New South Wales · 19 sites
Port Macquarie & Camden Haven dive sites
Port Macquarie's reefs are a step down in fame from Fish Rock and Forster but not in quality. The Cod Hole and the Pinnacle off Tacking Point have grey nurse sharks and big schools of fish; the Coral Reef off Camden Haven is a genuine subtropical hard-coral patch; and the Wreck of the Ellenborough, a 1901 collier in 46 m, suits deep divers.
- Sites
- 19
- Wrecks
- 2
- Shore
- 1
- Boat
- 13
- Beginner
- 6
- Deepest
- 46 m
Conditions outlook · Late September – October 2026
Written 27 September 2026Autumn–winter clarity is holding into spring: 18 °C, grey nurse sharks still at the Cod Grounds and the Pinnacles, and the shore dives at Flynns and Shelly working on westerly mornings.
Getting there
Four hours north of Sydney or a one-hour flight. Charters run from Port Macquarie's marina; Flynns and Shelly beaches are sheltered shore snorkels.
When to go
Autumn and winter for the clearest water.
Water & suit
Summer 22-25 °C · winter 17-20 °C. 3-5 mm steamer summer; 5-7 mm full suit or semi-dry winter
Nearest chamber: Prince of Wales Hospital (Randwick, Sydney) — John Hunter Hospital Newcastle has no recompression chamber
Most recorded marine life in Port Macquarie & Camden Haven
- Nudibranchs 5
- Temperate reef fish 4
- Rays 3
- Sponges 3
- Wobbegong sharks 3
- Bait fish schools 2
- Invertebrates 2
- Jewfish 2
- Moray eels 2
- Occasional grey nurse sharks 2
- Occasional rays 2
- Pelagic fish 2
- Reef fish 2
- Sea spiders 2
Plan a dive trip to Port Macquarie & Camden Haven →Find your diveCompare the top 4 side by sideNew diver? Start here
The most-dived sites in Port Macquarie & Camden Haven
Suggested trip
A 3-day dive trip to Port Macquarie & Camden Haven
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 Port Macquarie & Camden Haven plan: pick days, level and must-dive sites →Day 1 · Settle in
Start with Port Macquarie & Camden Haven's easier shore dives: check your weighting, get used to the water temperature and dive the sheltered side of the coast.
- Port Macquarie Breakwall / Town Beach shore diveShore/Rock Platform · Max 9 m · Open Water
- Port Macquarie – Tacking Point / Nobbys reefsReef · Max 16 m · Open Water
Day 2 · The signature dives
A charter day on the sites people travel to Port Macquarie & Camden Haven for, including the main wreck.
- Cod GroundsPinnacle/Bommie · Max 46 m · Technical (decompression)
- The Cod Hole (Port Macquarie)Pinnacle/Bommie · Max 18 m · Open Water
Day 3 · Deeper or further
For divers with the certification and the weather: the deeper walls, pinnacles or less-visited sites of Port Macquarie & Camden Haven.
- Laurieton – Perpendicular PointReef · Max 30 m · Advanced Open Water
- The Wall (Port Macquarie)Wall · Max 25 m · Advanced Open Water
Dive centres and charters in Port Macquarie & Camden Haven
All New South Wales operators →Operators recorded as running sites in this region. Each profile lists the specific sites it goes to.
Map of Port Macquarie & Camden Haven dive sites
Click a pin for the site. 8 sites without published coordinates are not shown.
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11 pinned sites. Pins marked approximate on their pages show the general area only; not for navigation.
All 19 Port Macquarie & Camden Haven dive sites
All Port Macquarie & Camden Haven sites at a glance
19 sites in Port Macquarie & Camden Haven · click a column to sort
| Barry's Bay (Port Macquarie) | Reef | Max 20 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Occasional |
| Bird Rock (Port Macquarie) | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 13 m | Open Water | Boat | Weekly |
| Bonnie's Reef & Cathie Wall (Camden Haven) | Reef | Max 20 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Rare |
| Cod Grounds | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 46 m | Technical (decompression) | Boat | Weekly |
| Crowdy Head reefs | Reef | Max 22 m | Advanced Open Water | Shore or Boat | Rare |
| Laurieton – Grants Head | Reef | Max 15 m | Open Water | Shore or Boat | Rare |
| Laurieton – Perpendicular Point | Reef | Max 30 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Occasional |
| Mermaid Reef (Camden Haven) | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 30 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Rare |
| Old Faithful (Camden Haven) | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 25 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Rare |
| Port Macquarie – Flynns Beach & Shelly Beach shore/snorkel | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 8 m | Snorkel/Any | Shore | Rare |
| Port Macquarie – Lighthouse Beach reef | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 10 m | Snorkel/Any | Shore | Rare |
| Port Macquarie – Tacking Point / Nobbys reefs | Reef | Max 16 m | Open Water | Shore or Boat | Occasional |
| Port Macquarie Artificial Reef | Artificial Reef | Max 24 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Occasional |
| Port Macquarie Breakwall / Town Beach shore dive | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 9 m | Open Water | Shore | Occasional |
| Shelley Wide (Port Macquarie) | Reef | Max 20 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Occasional |
| The Cod Hole (Port Macquarie) | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 18 m | Open Water | Boat | Occasional |
| The Titan (Camden Haven wreck) | Wreck | Max 40 m | Deep/Advanced + experience | Boat | Rare |
| The Wall (Port Macquarie) | Wall | Max 25 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Occasional |
| Yabbies (Camden Haven) | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 33 m | Deep/Advanced + experience | Boat | Rare |
Port Macquarie & Camden Haven diving FAQ
How do I get to the dive sites in Port Macquarie & Camden Haven?
Four hours north of Sydney or a one-hour flight. Charters run from Port Macquarie's marina; Flynns and Shelly beaches are sheltered shore snorkels.
When is the best time to dive Port Macquarie & Camden Haven?
Autumn and winter for the clearest water.
How many dive sites are there in Port Macquarie & Camden Haven?
19 documented sites, including 2 wrecks and 1 that can be dived independently from the shore. The deepest reaches 46 m.
Are there beginner dive sites in Port Macquarie & Camden Haven?
Yes, 6 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 Port Macquarie & Camden Haven?
Typically 22-25 °C in summer and 17-20 °C in winter. Most divers wear 3-5 mm steamer summer; 5-7 mm full suit or semi-dry winter.
Which dive centres operate in Port Macquarie & Camden Haven?
Scuba Haven Port Macquarie are recorded as running sites in Port Macquarie & Camden Haven. Each site page lists the operators known to go there.
Where is the nearest recompression chamber to Port Macquarie & Camden Haven?
Prince of Wales Hospital (Randwick, Sydney) — John Hunter Hospital Newcastle has no recompression chamber. In an emergency call 000, then DAN Asia-Pacific on 1800 088 200.
Other regions in New South Wales