Shelley Wide takes its name from the extensive area of rock ridges and gutters it covers off Shelly Beach, south of central Port Macquarie, and the site's defining characteristic is genuine abundance rather than any single dramatic feature — divers report it as rich in both fish and plant life across a broad stretch of moderately deep reef, generally in the eight-to-twenty-metre range. Soft and hard corals and sponges cover much of the rock surface, providing the habitat variety that in turn supports a good range of nudibranchs and other macro subjects, while the open sections between ridges give schooling reef fish room to move in numbers. Because the site covers considerably more ground than many of Port Macquarie's more compact named dives, it rewards a systematic, unhurried approach rather than trying to see everything in a single tank, and local operators sometimes return to different sections of Shelley Wide on different trips to give repeat visitors variety.

It is a solid, dependable representative of the general character of Port Macquarie's inshore reef diving — good all-round marine life, moderate depth, comfortable for intermediate divers — without the specific signature drawcard (a resident rare species, a dramatic swim-through) that defines some of the area's more individually promoted sites. This makes it a useful, flexible addition to a Port Macquarie dive schedule rather than a site specifically worth planning a trip around. Its scale also means two different groups diving it on the same day can come back with quite different highlights to report.

Boat departing Port Macquarie's Town Wharf, running south to the waters off Shelly Beach, roughly 15-20 minutes.

This stretch of coast is exposed to easterly and south-easterly swell with limited natural shelter; charters want under about 1.5 m swell and moderate wind to run safely. Visibility is best in autumn and early winter after a run of settled weather and drops noticeably after East Coast Lows and river flood outflows.

Descend onto the rock ridges and gutters off Shelly Beach and work systematically across the site's considerable area, checking the soft and hard coral and sponge cover for nudibranchs and general reef fish given the site's reputation for abundance rather than any single standout feature.

Scuba Haven (Port Macquarie) — regular boat dives, year-round, weather permitting.