FISH ROCK CAVE
|
| Type of dive: |
|
Reef |
| Snorkelling: |
|
No, too deep! |
| Scuba: |
|
Open Water (Advanced recommended) |
| Access: |
|
Boat only (30 minutes) |
| Depth: |
|
9 – 30 metres (30-100’) |
| Visibility: |
|
15 – 30 metres (50-100’) |
| Water temperature: |
|
20 – 25°C (68-77°F) |
| Seasonal: |
|
No, can visit anytime |
Australia’s famous Fish Rock Cave is an aggregation site and critical habitat for docile and protected grey nurse sharks.
Located on the mid-north coast of New South Wales off Smokey Cape, a short two-kilometre (just over a mile) boat ride from shore, both Fish Rock and nearby Green Island are both are aggregation sites and critical habitats for the docile and protected grey nurse shark, Carcharias Taurus, an endangered species.
Grey nurse populations are now on the rise after their numbers were drastically reduced to only several hundred by commercial fishing and spearfishing prior to their protection in 1984.
Fish Rock is a great place for a close up-and-personal interaction with these graceful, slow-moving docile sharks.
Fish Rock Cave is a 125 metre (400’) long tunnel, or swim through, that penetrates Fish Rock in a roughly east-west direction.
There is a shallow entrance at 12 metres (40’) where divers can see beautiful gorgonian fan coral, and a deep entrance at 24 metres (80’) where grey nurse sharks can be found.
Grey nurse sharks often encountered in quite large numbers. Sometimes more than ten!
Inside the cave, there are two ‘bubble’ caves at a depth of around five metres (15’) where divers can have a brief conversation.
A torch is essential because about 80 metres (260’) of the cave is out of the light zone and care must be taken to avoid offshoots that lead nowhere.
The cave is teeming with fish and the walls are covered in soft coral.
Around the rock there is abundant fish life as a result of the prevailing currents providing nutrients to the area and the sponge gardens around Fish Rock provide shelter for colourful sea stars, delicate nudibranchs, intriguing cuttlefish, banded sea perch and red rockcod.
It is not unusual to see wobbegongs, black rays, cuttlefish and turtles.
Strong currents can be avoided with adequate planning, or taken advantage of by drift diving.
In the winter months, humpback whales are common to the area and an in-water encounter on the way to the dive site is not unusual.
Copyright © 2024 Steve Sinclair
Other great dive sites to visit while you are there:
The Pinnacle, Black Rock, Green Island, Bait Reef and Lady’s Reef.
Local dive services:
|
|
FISH ROCK DIVE CENTRE |
|
|
SOUTH WEST ROCKS DIVE CENTRE |
Other services:
|
|
Need somewhere to eat & drink? |
 |
BLAST EXPERIENCES |
OTHER INFORMATION
LOCATION
State or Territory:
New South Wales
Nearest City:
Sydney/Brisbane
Nearest Regional City:
Port Macquarie/Coffs Harbour
Nearest Town:
South West Rocks
HOW TO GET THERE
Air:
Nearest International Airport:
Sydney/Brisbane
Nearest Domestic/Regional Airport:
Port Macquarie/Coffs Harbour
Road:
Sydney to South West Rocks:
Just over 5 hours (455 km/280 mi) via Pacific Motorway and Pacific Highway/A1
Brisbane to South West Rocks:
Just over 6 hours (495 km/310 mi) via Pacific Motorway and Pacific Highway/A1
Bus:
From Sydney and Brisbane
Train:
From Sydney and Brisbane to Kempsey then bus
Ferry:
Not relevant
THINGS TO DO
Smoky Cape Lighthouse
Trial Bay Gaol
Maritime Museum South West Rocks
Bush Walking
Surfing