Dive slate · divesites.com.au · printed 7 Nov 2026
Werri Point
Wollongong & Kiama, New South Wales · near Gerringong
| Depth | 2–10 m |
|---|---|
| Minimum level | Open Water |
| Difficulty | Beginner |
| Access | Shore |
| Entry | Walk across the platform (mostly dry at low to mid tide) and enter at the water's edge |
| Current | Mild |
| Visibility | 4-10 m |
| Water | summer 19-23 °C, winter 14-17 °C |
| Suit | 5–7 mm wetsuit with hood in summer–autumn; 7 mm semi-dry or drysuit June–October |
| Best season | Winter westerlies |
| Bottom time | 50 min |
| Position | -34.74309, 150.83493 (approximate) |
| Permit | None required |
| Nearest chamber | Prince of Wales Hospital (Randwick, Sydney) – approx. 1.5 h by road from Wollongong/Shellharbour; call 000 and DAN Asia-Pacific hotline |
| Emergency | 000 · DAN Asia-Pacific diving emergency 1800 088 200 |
Werri Point
Also known as Werri Beach, Ourie Pool, Gerringong
Easy platform entry near the Ourie pool onto a shallow kelp reef with blue groper and cuttlefish.
Near Gerringong · Wollongong & Kiama, New South Wales
- Depth
- 2–10 m
- Minimum level
- Open Water
- Access
- Shore
- Boat ride
- —
- Water
- 19-23 °C
- Visibility
- 4-10 m
Werri Point2–10 m · Open Water · Shore
Dive factsDepths, conditions, location & safety
Season
Off-peak nowBest months: June, July, August.
Dive facts
- Depth
- 2–10 m
- Typical depth
- 6 m
- Certification
- Open Water
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Depth tier
- Easy (0–10 m)
- Access
- Shore
- Dive centre needed
- No – independently diveable
- Shore / independent
- Possible (experienced only)
- Current
- Mild
- Visibility
- 4-10 m
- Water temp (summer)
- 19-23 °C
- Water temp (winter)
- 14-17 °C
- Water
- Temperate
- Bottom time
- 50 min
- Dive traffic
- Rarely dived (private boat/club only)
- Night dive
- Possible
- Snorkel friendly
- Yes
Exposure suit
5–7 mm wetsuit with hood in summer–autumn; 7 mm semi-dry or drysuit June–October
Location
Gerringong · Illawarra – Kiama & Gerringong
-34.74309, 150.83493
Approximate position — not for navigation.
Open in Google MapsPrimary source: vizzbud.comMarine park & permits
None required
Nearest recompression chamber
Prince of Wales Hospital (Randwick, Sydney) – approx. 1.5 h by road from Wollongong/Shellharbour; call 000 and DAN Asia-Pacific hotline
Diving emergency: call 000, then DAN AP 1800 088 200.
Trip planner
Build a trip around Werri Point →
A day-by-day plan for Wollongong & Kiama with this site locked in.
This guide is a planning aid. Conditions change daily — confirm with a local dive centre and dive within your training. Data & safety notes.
Dive profile
How this site rates
Scores are computed from the recorded data, not opinions. How?
At a glance
Werri Point is a shore / rock platform shore dive for experienced divers in Wollongong & Kiama, NSW, 2–10 m, suited to Open Water divers.
Rated beginner: sheltered, shallow and manageable for a newly certified diver on a normal day, though note surge on the entry or in the shallows and cold water.
Why dive here
- Easy platform entry near the Ourie pool onto a shallow kelp reef with blue groper and cuttlefish.
- Snorkel-friendly, so non-diving companions can join at the surface.
- Rarely dived: expect to have the site to yourself, and plan your own logistics.
Conditions to avoid
- Strong southerly or south-east swell and wind
- Afternoon north-easterlies
- Outgoing tide or run-off after rain (poor visibility)
About Werri Point
Werri Point, at the southern end of Werri Beach in Gerringong, is a small, shallow shore site that local snorkellers and divers use on calm days. The reef begins close to the rock platform at 3–4 m and slopes to a sandy bottom at around 10 m, with kelp and broken rock providing habitat along the way.
Leatherjackets pick at the algae, eastern blue groper cruise the sand and reef edges, and cuttlefish hover near the kelp canopy. Octopus, moray eels and nudibranchs are found in the cracks, wobbegongs rest under ledges, flathead lie on the sand, and Port Jackson sharks visit in winter. Visibility is typically 4–8 m, occasionally more than 10 m on clear days.
The entry is easy by rock-platform standards: at low to mid tide the platform near the Ourie pool is mostly dry, so divers can walk right to the water's edge. The hazard is wave wash – even a moderate swell pushes water across the platform, and surge builds in the gutters – so the site should only be dived on calm days with less than 1 m of swell. Surfers use the lineup off the point, and the algae-covered rock is slippery. It is a pleasant, low-key option for divers staying in Gerringong or Kiama, a good snorkel for families, and a useful training venue on flat days, but not a destination in its own right. Divers wanting more depth or variety should head north to Kiama's Blowhole Point sites or to Bass Point, both within 25 minutes' drive, and use Werri Point for an easy second dive or a snorkel with non-diving family members on the way home.
Getting there & entry
Shallow reef off the rock platform at the southern end of Werri Beach near the Ourie ocean pool, Gerringong; reef at 3–4 m sloping to sand at about 10 m.
Gerringong is about 10 minutes south of Kiama on the Princes Highway. Follow the signs to the southern end of Werri Beach and park near the Ourie ocean pool. At low to mid tide the rock platform is mostly dry, allowing you to walk fully geared to the water's edge.
Choose a calm day with less than 1 m of swell.
Entry: Walk across the platform (mostly dry at low to mid tide) and enter at the water's edge
Facilities: Parking and ocean pool at the southern end of Werri Beach; toilets nearby; cafés in Gerringong; nearest fills at Shellharbour.
Weather, swell & tides
Kiama's reefs face east and are exposed to swell from the north-east round to the south-east; a southerly swell wraps into the northern side of Blowhole Point less than an easterly does. Shore entries over the rock platforms need a swell under about 1 m and preferably a low-to-mid tide with a predictable surge cycle. North-easterly sea breezes build on most summer afternoons, so dive early.
Visibility is typically 8–15 m, sometimes 20 m in winter westerly weather, and drops after heavy rain and big seas. Werri Point is primarily a calm-day site: wave wash across the platform is the main hazard, and surfers use the break off the point.
Best season: Winter westerlies
If it's blown out
Sheltered or shore sites within 25 km that often work when Werri Point doesn't.
- The Gutter (Bass Point) · 17 km · Max 20 m
- Bushrangers Bay · 18 km · Max 20 m
- Bass Point Gravel Loader · 18 km · Max 12 m
- Boat Harbour (Gerringong) · 0 km · Depth not published
How the dive is usually run
Enter at the platform edge, drop onto the reef at 3–4 m and follow it seaward to the sand edge at about 10 m, working along the kelp and reef margin. Return before tiring and exit between sets.
Marine life
- Leatherjackets
- eastern blue groper →
- cuttlefish →
- octopus →
- moray eels
- nudibranchs →
- wobbegongs →
- Port Jackson sharks (winter) →
- flathead
- kelp
Linked species have their own page listing every site where they are recorded. All marine life →
Training required
Shallow enough for snorkellers and for a first dive under supervision. Any certified diver can dive it.
Courses that help here
- Drysuit Diver – Cold water; locals dive dry for much of the year.
Depth tiers: 0–10 m easy · to 18 m Open Water · 18–30 m Advanced (25 m+ is a deep dive) · 30–40 m Deep specialty · 40 m+ technical. All courses
Hazards & warnings
Wave wash across the platform even in moderate swell; surge in gutters; slippery algae; surfers in the lineup.
Dive centres that go here
No regular operator; local snorkellers and divers.
Operators recorded for Werri Point
Other dive centres in Wollongong & Kiama
Shellharbour Scuba
ProfiledShellharbour · Wollongong & Kiama · NSW
A Shellharbour Village dive shop giving access to Bass Point and Bushrangers Bay, teaching SDI and TDI courses from beginner to technical levels.
shellharbourscuba.com.au · +61 2 4296 4266
United Divers
Named by sitesFairy Meadow · Wollongong & Kiama · NSW
Directory profile (22 Princes Hwy Fairy Meadow) shows trading hours but is unclaimed; the website serves an expired certificate and no dated 2025–26 activity was found.
uniteddivers.com.au · +61 2 4228 5962
Dive Near Me (formerly Windang Dive & Spearfishing)
Named by sitesWindang · Wollongong & Kiama · NSW
Now trading as Dive Near Me at the same address.
divenearme.com.au · (02) 4262 1463
Expedition Dive
Named by sitesSydney · Wollongong & Kiama · NSW
Online booking desk only, no retail shop; runs Sydney and South Coast dives.
expeditiondive.com.au · 1800 463 483
Map
7 pinned sites. Pins marked approximate on their pages show the general area only; not for navigation.
Satellite views


Werri Point: frequently asked questions
How deep is Werri Point?
Werri Point reaches a maximum depth of 10 m, with the shallowest part at about 2 m; most of the dive is spent around 6 m.
What certification do I need to dive Werri Point?
Open Water is the recommended minimum. Rated beginner: sheltered, shallow and manageable for a newly certified diver on a normal day, though note surge on the entry or in the shallows and cold water.
Can I shore dive Werri Point?
Experienced divers do dive Werri Point from the shore, but the entry or conditions make it unsuitable for newer divers without local guidance. Entry: Walk across the platform (mostly dry at low to mid tide) and enter at the water's edge.
When is the best time to dive Werri Point?
Winter westerlies.
What marine life will I see at Werri Point?
Regularly recorded: Leatherjackets, eastern blue groper, cuttlefish, octopus, moray eels, nudibranchs, wobbegongs, Port Jackson sharks (winter), flathead, kelp.
What wetsuit do I need at Werri Point?
5–7 mm wetsuit with hood in summer–autumn; 7 mm semi-dry or drysuit June–October.
How cold is the water at Werri Point?
Typically 19-23 °C in summer and 14-17 °C in winter.
What are the main hazards at Werri Point?
Wave wash across the platform even in moderate swell; surge in gutters; slippery algae; surfers in the lineup. See the hazards section above for the full list.
Where is the nearest recompression chamber to Werri Point?
Prince of Wales Hospital (Randwick, Sydney) – approx. 1.5 h by road from Wollongong/Shellharbour; call 000 and DAN Asia-Pacific hotline. In an emergency call 000, then DAN Asia-Pacific on 1800 088 200.
Diving in Wollongong & Kiama
Between Sydney and the Shoalhaven the Illawarra coast has a quiet collection of shore reefs, rock platforms and boat dives. Bass Point at Shellharbour is the standout, a marine reserve with the Gutter, the Arch and a resident population of blue gropers and Port Jackson sharks; Kiama's Cathedral Rocks and Bushrangers Bay are also worth the drive.
Getting there: Ninety minutes south of Sydney. Bass Point and Bushrangers Bay have car parks and rock or beach entries; Wollongong and Shellharbour shops run occasional boat dives.
All Wollongong & Kiama dive sites and a suggested itinerary →
Sources
Data confidence: Low · Being verified: Single source.. Last updated September 2026. Know this site better? How to send a correction
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