The Hole is the deep sibling of Burrill Rocks, a large wall about 400 m east of the rocks that Michael McFadyen describes as one of the more spectacular deep reefs off Ulladulla. The reef top is at 25–26 m and on its eastern side it drops to 32–33 m, running north-east to south-west. Large boulders sit at the base of the wall, giving way to smaller rocks and then sand further out. The boulders form small overhangs, caves and swim-throughs, and several small canyons and gullies cut into the wall.

The name comes from a hole-and-tunnel feature described in local dive guides. The Marine Life Network describes a small hole about 2 m wide in an indentation in the reef (the Amphitheatre) that leads into a small cave. McFadyen admits he had trouble finding it, and plenty of divers enjoy the site without ever seeing it. The draw is the invertebrate growth that comes with the depth: sponges including a species that looks blue at depth but turns brilliant crimson under a torch, large numbers of small gorgonians, dense clusters of sea squirts and black coral trees, which are unusual this shallow in NSW. Fish include big schools of yellowtail and silver sweep, bastard (Tasmanian) trumpeter, one-spot pullers and eastern blue devilfish.

This is a deep dive with limited bottom time. On air, divers get only about 15–17 minutes before decompression, so it suits Advanced or Deep-certified divers who plan their gas, use a computer and preferably nitrox. It pairs well with a shallower second dive on Burrill Rocks, a few hundred metres away. Visibility is usually good this far from shore, which shows off the colour of the wall. Photographers should bring a strobe or torch to see the real colours.

Boat access only. Charters and private boats launch from the public ramp inside Ulladulla Harbour, reached off the Princes Highway in the centre of Ulladulla (about three hours' drive south of Sydney); there is trailer parking around the harbour and the dive shop is a short walk away. From the harbour mouth run south past Warden Head for about 4 km, 10–15 minutes, to Burrill Rocks and then continue about 400 m east into deeper water.

Use GPS and sounder to find the reef top at 25–26 m (McFadyen's mark is WGS84; other datums can put you around 220 m off). Anchor on the reef rather than the sand so divers descend directly onto structure.

Exposed to south, south-east and east swell like the rest of the Burrill Rocks group. The depth puts divers below most surge, but anchoring in 25–26 m and recovering divers is hard work in anything over about 1.5 m of swell or 15 knots of wind. Current is common and makes finding the anchor line at the end of a deep, short dive important; carry a surface marker.

Best on a calm westerly morning. Visibility is generally better here than on the shallower inshore reefs but falls after heavy rain when Burrill Lake is open.

Descend the line to the reef top at 25 m, then head to the eastern edge and follow the north-east/south-west wall along the base at 30–32 m, checking the boulders and small caves at its foot. McFadyen found 15–17 minutes of no-decompression time on air; nitrox helps. Turn early, come back along the wall top at 25 m to the line and ascend it, with a safety stop on the line.

Nitrox (EAN28–30) extends bottom time usefully. Decompression-trained divers sometimes extend the dive but most charters run it as a no-deco dive.

Dived occasionally by Dive Adventures Ulladulla for experienced and deep-certified divers when conditions suit; otherwise visiting Sydney dive clubs and private boats from Ulladulla Harbour. Not a routine weekly site.