New South Wales · 9 sites
Merimbula dive sites
Merimbula has the Pinnacles, a boat dive with towering rock formations, sponges and schooling fish, and the Merimbula Wharf, a shallow, sheltered shore dive under the pier that is a local favourite for octopus, seahorses and night diving. The Empire Gladstone wreck lies just to the south near Haycock Point.
- Sites
- 9
- Wrecks
- 1
- Shore
- 3
- Boat
- 4
- Beginner
- 4
- Deepest
- 35 m
Conditions outlook · Late September – October 2026
Written 27 September 2026Merimbula's wharf and the Tathra wharf are diveable on most calm mornings in 13–14 °C water; the offshore reefs and the Empire Gladstone wreck wait for a flat day and a boat. Fur seals and, in October, passing humpbacks.
Getting there
Six hours from Sydney or a flight to Merimbula. A local dive shop runs boat dives; the wharf is a walk-in shore dive with parking.
When to go
Calm periods year-round; autumn is most reliable.
Water & suit
Summer 18–20 °C · winter 12–14 °C. 7 mm wetsuit with hood and gloves, or drysuit, for most of the year; 5 mm only in late summer
Nearest chamber: Prince of Wales Hospital Hyperbaric Unit (Randwick, Sydney)
Most recorded marine life in Merimbula
- Leatherjackets 9
- Blue groper 7
- Yellowtail 7
- Kelp 6
- Port jackson sharks 6
- Sponges 5
- Wobbegongs 5
- Bream 4
- Stingrays 4
- Sweep 4
- Weedy sea dragons 4
- Wrasse 4
- Octopus 3
- Red morwong 3
The most-dived sites in Merimbula
Suggested trip
A 3-day dive trip to Merimbula
Built from the sites in this region: an easy start, the signature dives, then something deeper or further. Swap days around the weather; the site pages say which winds and swell close each one.
Build your own Merimbula plan: pick days, level and must-dive sites →Day 1 · Settle in
Start with Merimbula's easier shore dives: check your weighting, get used to the water temperature and dive the sheltered side of the coast.
- Merimbula WharfJetty/Pier · Max 16 m · Open Water
- Bar Beach (Merimbula)Shore/Rock Platform · Max 10 m · Snorkel/Any
Day 2 · The signature dives
A charter day on the sites people travel to Merimbula for, including SS Empire Gladstone.
- SS Empire GladstoneWreck · Max 12 m · Open Water
- Wonderland (Merimbula)Reef · Max 35 m · Deep/Advanced + experience
Day 3 · Deeper or further
For divers with the certification and the weather: the deeper walls, pinnacles or less-visited sites of Merimbula.
- Pambula River MouthDrift · Max 6 m · Open Water
- Tura HeadReef · Depth not published · Open Water
Dive centres and charters in Merimbula
All New South Wales operators →Operators recorded as running sites in this region. Each profile lists the specific sites it goes to.
Dive Eden
ProfiledConfirmed Sept 2026
Eden · Merimbula · NSW
An Eden operator running boat, wreck, wharf and cave dives around Twofold Bay, with Try Scuba to Advanced courses and studio accommodation near Cocora Beach.
diveeden.com.au · 0410 026 990
DestinationCharterTraining6 services23 sites
Sapphire Coast Scuba
ProfiledConfirmed Sept 2026
Eden · Merimbula · NSW
An Eden-based operation offering PADI Open Water training, guided dives for certified divers, equipment hire and air fills.
sapphirecoastscuba.com · 0488 519 316
TrainingDestinationPADI3 services16 sites
Wilderness Sea n' Ski
ListedConfirmed Sept 2026
Liverpool · Sydney South & Botany Bay · NSW
A far south coast business providing equipment and dive services. Range and training availability require verification.
wilderness.net.au · (02) 9822 4112
RetailTraining2 services
Merimbula Divers Lodge
Reported closedMerimbula · Merimbula · NSW
An SSI dive centre with its own accommodation, classroom, shop, air and Nitrox and a purpose-built boat, running small classes on the far south coast.
Full serviceDestinationTrainingSSI13 services31 sites
Map of Merimbula dive sites
Click a pin for the site. 2 sites without published coordinates are not shown.
Loading map…
7 pinned sites. Pins marked approximate on their pages show the general area only; not for navigation.
All 9 Merimbula dive sites
All Merimbula sites at a glance
9 sites in Merimbula · click a column to sort
| Bar Beach (Merimbula) | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 10 m | Snorkel/Any | Shore | Occasional |
| Haycock Point | Reef | Max 18 m | Open Water | Boat | Occasional |
| Merimbula Wharf | Jetty/Pier | Max 16 m | Open Water | Shore | Daily |
| Pambula River Mouth | Drift | Max 6 m | Open Water | Shore | Rare |
| Short Point (Merimbula) | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 12 m | Open Water | Shore | Occasional |
| Short Point Bommie | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 20 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Occasional |
| SS Empire Gladstone | Wreck | Max 12 m | Open Water | Boat | Weekly |
| Tura Head | Reef | Depth not published | Open Water | Shore or Boat | Rare |
| Wonderland (Merimbula) | Reef | Max 35 m | Deep/Advanced + experience | Boat | Occasional |
Merimbula diving FAQ
How do I get to the dive sites in Merimbula?
Six hours from Sydney or a flight to Merimbula. A local dive shop runs boat dives; the wharf is a walk-in shore dive with parking.
When is the best time to dive Merimbula?
Calm periods year-round; autumn is most reliable.
How many dive sites are there in Merimbula?
9 documented sites, including 1 wreck and 3 that can be dived independently from the shore. The deepest reaches 35 m.
Are there beginner dive sites in Merimbula?
Yes, 4 sites are rated beginner. Look for the green Beginner tag in the list below, and check the weather notes on each page before diving.
How cold is the water in Merimbula?
Typically 18–20 °C in summer and 12–14 °C in winter. Most divers wear 7 mm wetsuit with hood and gloves, or drysuit, for most of the year; 5 mm only in late summer.
Which dive centres operate in Merimbula?
Dive Eden, Sapphire Coast Scuba, Wilderness Sea n' Ski, Merimbula Divers Lodge are recorded as running sites in Merimbula. Each site page lists the operators known to go there.
Where is the nearest recompression chamber to Merimbula?
Prince of Wales Hospital Hyperbaric Unit (Randwick, Sydney). In an emergency call 000, then DAN Asia-Pacific on 1800 088 200.
Other regions in New South Wales