New South Wales · 37 sites
Wollongong & Kiama dive sites
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.
- Sites
- 37
- Wrecks
- 2
- Shore
- 6
- Boat
- 16
- Beginner
- 10
- Deepest
- 36 m
Conditions outlook · Late September – October 2026
Written 27 September 2026Bass Point, the Gravel Loader and the Bushrangers Bay reserve work on westerly mornings with 15–16 °C water. The Kiama and Wollongong charters run to the grey nurse gutters at the Islands; seals are on the Five Islands. Afternoon nor'easters return in October.
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.
When to go
Autumn and winter on westerly winds, when the exposed rock platforms flatten out.
Water & suit
Summer 19-23 °C · winter 14-17 °C. 5–7 mm wetsuit with hood in summer–autumn; 7 mm semi-dry or drysuit June–October
Nearest chamber: Prince of Wales Hospital (Randwick, Sydney) – approx. 1.5 h by road from Wollongong/Shellharbour; call 000 and DAN Asia-Pacific hotline
Most recorded marine life in Wollongong & Kiama
- Sponges 22
- Bream 14
- Leatherjackets 14
- Yellowtail 14
- Gorgonians 13
- One-spot pullers 13
- Moray eels 12
- Nudibranchs 12
- Kelp 11
- Blue groper 10
- Cuttlefish 10
- Striped seapike 10
- Port jackson sharks 8
- Weedy sea dragons 8
Plan a dive trip to Wollongong & Kiama →Find your diveCompare the top 4 side by sideNew diver? Start here
The most-dived sites in Wollongong & Kiama
Suggested trip
A 3-day dive trip to Wollongong & Kiama
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 Wollongong & Kiama plan: pick days, level and must-dive sites →Day 1 · Settle in
Start with Wollongong & Kiama's easier shore dives: check your weighting, get used to the water temperature and dive the sheltered side of the coast.
- Bushrangers BayShore/Rock Platform · Max 20 m · Advanced Open Water
- The Gutter (Bass Point)Shore/Rock Platform · Max 20 m · Advanced Open Water
Day 2 · The signature dives
A charter day on the sites people travel to Wollongong & Kiama for, including SS Bombo.
- Martin IslandWall · Max 30 m · Advanced Open Water
- SS BomboWreck · Max 32 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 Wollongong & Kiama.
- The Arch (Bass Point)Reef · Max 26 m · Advanced Open Water
- Pig Island – South EastReef · Max 25 m · Advanced Open Water
Dive centres and charters in Wollongong & Kiama
All New South Wales operators →Operators recorded as running sites in this region. Each profile lists the specific sites it goes to.
Shellharbour Scuba
ProfiledConfirmed Sept 2026
Shellharbour · 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
Full serviceTrainingTechnicalSDITDI7 services1 site
Shellharbour Scuba and Photography Centre
Named by sitesConfirmed Sept 2026
Shellharbour · Wollongong & Kiama · NSW
shellharbourscuba.com.au · (02) 4296 4266
28 sites
United Divers
Named by sitesUnconfirmed
Fairy 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
26 sites
Dive Near Me (formerly Windang Dive & Spearfishing)
Named by sitesConfirmed Sept 2026
Windang · Wollongong & Kiama · NSW
Now trading as Dive Near Me at the same address.
divenearme.com.au · (02) 4262 1463
6 sites
Expedition Dive
Named by sitesConfirmed Sept 2026
Sydney · Wollongong & Kiama · NSW
Online booking desk only, no retail shop; runs Sydney and South Coast dives.
expeditiondive.com.au · 1800 463 483
4 sites
Map of Wollongong & Kiama dive sites
Click a pin for the site. 1 sites without published coordinates are not shown.
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36 pinned sites. Pins marked approximate on their pages show the general area only; not for navigation.
All 37 Wollongong & Kiama dive sites
All Wollongong & Kiama sites at a glance
37 sites in Wollongong & Kiama · click a column to sort
| Afghan Reef | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 18 m | Open Water | Shore | Occasional |
| Austinmer | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 12 m | Open Water | Shore | Rare |
| Bass Point Bommie | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 25 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Occasional |
| Bass Point Gravel Loader | Jetty/Pier | Max 12 m | Open Water | Shore | Daily |
| Bass Point Island South | Wall | Max 32 m | Deep/Advanced + experience | Boat | Occasional |
| Bellambi Point | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 17 m | Open Water | Shore | Rare |
| Blind Shark Reef | Reef | Max 15 m | Open Water | Boat | Rare |
| Blue Devil Cave | Cave/Cavern | Depth not published | Open Water | Shore or Boat | Occasional |
| Blue Pool (Carrington Falls) | Freshwater Lake/River | Max 4 m | Open Water | Shore | Rare |
| Boat Harbour (Gerringong) | Shore/Rock Platform | Depth not published | Snorkel/Any | Shore | Rare |
| Bushrangers Bay | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 20 m | Advanced Open Water | Shore | Daily |
| Cathedral Rocks (Kiama Downs) | Shore/Rock Platform | Depth not published | Open Water | Shore | Rare |
| Coal Cliff | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 15 m | Open Water | Shore | Rare |
| Flagstaff Point | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 12 m | Open Water | Shore | Occasional |
| Hump One | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 36 m | Deep/Advanced + experience | Boat | Rare |
| Hump Wall | Wall | Max 34 m | Deep/Advanced + experience | Boat | Rare |
| Kiama Gutter | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 17 m | Open Water | Shore | Occasional |
| Lous Reef – Bass Point Island North | Reef | Max 26 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Occasional |
| Martin Island | Wall | Max 30 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Weekly |
| Pig Island – North East | Reef | Max 26 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Occasional |
| Pig Island – South East | Reef | Max 25 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Occasional |
| Rons Wall | Wall | Max 29 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Occasional |
| Sandon Point | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 6 m | Snorkel/Any | Shore | Rare |
| Slipper Reef | Wall | Max 29 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Occasional |
| SS Bombo | Wreck | Max 32 m | Deep/Advanced + experience | Boat | Occasional |
| SS Cities Service Boston | Wreck | Depth not published | Open Water | Shore or Boat | Rare |
| The Arch (Bass Point) | Reef | Max 26 m | Advanced Open Water | Shore or Boat | Occasional |
| The Gutter (Bass Point) | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 20 m | Advanced Open Water | Shore | Daily |
| The Gutter Sponge Gardens | Reef | Max 23 m | Advanced Open Water | Shore | Weekly |
| The Olgas | Reef | Max 24 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Rare |
| Toothbrush Island Cave | Cave/Cavern | Max 16 m | Open Water | Boat | Occasional |
| Toothpaste | Wall | Max 24 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Occasional |
| Towradgi Point | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 15 m | Open Water | Shore | Rare |
| Werri Point | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 10 m | Open Water | Shore | Rare |
| Windang Island | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 12 m | Open Water | Shore or Boat | Rare |
| Wollongong Harbour | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 10 m | Open Water | Shore | Occasional |
| Wollongong Offshore Artificial Reef | Artificial Reef | Max 32 m | Deep/Advanced + experience | Boat | Rare |
Wollongong & Kiama diving FAQ
How do I get to the dive sites in Wollongong & Kiama?
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.
When is the best time to dive Wollongong & Kiama?
Autumn and winter on westerly winds, when the exposed rock platforms flatten out.
How many dive sites are there in Wollongong & Kiama?
37 documented sites, including 2 wrecks and 6 that can be dived independently from the shore. The deepest reaches 36 m.
Are there beginner dive sites in Wollongong & Kiama?
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 Wollongong & Kiama?
Typically 19-23 °C in summer and 14-17 °C in winter. Most divers wear 5–7 mm wetsuit with hood in summer–autumn; 7 mm semi-dry or drysuit June–October.
Which dive centres operate in Wollongong & Kiama?
Shellharbour Scuba, Shellharbour Scuba and Photography Centre, United Divers, Dive Near Me (formerly Windang Dive & Spearfishing), Expedition Dive are recorded as running sites in Wollongong & Kiama. Each site page lists the operators known to go there.
Where is the nearest recompression chamber to Wollongong & Kiama?
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.
Other regions in New South Wales