The Shoalhaven Offshore Artificial Reef was deployed by NSW DPI in February 2015 about 4.3 km north-east of the Shoalhaven River mouth, off Culburra Beach. It consists of 20 purpose-built concrete modules arranged in five clusters of four, with a combined volume of about 1,600 cubic metres, on sand at 33 m.

Like the other offshore artificial reefs along the NSW coast, it was built to create fish habitat for recreational anglers. DPI lists kingfish, trevally, snapper, morwong, tailor, salmon and mulloway as species frequenting the site, and advises anglers to watch the current direction to find where baitfish congregate. After a decade on the bottom, the modules can be expected to carry encrusting sponges, ascidians and algae and to shelter leatherjackets, morwong and other reef fish, although dive reports from this reef are scarce.

For divers it offers a compact, structured site in open sand at recreational-deep depths, with a good chance of schooling pelagics. The logistics require care: the Crookhaven bar can be dangerous, the site is exposed, and the reef is fished heavily, so lost lines and hooks are an entanglement hazard. Visibility is affected by the Shoalhaven River plume after rain. It suits Advanced divers with a capable boat, and could be combined with the offshore Sir John Young Banks on an exceptional day, or with a shallower dive along the coast. Details of the current state of growth are not published, so confidence is moderate. Water temperatures here range from about 15 °C in winter to 22–23 °C in late summer.

Launch at the Crookhaven Heads boat ramp (one of the region's largest; trailer parking and toilets) and cross the Crookhaven bar with care. Run about 4.3 km north-east of the Shoalhaven River mouth to the NSW DPI mark 34° 50.955' S 150° 47.731' E (WGS84), about 10–15 minutes. Drop a shot beside a module cluster rather than anchoring into the modules, and keep a crew member aboard because the site is in open water off a river bar.

An open-water site off Culburra exposed to swell from the north-east through south; it needs swell under about 1.5 m and a safe Crookhaven bar – the bar breaks in easterly swell and on the ebb, and should be crossed near high tide. Visibility is reduced after heavy rain when the Shoalhaven River flood plume spreads along the coast. Current can run when the East Australian Current is strong.

Winter westerlies give the flattest seas.

Descend the shot to a module cluster at about 33 m, circle the modules and, visibility permitting, move to the neighbouring cluster before returning to the shot for a slow ascent and safety stop.

EAN28 suits the 30–33 m profile (check MOD); carry a DSMB.

No regular dive operator – a fishing reef visited occasionally by private dive boats.