These are the best dive sites in Julian Rocks, Byron Bay
Julian rocks is situated within the Cape Byron Marine park in northern NSW, on the east coast of Australia and has been likened to a ‘mini Galapagos’ (Lonely Planet 2014 ) and one of the best dive spots in Australia Julian rocks is home to over 1000 marine species thanks to the convergence of warm and cool waters resulting in this enormous biodiversity. Among the regular species found year round are wobbegong sharks, eagle rays, cuttlefish, king fish, trevally, mulloway, and three different species of sea turtle – Loggerhead, Green and Hawksbill. There is an abundance of hard and soft coral. You can also see Manta Rays, Grey Nurse Sharks, and Leopard (Sharks at various times throughout the year).
The Needles: On the south-west tip of the rocks, The Needles are large bommies that come close to the surface. Depths here range from 10 to 15 metres. The current in this site often brings schools of large and small fish, and often huge rays and leopard sharks. Nudibranch lovers will be in heaven.
Cod Hole: The Cod Hole is an underwater swim through around 30 metres from the north-eastern tip of the Rocks. The hole opens at a depth of around 15 metres and slopes down to a depth of 21 metres. Moray eels, blue groupers, wobbegongs and grey nurse frequent this spot.
Hugo’s Trench: This dive spot has sheer walls on either side of the trench, and is frequented by wobbegong sharks, turtles and schools of fish. At a depth of 12 to 18 metres, the trench runs through the rocks, but conditions need to be perfect to attempt a swim through.
The Nursery: Located on the sheltered western side of Julian Rocks, The Nursery is a relatively shallow dive site varying from 5 to 12 metres which is frequented by an abundance of reef fish. This is the primary dive site for beginners, and thanks to its shallow depths is also the most colourful.
The Mohole is a small cave at the southern end of the Needles in about 14 meters depth. Typically, you’d see a huge Loggerhead Turtle sleeping in there.
The Mohole is always worth checking out, you could see big cods getting cleaned, massive Bullrays followed by a school of cobia, huge schools of big Kingfish in a feeding frenzy, never a dull moment. The Line of Smiles is just a short swim from the Mohole, it is a huge crack in a rock wall which is filled to the top with all sorts of interesting Marine Life. Swimming past it, at first glimpse all you can see is a line of Wobbegong Sharks squeezed in there on top of each other looking out which is where the name “Line of Smiles” comes from. At closer inspection (but watch out for those wobbies!), you can see crayfish, Blind Sharks, hundreds of Cleaner Shrimps and little crabs and the occasional Nudibranch or cuttlefish.
These dive sites in Byron Bay are both located on the deeper Eastern side of Julian Rocks where the sandy bottom drops to about 24 meters.
The Cray Cave is another swim-through at about 18 meters depth, but much narrower than the Cod Hole, only high and wide enough for one diver at a time.
The Gorgonian Hollow is a huge horseshoe shaped rock formation in about 22 meters depth. This is a secret spot for Ghost Pipefish which can often be found on the Black Coral inside the Gorgonian Hollow.
Byron Bay is widely known for being the most easterly point of the Australian mainland and for the warm welcome that it affords to visitors from all over the world. What is less widely known, is that the sea around Byron Bay is a fairly unique area where tropical waters from the North, meet cooler temperate waters from the South, creating an underwater environment that is home to a truly huge variety of marine life.
Less than 3 km offshore, is the Julian Rocks Marine Reserve, featuring an underwater landscape that was formed over 20 million years ago by volcanic activity, but today is regarded as one of the absolute best dive sites in Australia. Boulders, trenches and gullies typify this area, providing the perfect habitat for over 500 species of tropical and temperate fish species alone.
And the best way to experience this magical environment is not just to take to the water, but to get in and dive with the fish, turtles, nudibranchs that populate these waters.
At Diving Byron Bay, we provide the opportunity for everyone aged 12 or over to participate in this marvellous experience – a requirement to be able to swim and be comfortable in the water is all that is needed, even if you have no prior experience of diving.
For novices, we offer a beginner diving course in Byron Bay, which will afford the opportunity to practice basic techniques and take your first breaths underwater at our pool, before taking to the ocean, where under the close supervision of our instructors you will be guided to the best underwater spots, where you will have nearly an hour to marvel at the serene beauty of this protected environment.
We also cater for experienced divers with our advanced diving trips from Byron Bay – if you have a Padi Open Water Diver or equivalent certification, this could be the choice for you. All equipment can be provided as well as transport, guiding to the foremost underwater marks - and in keeping with all of our diving trips from Byron Bay, we will provide you with photos and videos as a keepsake of your memorable experience.
At Diving Byron Bay, it is our passion to encourage people to learn to dive in the waters of Byron Bay and to provide diving courses and open water diving opportunities in the remarkable seas around Byron Bay. Despite the fact that we have significant experience in the dive world we still take immense pleasure in introducing all level of divers to the stunning underwater world that can be accessed through our first-class scuba diving course in Byron Bay.
Only two hours from Brisbane, the township of Byron Bay is readily accessible and when you come and visit the area you should make it a priority to take advantage of our well-priced scuba diving courses; we can promise you that it will be an experience that will enchant and delight you, living long in your memories.
Why not book your dive today?
