JERVIS BAY
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| Type of dive: |
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Reef |
| Snorkelling: |
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Yes, there are dozens of great sites! |
| Scuba: |
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Open Water |
| Access: |
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Boat only (30-45 minutes) |
| Depth: |
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5 – 40 metres (15-130’) |
| Visibility: |
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10 – 25 metres (30-80’) |
| Water temperature: |
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14 – 24°C (57-75°F) |
| Seasonal: |
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No, can visit anytime |
A ‘Mecca’ for Sydney and Canberra scuba divers since the early 1970’s.
Jervis Bay is just under three hours by road from both Sydney to the north and Canberra to the west, and has dozens of top-quality all-weather dives sites to suit both beginners and the more experienced alike.
Jervis Bay is a territory of the Commonwealth of Australia, handed over by the New South Wales Government in 1915 to give Australia’s national capital, Canberra, residents access to the ocean.
In 1971, a proposed nuclear power plant for Jervis Bay was abandoned shortly after construction had commenced. Now, Murray’s Beach boat ramp and car park are located on the site excavation.
The Jervis Bay Marine Park was declared in 1998 to protect the bay’s diverse marine life and, as a consequence, much of Jervis Bay is now protected.
On the northern entrance to the bay, an awesome spectacular cliff known as Point Perpendicular rises 75 metres (250‘) above sea level.
Underwater, Jervis Bay presents divers with walls, caves, ravines, arches, large boulders, and wrecks including a Firefly plane wreck.
Shallower dive sites are just teeming with schools of fish including mado, Lord Howe Island butterflyfish, stripey and old wives, and Jervis Bay’s seagrass meadows provide ideal cover for weedy sea dragons.
Shallow submerged boulders are covered with algae and invertebrate marine life, and as the depth increases, the algae are replaced by sponges, sea tulips, delicate jewel anemones, zoanthids, gorgonian fans and sea whips on the ocean floor, all waving gently in the current.
Humpback whales, dolphins, sunfish and fur seals are regularly encountered, and Jervis Bay is renowned for giant cuttlefish between February and August.
One of the many premier dive sites in Jervis Bay is the Arch, a spectacular underwater rock bridge, located about one kilometre (0.6 mi) side outside the bay to the north.
The flat top of the Arch is around 24 metres (80’) and the underside is literally covered with beautiful jewel anemones. It also provides protection for bedazzling eastern blue devils.
Port Jackson and wobbegong sharks are often encountered resting on the bottom and the fish life can be quite spectacular, particularly when large schools of pelagic yellow tail kingfish buzz by.
Another exhilarating highlight of a visit to Jervis Bay is the opportunity to snorkel with humpback whales and seals
Jervis Bay Marine Park offers snorkellers and scuba divers plenty of fantastic dive sites, both inside and outside the bay.
Special thanks to the Dive Jervis Bay Team.
Copyright © 2024 Steve Sinclair
Other great dives to do while you are there:
Drum & Drumsticks, The Docks, Slot Cave, The Wall, The Torpedo Tubes, Weedy Valley, Burrell Rocks, SS Wanderer wreck and Pyramid Rock.
Local dive services:
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DIVE JERVIS BAY |
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WOEBEGONE FREEDIVE Jervis Bay NSW 2540 |
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SCUDA |
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BLAST EXPERIENCES |
OTHER INFORMATION
LOCATION
State or Territory:
New South Wales
Nearest City:
Sydney/Canberra
Nearest Regional City:
Nowra
Nearest Town:
Huskisson
HOW TO GET THERE
Air:
Nearest International Airport:
Sydney/Canberra
Nearest Domestic/Regional Airport:
Sydney/Canberra/Moruya/Albion Park
Road:
Sydney to Huskisson:
Just under 3 hours (185 km/115 mi) via M1
Canberra to Huskisson:
Just under 3 hours (210 km/130 mi) via Braidwood Road
Bus:
From Sydney or Canberra
Train:
From Sydney to Bomaderry then bus to Huskisson
Ferry:
Not available
THINGS TO DO
Whale & Dolphin Watching
Swimming
Kayaking
Fishing
Paddle Boarding