New South Wales · 21 sites
South West Rocks dive sites
Fish Rock is on every serious Australian diver's list. A 125 m cave runs right through the island, opening in 24 m on one side and 12 m on the other, and both entrances are grey nurse shark gutters; outside are walls, pinnacles and turtles. Black Rock and Green Island are the other regulars, and the deep reefs off Smoky Cape reach 87 m for technical divers.
- Sites
- 21
- Wrecks
- 1
- Shore
- 5
- Boat
- 16
- Beginner
- 10
- Deepest
- 87 m
Conditions outlook · Late September – October 2026
Written 27 September 2026Fish Rock is in its clearest season: autumn and winter westerlies, 18–19 °C water, grey nurse sharks in the gutters and the cave open on most calm days. Spring swell can close the site for a few days at a time; the boats run daily when it drops.
Getting there
Five hours north of Sydney. Two dive operators in South West Rocks run Fish Rock most days from the Back Creek boat ramp; it is a 15-minute ride in open water.
When to go
Year-round; winter and spring for the biggest shark numbers, autumn for warmth and visibility. Fish Rock is often blown out by southerly swell.
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 South West Rocks
- Wobbegongs 7
- Kingfish 5
- Moray eels 5
- Grey nurse sharks 4
- Lionfish 4
- Silver sweep 4
- Black coral trees 3
- Cuttlefish 3
- Giant queensland groper 3
- Green and loggerhead turtles 3
- Ladder-finned pomfret 3
- Clownfish and anemones 2
- Eagle rays 2
- Gorgonians 2
Plan a dive trip to South West Rocks →Find your diveCompare the top 4 side by sideNew diver? Start here
The most-dived sites in South West Rocks
Suggested trip
A 3-day dive trip to South West Rocks
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 South West Rocks plan: pick days, level and must-dive sites →Day 1 · Settle in
Start with South West Rocks's easier shore dives: check your weighting, get used to the water temperature and dive the sheltered side of the coast.
- Bait Reef (Trial Bay)Reef · Max 10 m · Open Water
- Gaol Reef / Turtle Wall (Trial Bay)Shore/Rock Platform · Max 10 m · Snorkel/Any
Day 2 · The signature dives
A charter day on the sites people travel to South West Rocks for, including the main wreck.
- Fish Rock CaveCave/Cavern · Max 25 m · Advanced Open Water
- Fish Rock – Shark GuttersReef · Max 30 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 South West Rocks.
- Fish Rock – The AquariumReef · Max 30 m · Advanced Open Water
- Fish Rock – The PinnaclePinnacle/Bommie · Max 35 m · Deep/Advanced + experience
Dive centres and charters in South West Rocks
All New South Wales operators →Operators recorded as running sites in this region. Each profile lists the specific sites it goes to.
Fish Rock Dive Centre
ProfiledConfirmed Sept 2026
South West Rocks · South West Rocks · NSW
A South West Rocks operation running regular Fish Rock and Fish Rock Cave trips from a 12-metre purpose-built vessel, with Nitrox supplied and PADI training.
fishrock.com.au · 0432 050 409
DestinationCharterTrainingPADI5 services19 sites
South West Rocks Dive Centre
ProfiledConfirmed Sept 2026
South West Rocks · South West Rocks · NSW
A family-run South West Rocks operation that has run daily charters to Fish Rock since 1980, including the 125-metre cave traverse.
swrdive.com.au · (02) 6566 6474
DestinationCharterTraining7 services18 sites
Map of South West Rocks dive sites
Click a pin for the site. 4 sites without published coordinates are not shown.
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17 pinned sites. Pins marked approximate on their pages show the general area only; not for navigation.
All 21 South West Rocks dive sites
All South West Rocks sites at a glance
21 sites in South West Rocks · click a column to sort
| Bait Reef (Trial Bay) | Reef | Max 10 m | Open Water | Shore or Boat | Weekly |
| Black Rock (South West Rocks) – Northern Side | Reef | Max 16 m | Open Water | Boat | Occasional |
| Black Rock (South West Rocks) – Southern Side | Reef | Max 20 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Occasional |
| Fish Rock – Colorado Pass | Drift | Max 37 m | Deep/Advanced + experience | Boat | Occasional |
| Fish Rock – Fish and Chips | Reef | Max 35 m | Deep/Advanced + experience | Boat | Occasional |
| Fish Rock – Fish Bommies | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 32 m | Deep/Advanced + experience | Boat | Occasional |
| Fish Rock – Land of Giants | Reef | Max 40 m | Deep/Advanced + experience | Boat | Rare |
| Fish Rock – Larry's Ledge & Outside Shark Gutter | Reef | Max 20 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Weekly |
| Fish Rock – Shark Gutters | Reef | Max 30 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Daily |
| Fish Rock – The Aquarium | Reef | Max 30 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Daily |
| Fish Rock – The Pinnacle | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 35 m | Deep/Advanced + experience | Boat | Weekly |
| Fish Rock – The Wall | Wall | Max 40 m | Deep/Advanced + experience | Boat | Occasional |
| Fish Rock Cave | Cave/Cavern | Max 25 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Daily |
| Gaol Reef / Turtle Wall (Trial Bay) | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 10 m | Snorkel/Any | Shore or Boat | Weekly |
| Green Island (South West Rocks) | Island | Max 18 m | Open Water | Boat | Weekly |
| Ladies Reef (South West Rocks) | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 10 m | Open Water | Shore | Weekly |
| MV Fairwind wreck | Wreck | Max 87 m | Technical (decompression) | Boat (multi-day/liveaboard) | Rare |
| Nambucca Heads – Bolwarra / V-Wall shore dive | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 10 m | Open Water | Shore | Rare |
| Nambucca Heads offshore reef | Reef | Max 22 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Rare |
| The Wall at Smoky Cape | Wall | Max 28 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Rare |
| Trial Bay shore sites — Little Bay, Gap Beach, Horseshoe Bay & Front Beach | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 8 m | Snorkel/Any | Shore | Occasional |
South West Rocks diving FAQ
How do I get to the dive sites in South West Rocks?
Five hours north of Sydney. Two dive operators in South West Rocks run Fish Rock most days from the Back Creek boat ramp; it is a 15-minute ride in open water.
When is the best time to dive South West Rocks?
Year-round; winter and spring for the biggest shark numbers, autumn for warmth and visibility. Fish Rock is often blown out by southerly swell.
How many dive sites are there in South West Rocks?
21 documented sites, including 1 wreck and 5 that can be dived independently from the shore. The deepest reaches 87 m.
Are there beginner dive sites in South West Rocks?
Yes, 10 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 South West Rocks?
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 South West Rocks?
Fish Rock Dive Centre, South West Rocks Dive Centre are recorded as running sites in South West Rocks. Each site page lists the operators known to go there.
Where is the nearest recompression chamber to South West Rocks?
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