Spoon Bay is a small, bush-fringed cove at the northern end of Wamberal Beach, reached by a short walk from Spoon Bay Road. Coasties Magazine includes it among the best snorkelling spots on the Central Coast, describing a sandy bay with a rocky shoreline and abundant life, while the deeper reef just offshore - called Spoon Reef by the Marine Life Network - is a boat dive in about 17 m. Muddy Puddle Diver notes that local divers began exploring the reef not far offshore in summer 2012, so it is one of the more recent additions to the Terrigal list.

The Marine Life Network describes Spoon Reef as a skill-building site with kelp cover, eastern blue devilfish and cuttlefish. That fits the pattern of Central Coast inshore reefs: a kelp canopy over sandstone ledges and boulders, with the most interesting life under the fronds and in the cracks. Blue devils are shy, vivid fish that hide in holes and are a favourite find for photographers; cuttlefish are most common in the cooler months.

Red morwong, silver sweep, mado, yellowtail and wrasse are common over the reef, and wobbegongs and Port Jackson sharks rest on the sand edges. For snorkellers, the shallow rocky edges of the cove are the attraction on calm mornings, with juvenile fish, sea urchins and seaweed gardens in a few metres of water. The beach is patrolled only seasonally and has no facilities, so it is a low-key alternative to busy Terrigal Haven.

As a scuba site, Spoon Reef is best seen as a shallow, forgiving reef for training and relaxed second dives. As a snorkelling spot it offers one of the prettier small coves between Terrigal and The Entrance.

For the boat dive, launch from Terrigal Haven and run north along Terrigal and Wamberal beaches for about 8-10 minutes; the reef is a short way off the point at the north end of Wamberal. For snorkelling, drive to the end of Spoon Bay Road, Forresters Beach/Wamberal (off Tumbi Road via The Entrance Road), park in the small street parking area and walk the short track down to the beach. Snorkel along the rocky edges of the cove; the deeper reef is too far out for a comfortable shore dive with gear.

Spoon Bay faces east and is only calm in swell under about 1 m with light westerly or southerly winds; a north-east sea breeze quickly chops it up on summer afternoons, so mornings are best. After heavy rain run-off from Wamberal Lagoon and the local catchment reduces visibility. The offshore reef follows the same limits as other Terrigal boat sites, needing swell below about 1.5 m.

Winter westerlies often produce the flattest, clearest days.

From the boat, descend to the kelp-covered reef at 12-17 m and swim a simple square pattern, checking under the kelp for cuttlefish and blue devils. Snorkellers should stay along the rocky edges of the cove inside the headland.

Terrigal operators and Terrigal Underwater Group use the reef for skills and training dives on calm days; the cove is snorkelled independently.