Port Stephens is a hidden gem for scuba divers. Located just 2.5 hours North of Sydney and a short flight from Melbourne, Brisbane or the Gold Coast, Port Stephens is easily accessible and welcomes divers.
Port Stephens Harbour is 2.5 times bigger than Sydney Harbour and makes up a sizeable section of the Port Stephens Great Lakes Marine Park. The dive sites of Fly Point and Halifax Parkare amoung the best shore dives in Australia and offer superb diving suitable for beginners through to experienced divers. Best dived on the high tide, Fly Point and Halifax offer an abundant mix of temperate water fish life (with the odd stray tropical fish), sponges, soft corals, nudibranchs, eels, pipefish, sea horses, friendly gropers and some semi resident turtles. Great sites for macro photography (keep an eye on Divelog etc for for some local images).
Fly and Hali are the best known of the inner harbour dive sites, but there are a number of others including The Pipelineand Little Beach. Follow the links provided to the local dive shops for more information.
You can also join a boat diveto venture outside the harbour. The coastline surrounding Port Stephens is nothing short of spectacular and underneath the water offers plenty to see. The most popular boat dive is Broughton Island, located eight nautical North East of Port Stephens and offering the chance to see Grey Nurse sharks, rays, Port Jacksons, Wobbegongs, eels and maybe even Eastern Blue Devil fish. Boat dives can also visit Cabbage Tree Island, Boondelbah Island, Fingal Sponge Gardens, the SS Oakland or Macleay or Little Island.
There are two dive shopslocated in Nelson Bay, both offering air fills (including Nitrox), hire gear, boat dives, escorted shore dives and a range of dive courses (plus freediving courses, boat and jetski licence courses). Click on the links to find out more.Lets Go AdventuresFeet First Diving
When you visit Port Stephens for your next dive trip book your accommodation with Port Stephens Accommodation. Choose from over 200 self contained propertieswith room for you and your dive gear!
