oct |
| Best season | Summer and autumn in calm conditions |
| Bottom time | 60 min |
| Position | -35.56800, 150.37200 (approximate) |
| Permit | Batemans Marine Park – check current zoning map (sanctuary and habitat protection zones occur along the Murramarang coast); Murramarang National Park vehicle entry fee |
| Nearest chamber | Prince of Wales Hospital Hyperbaric Unit (Randwick, Sydney) |
| Emergency | 000 · DAN Asia-Pacific diving emergency 1800 088 200 |
Pretty Beach (Murramarang)
Also known as Pretty Beach Kioloa
Easy, sheltered beach dive and night dive in Murramarang National Park.
Near Kioloa · Ulladulla, New South Wales
- Depth
- 2–10 m
- Minimum level
- Open Water
- Access
- Shore
- Boat ride
- Shore entry
- Water
- 19–22 °C
- Visibility
- 5–12 m
Pretty Beach (Murramarang)2–10 m · Open Water · Shore
Dive factsDepths, conditions, location & safety
Season
Off-peak nowBest months: January, February, March, April, May, December.
Dive facts
- Depth
- 2–10 m
- Typical depth
- 6 m
- Certification
- Open Water
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Depth tier
- Easy (0–10 m)
- Access
- Shore
- Dive centre needed
- No – independently diveable
- Shore / independent
- Yes
- Current
- None
- Visibility
- 5–12 m
- Water temp (summer)
- 19–22 °C
- Water temp (winter)
- 13–16 °C
- Water
- Temperate
- Bottom time
- 60 min
- Dive traffic
- Rarely dived (private boat/club only)
- Night dive
- Yes
- Snorkel friendly
- Yes
Exposure suit
7 mm wetsuit with hood most of the year (5 mm adequate Feb–Apr); semi-dry or drysuit and gloves Jul–Oct
Location
Murramarang coast (Kioloa – Durras) · Ulladulla – Mollymook & Bawley Point
-35.56800, 150.37200
Approximate position — not for navigation.
Open in Google MapsPrimary source: marinelife.org.auMarine park & permits
Batemans Marine Park – check current zoning map (sanctuary and habitat protection zones occur along the Murramarang coast); Murramarang National Park vehicle entry fee
Nearest recompression chamber
Prince of Wales Hospital Hyperbaric Unit (Randwick, Sydney)
Diving emergency: call 000, then DAN AP 1800 088 200.
Trip planner
Build a trip around Pretty Beach (Murramarang) →
A day-by-day plan for Ulladulla 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
Pretty Beach (Murramarang) is a shore / rock platform shore dive you can do independently in Ulladulla, NSW, 2–10 m, suited to Open Water divers.
Rated beginner: sheltered, shallow and manageable for a newly certified diver on a normal day, though note surge on the entry or in the shallows and cold water.
Why dive here
- Easy, sheltered beach dive and night dive in Murramarang National Park.
- Commonly dived at night, when octopus, cuttlefish and crustaceans are out.
- 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 Pretty Beach (Murramarang)
Pretty Beach is a small, sheltered beach in Murramarang National Park, a short drive south of Kioloa. It has an NPWS campground and day-use area behind it and is popular with families and kangaroos. The Marine Life Network lists it as a shore dive of 6–10 m, describing it as an easier alternative to the more exposed Murramarang points and a great night dive.
The beach is flanked by rocky reef that runs out into the bay. The reef has kelp and crayweed in the shallows, boulders and ledges, and patches of sand and seagrass. Common fish include blue groper, luderick, eastern rock blackfish, silver sweep, leatherjackets and wrasse, with stingrays and flathead on the sand. Octopus, cuttlefish, sea hares and nudibranchs are regular finds, and at night the reef comes alive with crabs, shrimps and hunting octopus. Weedy sea dragons live in kelp on this coast.
The site suits beginners, snorkellers and night divers. Entry is simple from the beach, and depths never get beyond about 10 m. Because it is in a national park with a campground, it is a convenient base for a weekend of diving on the Murramarang coast, including boat dives at Brush Island or the Batemans Bay sites. Published information on the underwater layout is limited, so explore conservatively on the first dive. The water is part of the Batemans Marine Park, so check zoning before fishing or collecting. Being a sheltered beach, it also makes a good first dive of a trip to check weights and gear before heading out on a boat.
Getting there & entry
Sheltered beach and rocky ends at Pretty Beach in Murramarang National Park south of Kioloa; 6–10 m of reef, a good easy dive and night dive.
From the Princes Highway south of Ulladulla, turn off towards Kioloa and follow the signs to Pretty Beach in Murramarang National Park (park entry fee applies; the NPWS campground is beside the beach). Park in the day-use area behind the beach. It is a short walk across the sand to the water, and divers usually enter at the beach and swim to the reef at one end.
There are no facilities for divers beyond the campground amenities.
Entry: Walk-in from the beach to the rocky reef at either end
Facilities: NPWS campground with toilets and showers, day-use parking; kiosk at Kioloa; air fills at Ulladulla or Batemans Bay.
Weather, swell & tides
The beach is more sheltered than the nearby points, which is why the Marine Life Network recommends it as the easier option, but it is still open to easterly and south-easterly swell. Dive with less than about 1 m of swell. North-easterly afternoon winds in summer chop the surface and reduce visibility.
A good night dive on calm evenings. Visibility can drop after heavy rain.
Best season: Summer and autumn in calm conditions
If it's blown out
Sheltered or shore sites within 25 km that often work when Pretty Beach (Murramarang) doesn't.
- Pebbly Beach (Murramarang) · 6 km · Max 10 m
- Bawley Point · 6 km · Max 13 m
- Dolphin Point · 20 km · Max 12 m
How the dive is usually run
Enter from the beach near the rocks, swim out on the surface a short distance and descend on the reef edge. Follow the reef along the sand at 6–10 m, turn at half gas and return shallower, finishing close to the beach.
Marine life
- Blue groper →
- luderick
- eastern rock blackfish
- silver sweep
- leatherjackets
- wrasse
- stingrays
- flathead
- octopus →
- cuttlefish →
- sea hares
- nudibranchs →
- weedy sea dragons →
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
- Night Diver – Commonly dived at night.
- 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
Swell and surge in easterly or south-easterly seas. Park entry fee. No dive services nearby.
Dive centres that go here
No scheduled operator; listed by the Marine Life Network as an easier Murramarang alternative. Campers and visiting divers dive it independently.
Operators recorded for Pretty Beach (Murramarang)
Beneath the Bay
Named by sitesBatemans Bay · Batemans Bay · NSW
Boat-based dive/snorkel charter; departs Hanging Rock boat ramp.
beneaththebay.com.au · 0405 838 957
Dive Adventures Ulladulla
Named by sitesUlladulla · Ulladulla · NSW
Official site live (PADI 5 Star, 6 Aroo Rd Ulladulla); listing updated June 2026, though no dated 2025–26 reviews seen.
diveadventuresulladulla.com.au · (02) 4455 3029
Map
7 pinned sites. Pins marked approximate on their pages show the general area only; not for navigation.
Satellite views


Pretty Beach (Murramarang): frequently asked questions
How deep is Pretty Beach (Murramarang)?
Pretty Beach (Murramarang) reaches a maximum depth of 10 m, with the shallowest part at about 2 m; most of the dive is spent around 6 m.
What certification do I need to dive Pretty Beach (Murramarang)?
Open Water is the recommended minimum. Rated beginner: sheltered, shallow and manageable for a newly certified diver on a normal day, though note surge on the entry or in the shallows and cold water.
Can I shore dive Pretty Beach (Murramarang)?
Yes. Pretty Beach (Murramarang) is a shore dive that can be done independently: walk-in from the beach to the rocky reef at either end.
When is the best time to dive Pretty Beach (Murramarang)?
Summer and autumn in calm conditions.
What marine life will I see at Pretty Beach (Murramarang)?
Regularly recorded: Blue groper, luderick, eastern rock blackfish, silver sweep, leatherjackets, wrasse, stingrays, flathead, octopus, cuttlefish, sea hares, nudibranchs and more.
What wetsuit do I need at Pretty Beach (Murramarang)?
7 mm wetsuit with hood most of the year (5 mm adequate Feb–Apr); semi-dry or drysuit and gloves Jul–Oct.
How cold is the water at Pretty Beach (Murramarang)?
Typically 19–22 °C in summer and 13–16 °C in winter.
What are the main hazards at Pretty Beach (Murramarang)?
Swell and surge in easterly or south-easterly seas. See the hazards section above for the full list.
Can you night dive Pretty Beach (Murramarang)?
Yes, Pretty Beach (Murramarang) is commonly dived at night.
Diving in Ulladulla
Ulladulla is the quiet middle of the south coast, with the Lighthouse Reef and the Bommie off Warden Head, the Burrill Rocks, and a series of gutters and caves that hold grey nurse sharks and eastern blue devils. It is dived mainly by locals and Canberra clubs.
Getting there: Three hours south of Sydney. A local dive shop runs charters from the harbour; the Ulladulla harbour breakwall is a sheltered shore dive.
Sources
Data confidence: Low · Being verified: Coordinates approximate.. Last updated September 2026. Know this site better? How to send a correction
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