Julian Rocks South
Byron Bay · Australia
The southern and more sheltered face of Julian Rocks is where grey nurse sharks (critically endangered in Australia) aggregate in winter, resting in the rocky gutters between 15 and 22 metres. Up to 30 individuals have been recorded at one time during peak aggregation season from June through September, making this one of only a handful of reliable grey nurse aggregation sites on the east coast. The calmer conditions here suit less experienced divers and provide a more stable platform for photography. Wobbegong sharks, large green turtles and eagle rays are year-round residents.
Conditions
Depth
6 to 24 m
Open water and up
Current
Usually still
Can pick up on the edge
Visibility
10 to 22 m
Clearest in the calm season
Water
19 to 27°C
5mm wetsuit
Month by month
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water (°C) | 24 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 |
| Vis (m) | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Current | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Still | Still | Still | Still | Still | Still | Still | Gentle | Gentle |
Your chances of seeing each animal
Green Sea Turtle
Last confirmed May 2, 2026 · 35 records
Very likely
Most dives
Butterfly Cod
Last confirmed Mar 19, 2026 · 5 records
Very likely
Most dives
Sergeant Major Damselfish
Last confirmed Dec 19, 2025 · 3 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Grey Nurse Shark
Last confirmed Jun 21, 2026 · 12 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Wobbegong Shark
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Eagle Ray
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Brittle Star
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Kingfish
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Gear