TOLLGATE SHARK GUTTER
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| Type of dive: |
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Animal interaction |
| Snorkelling: |
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Yes, adrenalin pumping shark interaction! |
| Scuba: |
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Open Water |
| Access: |
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Boat only (15 minutes) |
| Depth: |
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12 – 14 metres (40-50’) |
| Visibility: |
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10 – 20 metres (30-65’) |
| Water temperature: |
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15 – 22°C (59-72°F) |
| Seasonal: |
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No, can visit anytime but January to May is best for sharks |
An eye-to-eye encounter with a grey nurse shark is absolutely adrenaline pumping!
The Tollgate Islands are two islands in the Batemans Marine Park just off Batemans Bay on the mid-south coast of New South Wales. The islands are an aggregation site and critical habitat for endangered grey nurse sharks, Carcharias taurus.
Tollgate Shark Gutter, also referred to as Dragon Rock, offers great year-round diving.
The marine park hosts an enormous array of wildlife both above and below water, including many species of sea bird and marine mammal including seals and dolphins. Humpback whales also visit during their northern winter migration.
Grey nurse sharks are easily identified by their two similarly sized dorsal fins, tail lob and their jagged pointy teeth which gives them their fearsome appearance. Grey nurse sharks can reach over 3.5 metres (12’) in length.
The docile, harmless grey nurse shark was much maligned in the 1950’s & 60’s when it was regarded as a ‘man-eater’.
Slow moving grey nurse sharks provided easy targets for divers with spearguns armed with power heads. Sadly, they were largely hunted just for the thrill of the kill!
Due to hunting, fishing and pollution, New South Wales grey nurse numbers dwindled to less the 300 and in 1984, the first shark protection legislation in the world was introduced in New South Wales.
They are still an Australian Threatened Species and are now also protected in Queensland, Western Australia and Tasmania.
Unfortunately, these vulnerable sharks are still commonly observed with fish hooks in their mouths.
The ocean floor at the Tollgate Islands has long narrow gutters and swim throughs providing the ideal environment for grey nurse sharks.
The grey nurse sharks at Tollgate Shark Gutter are more prevalent in late summer and autumn, January to May, when the water warms up as a result of the south flowing East Australian Current. They tend to migrate to warmer northern waters over the winter months.
Encounters with up to ten sharks on a single dive are not uncommon, however, they mainly appear in twos or threes.
Special rules apply when diving with the sharks to help prevent potential negative impact divers may have on the sharks. The rules include:
- No night diving
- No blocking entrances or gullies when sharks are present
- No feeding or touching
- No repelling devices, and
- No scooters
Even when there are no sharks, the diving is still fantastic due to the location’s incredibly diverse marine life.
Special thanks to the Beneath the Bay Team.
Copyright © 2024 Steve Sinclair
Other great NSW Grey Nurse aggregation sites:
Montague Island, Magic Point, Nelson Bay, Fish Rock, Solitary Islands and Julian Rocks.
Local dive services:
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BENEATH THE BAY |
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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:
Batemans Bay
Nearest Town:
Not relevant
HOW TO GET THERE
Air:
Nearest International Airport:
Sydney
Nearest Domestic/Regional Airport:
Sydney/Canberra/Moruya
Road:
Sydney to Batemans Bay:
Just under 4 hours (280 km/170 mi) via Princes Highway/A1
Canberra to Batemans Bay:
Just under 2 hours (150 km/95 mi) via B52
Bus:
From Sydney or Canberra
Train:
Not available
Ferry:
Not available
THINGS TO DO
Birdland Animal Park
Go-Karting
Kayaking
Surfing
Mogo Zoo
Mago Mountain Bike Trails
Mogo Gold Rush
Fishing
Oyster Tours