The Plateau is an advanced drift dive at Montague Island. The Marine Life Network describes it as just east of the seal colony, where the currents are quite strong, suitable for experienced divers attempting drift dives, with a boulder-strewn bottom and abundant marine life, at about 33 m.

Drifting over the plateau gives a fast-moving view of boulders and rock covered in sponges, gorgonians and sea squirts. The current brings in plankton and the fish that feed on it: schools of yellowtail, silver sweep and one-spot pullers, with kingfish, trevally and bonito hunting them. Blue groper and red morwong shelter among the boulders, and seals from the colony often dart through. Grey nurse sharks, which aggregate on the northern side of the island in summer, may also be seen.

This is a site for experienced divers only. The combination of depth (around 30 m), strong current and open water means divers need good buoyancy, the ability to deploy an SMB at depth, and experience with live-boat pick-ups. It should only be done with an operator who knows the current patterns. Published detail is limited to the Marine Life Network's summary; there is no GPS. The dive can be exhilarating on the right day but is unforgiving of mistakes. Divers new to drift diving should build experience on gentler drifts, such as Lighthouse Wall at Ulladulla, first. Operators will only run it when they are confident of tracking the group and may cancel at short notice if the current is too strong or the surface too rough to see SMBs. Each diver should carry their own SMB and ideally an audible signalling device.

Boat access only. Narooma Charters leaves from the Narooma town wharf on Wagonga Inlet (about 25 minutes to the island) and Underwater Safaris from Narooma marina; private boats launch at the Apex Park or Bar Beach ramps inside the inlet. Every trip crosses the Narooma bar, one of the most dangerous on the NSW coast, so departures depend on bar conditions; Bermagui harbour (about 24 km by sea) is the fallback launch point.

The Plateau is just east of the seal colony at the northern end of the island; the boat drops divers up-current and follows their SMBs.

Montague Island is about 9 km offshore and fully exposed, but operators can usually find a sheltered side. The main limit is the Narooma bar, which closes in moderate easterly or southerly swell, especially on a run-out tide, so trips are often delayed or cancelled. Currents are strongest around the northern and eastern sides.

The Plateau is defined by current, which the Marine Life Network describes as quite strong east of the seal colony. It needs a competent live-boat operator and seas calm enough to spot SMBs.

Enter up-current as a group, descend quickly to the plateau at 25–30 m and drift over the boulders. Keep together, monitor depth and no-decompression time, and ascend as a group on an SMB for pick-up.

Nitrox helpful; plan conservatively as ascent point is unpredictable.

Listed by the Marine Life Network for experienced divers attempting drift dives; run occasionally by Narooma operators.