Tiger Reef is a small but spread-out reef at the Tollgate Islands, close to Occy Point on the sheltered western side of the group. Spirit Divers described it as a great little dive site that is actually quite large, with the option of staying around the anchor line or heading by compass towards Occy Point. Its maximum depth is 13 m and it is rated Easy for Open Water divers, suitable for day and night dives in most conditions. Divers are told to keep an eye out for the dragons hiding in the kelp.

The reef is covered by a canopy of kelp over boulders and low rock, with sand patches between. Weedy sea dragons are the headline species; they are well camouflaged and move slowly through the kelp, so the key is to swim slowly and look carefully. The kelp also shelters leatherjackets, wrasse, sweep and small reef fish, while octopus, nudibranchs and sea stars live on the rock beneath. Blue groper patrol the reef, and wobbegongs and eastern blue devilfish hide under ledges. As part of the Tollgate Islands sanctuary zone, the fish populations are healthy.

The site suits Open Water divers, snorkellers from the boat on flat days and photographers looking for sea dragons. It works well as a second dive after Dragon Rock, as it is shallow and close by. It is not a dramatic site, but it is peaceful and full of life. There is no published GPS for the reef, so coordinates here are approximate.

Boat access only. Beneath the Bay leaves from the Hanging Rock ramp in Batemans Bay and runs out to the Tollgate Islands in the middle of the bay, about 10–15 minutes; private boats also use the ramps at Batehaven, Wimbie Beach and Mosquito Bay (Lilli Pilli). There is no shore access – the islands are a nature reserve and landing is not permitted.

Tiger Reef lies close enough to Occy Point that divers can navigate between the two by compass.

The Tollgate Islands sit in the middle of Batemans Bay and act as a windbreak, so some side of the group is usually diveable – the Abyss guide notes you will almost always get a dive in whatever direction the weather comes from. Tiger Reef is on the sheltered side of the group near Occy Point and, according to Spirit Divers, suits most conditions. Only strong westerlies, big easterly swells wrapping around the islands or heavy rain (which floods the bay with brown water from the Clyde River) make it poor.

Stay near the anchor and search the kelp for sea dragons, or take a compass heading towards Occy Point and explore along the way, returning on the reciprocal. Keep to 8–12 m for a long, relaxed dive.

Spirit Divers listed Tiger Reef as an Easy site (13 m, day and night, most conditions). Beneath the Bay rotates dive sites around the Tollgate Islands and can include it.