Australia’s 50 Great Dives index

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NGUTHUNGULLI – JULIAN ROCKS

Byron Bay, NSW

Type of dive:

Reef

Snorkelling:

Yes, amazing fish life!

Scuba:

Open Water

Access:

Boat only (10 minutes)

Depth:

6 – 24 metres (20-80’)

Visibility:

5 – 30 metres (15-100’)

Water temperature:

18 – 26°C (65-79°F)

Seasonal:

No, can visit anytime

According to Bundjalung-Arakwal Dreamtime, Nguthungulli was the Creator.

After Nguthungilli created the land and water around Byron Bay, he went to rest in an ocean cave (Julian Rocks) just 2.5 kilometres (1.5 mi) off Cape Byron, Australian mainland’s eastern most point.

Captain Cook named the Creator’s resting place Julian Rocks on his discovery voyage in 1770.

The rocks were formed by a volcanic eruption over 20 million years ago and the barren granite rocks, just a short ten-minute boat ride from the beach at Byron Bay, are now part of the Cape Byron Marine Park hosting dozens of dive sites.

The Julian Rocks Nature Reserve, a 1,500 square metre (0.4 ac) sanctuary zone, now protects an abundance of marine life.

Above water, the rocks provide nesting rookeries for a great variety of seabird and underwater, a mixture of warm tropical and cool temperate water supports a unique array of underwater life.

Nguthungulli – Julian Rocks supports over 1000 marine species including over 500 species of fish, both tropical and temperate, and a myriad of invertebrate life including a huge range of coral. Exquisite long fronds black coral can be found in deeper water around the rocks.

The underwater terrain at the rocks includes caves, walls, pinnacles, trenches, and an incredible array of rock structures, all teaming with marine life.

Large schools of sweetlips and bullseyes are always present, and sighting one of the huge resident Queensland gropers is not unusual.

Dive sites are literally a minefield of wobbegongs, where three species can be found everywhere; on the bottom, on top of the coral and on the rocks.

Endangered grey nurse sharks and humpback whales visit the rocks during the winter months while mantra rays and leopard sharks visit in the summer months.

The currents attract huge schools of pelagic fish including mulloway (locally known as Jewfish), yellowtail kingfish, barracuda, snapper, tailor and mackerel.

There are dozens of great dive sites to choose from with depths varying from six metres (20’) to around 24 metres (80’).

Nguthungulli – Julian Rocks is suitable for all levels of scuba ability, not to mention the great snorkelling!

Special thanks to Simone Caprodossi of Sun Dive.
Copyright © 2024 Steve Sinclair

OTHER GREAT DIVES WHILE IN THE AREA
Cod Hole, Nursery, Needles, Hugo’s Trench and Elwood’s Trench.

2026 GREAT AUSTRALIAN DIVE CHALLENGE
Dive Registration
There is no preferred dive services provider, to register this dive for validation, go to: www.50greatdives.com.