Bermagui
This area offers good reef diving close to the town as well as access to Montague Island. Most dive sites are exposed to NE winds that are common in summer afternoons. The area also offers dive service
Wharf dive and precincts
8-10m
This area is usually very sheltered and the reef and old pylons provide a few smaller items of marine life to see and photograph. The adjacent norther side of the point also offers shallow reefs if the dive is to be extended.
The Slot
5-18m
Off the very tip of the point there is some interesting shore diving on low reef. In good weather it is possible to clamber down the cliffs to some sheltered entry points. There are lots of smaller species of marine life to see including sea dragons. In summer it is also often visited by pelagic fish and schools of tropical species riding down the eastern Australian current.
Gorgonian Patch
18m
A little to the north west of the slot there is an area of reasonably good invertebrate life. This can also be reached from the shore in good weather.
Blue Pool
20m
Just out from the Council swimming pool there is an interesting reef that can be reached by boat. The steep sided reef is a mixture of step walls and gutters that are home to plenty of interesting fish and invertebrate species.
Michael Lerner Reef
3-20m
A lookout car park 5 km’s south of the town marks the start of an interesting site noted for its small bommies that go from 3m to 20 m. They provide rock faces that are partly sheltered and this encourages lots of colourful small marine life.
Wreck of the Mimosa
20m
GPS approx 36 34 54.86 150 03 27.2
In 1863, this iron paddle steamer was heading to Sydney when she ran onto a reef 150m off Bunga Head with the loss of two lives. The captain claimed that he was further offshore and the fictitious Mimosa Reef was marked on charts for a long time. The site consists of a 60 x 30 m scatter of ironwork and machinery which includes an historic early trunk engine. The area is exposed with variable water clarity.
Tathra Wharf
3- 15M
This small town offers great beaches and relaxation, but also some good shallow diving on the historic wharf and nearby reefs of Tathra Head. Tathra Wharf was built to enable the large coastal steamers to load and unload passengers and freight. It is one of Australia’s oldest wharves, being built in 1878. The Tathra Wharf is located on the northern side of Tathra. Entry has to be done from the rocky shore below the wharf and it is a stiff climb. Entry is usually safe except in heavy seas. The edge of the reef is in 8M. The wharf pylons make a good photo but the area is covered in anglers gear. Out to the right towards the point, there is a nice rocky reef if you follow the sand edge. It is all pretty bare for a while until you draw closer to the point. The rocks are covered in sponges, sea squirts, gorgonias, ascidians, soft corals. Some of the sea fans are quite large. There is a lot of fishlife, blue gropers, leatherjackets, yellowtail and blackfish. One of NSW’s best shore dives. It can get very rough in onshore winds over 15 knots.