New South Wales · 35 sites
Newcastle & Lake Macquarie dive sites
Newcastle's diving is wrecks and reef ledges. The coast between Nobbys and Swansea is littered with colliers and steamers, the SS Oakland and the Commodore among them, and the Swansea Bridge channel is a fast drift dive on the incoming tide. Moon Island and the Admiralty off Swansea Heads have grey nurse sharks, and the artificial reef off Newcastle is developing steadily.
- Sites
- 35
- Wrecks
- 16
- Shore
- 5
- Boat
- 20
- Beginner
- 9
- Deepest
- 55 m
Conditions outlook · Late September – October 2026
Written 27 September 2026Spring westerlies clear the Newcastle shore sites and the water sits at 16–17 °C; the offshore wrecks (Osprey, Sygna area) need a calm day and a charter. Late summer to autumn is the clearest season, so treat October as a shoulder with good mornings.
Getting there
Two hours north of Sydney. Charters leave from Newcastle Harbour and Swansea; the Swansea channel and Caves Beach are shore dives.
When to go
Late summer to autumn; the offshore wrecks need low swell and are often blown out in winter southerlies.
Water & suit
Summer 20-23 °C · winter 14-17 °C. 5 mm steamer/full suit in summer; 7 mm semi-dry or drysuit June-October
Nearest chamber: Prince of Wales Hospital (Randwick, Sydney)
Most recorded marine life in Newcastle & Lake Macquarie
- Bullseyes 12
- Wobbegong sharks 12
- Bream 11
- Luderick 11
- Yellowtail 11
- Leatherjackets 8
- Sponges 8
- Port jackson sharks 7
- Flathead 6
- Kingfish 6
- Octopus 6
- Silver sweep 6
- Nannygai 5
- Rays 5
Plan a dive trip to Newcastle & Lake Macquarie →Find your diveCompare the top 4 side by sideNew diver? Start here
The most-dived sites in Newcastle & Lake Macquarie
Suggested trip
A 3-day dive trip to Newcastle & Lake Macquarie
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 Newcastle & Lake Macquarie plan: pick days, level and must-dive sites →Day 1 · Settle in
Start with Newcastle & Lake Macquarie's easier shore dives: check your weighting, get used to the water temperature and dive the sheltered side of the coast.
- Merewether Reef (The Mowie Hole)Reef · Max 15 m · Open Water
- Swansea BridgeDrift · Max 12 m · Open Water
Day 2 · The signature dives
A charter day on the sites people travel to Newcastle & Lake Macquarie for, including the main wreck.
- The Temple (Moon Island)Cave/Cavern · Max 20 m · Advanced Open Water
- Big Ben (Newcastle)Reef · Max 24 m · Advanced Open Water
Day 3 · Deeper or further
For divers with the certification and the weather: the deeper walls, pinnacles or less-visited sites of Newcastle & Lake Macquarie.
- North Reef (Newcastle)Wall · Max 27 m · Advanced Open Water
- SS Bonnie Dundee wreckWreck · Max 36 m · Deep/Advanced + experience
Dive centres and charters in Newcastle & Lake Macquarie
All New South Wales operators →Operators recorded as running sites in this region. Each profile lists the specific sites it goes to.
Dive Newcastle
ProfiledConfirmed Sept 2026
Beresfield · Port Stephens · NSW
A Beresfield dive superstore teaching RAID courses, with air fills, servicing, rental and a large scuba, freediving and spearfishing range.
neptunesports.com.au · (02) 4966 4900
Full serviceTrainingRetailRAID7 services28 sites
Grey Nurse Charters
ProfiledConfirmed Sept 2026
Nelson Bay · Port Stephens · NSW
A PADI-registered dive boat running charters around Port Stephens, Newcastle and Swansea, with PADI courses to Divemaster and TecRec.
greynurse.com.au · 0408 633 793
CharterDestinationPADI9 services23 sites
Feet First Dive
ProfiledConfirmed Sept 2026
Nelson Bay · Port Stephens · NSW
A Nelson Bay SSI centre running Broughton Island boat dives and Port Stephens shore dives, with rebreather and Extended Range training.
feetfirstdive.com.au · (02) 4984 2092
Full serviceTrainingCharterSSI13 services18 sites
Dive Swansea
ProfiledConfirmed Sept 2026
Swansea · Port Stephens · NSW
An SSI Instructor Training Center 60 metres from the Swansea Bridge shore dive, with boat trips to Moon Island and rebreather and Extended Range training.
diveswansea.com.au · (02) 4972 0940
Full serviceTrainingTechnicalSSI11 services
Pro Dive Central Coast
Named by sitesConfirmed Sept 2026
Killarney Vale · Central Coast · NSW
Independent SSI centre (formerly Central Coast Divers), not part of the PRO DIVE Sydney chain.
prodivecentralcoast.com.au · (02) 4389 3483
33 sites
Norah Head Divers Depot
Named by sitesUnconfirmed
Norah Head · Central Coast · NSW
No trace of any business by this name at Norah Head.
11 sites
Aqua Zero Dive Centre
Named by sitesUnconfirmed
Swansea · Newcastle & Lake Macquarie · NSW
Only a Facebook page and an unclaimed directory entry (76 Pacific Hwy Swansea) found, no dated recent activity; Swansea's active shop today is Dive Swansea.
+61 2 4972 0266
7 sites
Map of Newcastle & Lake Macquarie dive sites
Click a pin for the site. 14 sites without published coordinates are not shown.
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21 pinned sites. Pins marked approximate on their pages show the general area only; not for navigation.
All 35 Newcastle & Lake Macquarie dive sites
All Newcastle & Lake Macquarie sites at a glance
35 sites in Newcastle & Lake Macquarie · click a column to sort
| 55-metre Crane Barge (Newcastle) | Wreck | Max 55 m | Technical (decompression) | Boat | Expedition |
| Admiralty (Moon Island) | Reef | Max 18 m | Open Water | Boat | Occasional |
| Adolphe wreck (Stockton Breakwall) | Wreck | Max 8 m | Open Water | Shore or Boat | Rare |
| Big Ben (Newcastle) | Reef | Max 24 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Weekly |
| Blacksmiths Shallows | Reef | Max 7 m | Open Water | Boat | Occasional |
| Catherine Hill Bay shore dives | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 9 m | Open Water | Shore | Occasional |
| Desoto Inlet Drift | Drift | Max 16 m | Advanced Open Water | Shore or Boat | Occasional |
| Flagstaff / Moon Island Bay (Swansea Heads) | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 8 m | Open Water | Shore | Occasional |
| LVT-4A amphibious tank (Stockton Beach) | Wreck | Max 33 m | Deep/Advanced + experience | Boat | Rare |
| Merewether Ocean Baths shore dive | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 9 m | Open Water | Shore | Weekly |
| Merewether Reef (The Mowie Hole) | Reef | Max 15 m | Open Water | Shore or Boat | Weekly |
| New Arch (Moon Island) | Reef | Max 24 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Occasional |
| Newcastle Ocean Baths shore dive | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 9 m | Open Water | Shore | Weekly |
| Newcastle Offshore Artificial Reef (Blacksmiths) | Artificial Reef | Max 28.5 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Occasional |
| North Reef (Newcastle) | Wall | Max 27 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Weekly |
| Pelican Foreshore (Lake Macquarie) | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 15 m | Open Water | Shore | Occasional |
| PS Commodore wreck | Wreck | Max 36 m | Deep/Advanced + experience | Boat | Rare |
| PS Yarra Yarra wreck | Wreck | Max 15 m | Open Water | Boat | Occasional |
| SS Advance wreck (Catherine Hill Bay) | Wreck | Max 49 m | Technical (decompression) | Boat | Rare |
| SS Bonnie Dundee wreck | Wreck | Max 36 m | Deep/Advanced + experience | Boat | Occasional |
| SS Byron wreck (Redhead) | Wreck | Max 40 m | Technical (decompression) | Boat | Expedition |
| SS Davenport wreck (Stockton) | Wreck | Max 12 m | Open Water | Boat | Occasional |
| SS Irresistible wreck | Wreck | Max 26 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Occasional |
| SS Osprey wreck | Wreck | Max 42 m | Technical (decompression) | Boat | Rare |
| SS Shamrock wreck (Catherine Hill Bay) | Wreck | Max 6 m | Open Water | Shore | Rare |
| Stockton Breakwall wrecks | Wreck | Max 8 m | Open Water | Shore or Boat | Rare |
| SV Berbice wreck (Stockton Beach) | Wreck | Max 5 m | Open Water | Shore or Boat | Rare |
| SV Durisdeer wreck (Stockton Beach) | Wreck | Max 5 m | Open Water | Shore or Boat | Rare |
| Swansea Bridge | Drift | Max 12 m | Open Water | Shore | Weekly |
| Swansea Channel West Drift | Drift | Max 14 m | Open Water | Shore | Occasional |
| Swansea Coal Loader / SS Wallarah remains | Wreck | Max 11 m | Open Water | Shore | Occasional |
| The Arch, Moon Island | Reef | Max 20 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Rare |
| The Limestones (Newcastle) | Reef | Max 23 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Weekly |
| The Temple (Moon Island) | Cave/Cavern | Max 20 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Weekly |
| Under the Tube (Moon Island) | Wall | Max 22 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Weekly |
Newcastle & Lake Macquarie diving FAQ
How do I get to the dive sites in Newcastle & Lake Macquarie?
Two hours north of Sydney. Charters leave from Newcastle Harbour and Swansea; the Swansea channel and Caves Beach are shore dives.
When is the best time to dive Newcastle & Lake Macquarie?
Late summer to autumn; the offshore wrecks need low swell and are often blown out in winter southerlies.
How many dive sites are there in Newcastle & Lake Macquarie?
35 documented sites, including 16 wrecks and 5 that can be dived independently from the shore. The deepest reaches 55 m.
Are there beginner dive sites in Newcastle & Lake Macquarie?
Yes, 9 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 Newcastle & Lake Macquarie?
Typically 20-23 °C in summer and 14-17 °C in winter. Most divers wear 5 mm steamer/full suit in summer; 7 mm semi-dry or drysuit June-October.
Which dive centres operate in Newcastle & Lake Macquarie?
Dive Newcastle, Grey Nurse Charters, Feet First Dive, Dive Swansea, Pro Dive Central Coast, Norah Head Divers Depot and others are recorded as running sites in Newcastle & Lake Macquarie. Each site page lists the operators known to go there.
Where is the nearest recompression chamber to Newcastle & Lake Macquarie?
Prince of Wales Hospital (Randwick, Sydney). In an emergency call 000, then DAN Asia-Pacific on 1800 088 200.
Other regions in New South Wales