Scuba Season
Underwater reef at Julian Rocks
Stable

Julian Rocks

Australia · New South Wales

Julian Rocks off Byron Bay is one of Australia's best shore accessible dive sites — a marine reserve where tropical and temperate species mix on a small offshore pinnacle, with grey nurse sharks in season, leopard sharks, and turtles.

How this reef is doing

ⓘ How we measure this

Reef state

Stable

Subtropical reef at Byron Bay. Turtles and seasonal grey nurse sharks dominate; coral cover modest by tropical standards but stable.

Coral cover

30%
LowHealthy
Moderate

Fish life

Not surveyed

Heat

SafeBleaching

No unusual heat right now.

Safe now

Fishing

QuietBusy

Quiet water, and the protection is actively patrolled.

Patrolled

Sources · Reef Life Survey · NOAA Coral Reef Watch · Global Fishing Watch and reef gravity

Coral cover over time

Live coral cover, by survey year

Across surveys in 2014 and 2024, live coral cover here has held steady at about 30%. Every point is a real survey reading, never a projection.

Live coral cover, percent by year

40%0%region avg 26%20142024
Two surveys
Australia average (GCRMN)
Reef Life Survey

What you will see

12 species across the dive sites here

Dive sites

What divers say

Grey nurse sharks at the Cod Hole at Julian Rocks — accessible big shark diving without leaving NSW.
— Local diver

Good to know

Marine park

Strict protections; no fishing, no touching.

Gear & getting wet

  • Basic kit

    • Mask and fins
    • BCD and regulator
    • 7mm wetsuit or drysuit · cold water
    • Dive computer

  • For specific sites

    • 5mm wetsuit · Julian Rocks
    • Primary dive light · Fish Rock Cave
    • Backup torch · Fish Rock Cave
    • Reef hook or SMB · Fish Rock Cave