The Nursery is the most sheltered dive at the Jervis Bay entrance and the site where many Jervis Bay divers did their first open-water dives. It lies on the inside of the north-western corner of Bowen Island, protected by the island from southerly swell, and is typically dived when the sea is rough elsewhere. Moorings south of the point are used because anchoring appears to be prohibited.

The reef is modest in structure – small walls and isolated rock formations with many small cracks – ranging from 6–9 m on the reef to 3–5 m on top, with the mooring area at 12–14 m. What makes it special is the fish. McFadyen calls it some of the most impressive fish life he has seen anywhere: dense schools of yellowtail and striped seapike, luderick and bream in big numbers, and swarms of one-spot pullers around every rock. Weedy sea dragons, cuttlefish and blue groper are also regularly seen, and Deep 6 describes the sandy bottom with rock formations throughout as ideal for Open Water certification.

The shallow depth allows long bottom times, and the recommended approach is simply to take it slowly and let the fish come to you. It also makes an excellent night dive. In large swells waves can break on the point, and operators may then moor further off. Bowen Island is part of Booderee National Park and a sanctuary zone – no take of anything, and no landing on the island, which hosts a little penguin colony. For beginners, photographers and anyone wanting a relaxed, fish-filled dive, The Nursery is hard to beat.

Charters depart Huskisson (Dive Jervis Bay; boats in Currambene Creek), about 15–20 minutes across the bay to Bowen Island. Private boats can launch at the Murrays Beach ramp in Booderee National Park (park entry fee; ramp faces Bowen Island, 5 minutes away) or at Huskisson/Callala. Run to the inside of the north-western corner of Bowen Island and pick up a mooring south of the point (anchoring appears to be prohibited here) at about 35° 06.757' S 150° 45.981' E, in 12–14 m.

Bowen Island shelters the southern side of the Jervis Bay entrance. The inside and north-western corner (Nursery, Aztec, North Bowen) are protected from southerly swell and are often the only diveable sites when big southerlies close the outer coast, although waves can break on the points in large seas. The eastern and southern faces are exposed to south-easterly and southerly swell and want under about 1.5 m.

An outgoing tide can produce strong current around the island's points. Visibility typically 10–20 m.

Descend the mooring to 12–14 m and follow the small walls of the reef in either direction, weaving through the isolated rocks and cracks at 6–9 m. Finish on the 3–5 m reef top watching the schools. Take your time – the fish are the dive.

Dive Jervis Bay (Huskisson; boats Avalon and Genesis) runs double boat dives most days, and Deep 6 Diving Jervis Bay / other Huskisson operators also visit; site chosen on the day according to swell and wind. The Nursery is the go-to site for Open Water training and bad-weather days.