I’d visited Byron Bay a few times – for the food and the beaches. What I didn’t realise was that the underwater world here is just as incredible as what’s above the surface.
Once I found out what I’d been missing out on, I quickly booked another trip and spent the day scuba diving at Julian Rocks.
This world-class dive site is the crown jewel of Byron Bay, home to Leopard Sharks, Grey Nurse Sharks, Manta Rays, turtles, and so much more.
In this guide, I’ll share everything you need to know about scuba diving at Julian Rocks in Byron Bay, including when to go, who to go with, and what to expect.
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What it’s like scuba diving in Byron Bay
Julian Rocks, otherwise known as Nguthungulli, is a protected marine reserve only 2.5km from Byron Bay.
I planned my trip for September, hoping to be surrounded by Grey Nurse Sharks.
But I didn’t see any!
They had been spotted in large numbers the day before and after our dive. But unfortunately, we didn’t get so lucky.
Regardless, it was still a spectacular dive with wobbegongs, turtles, an eagle ray, and a cowtail ray.
We also saw breaching whales right in front of us on the boat trip to and from Julian Rocks.
Best time to dive Julian Rocks
Julian Rocks offers a spectacular diving experience all year round.
But, if you’re serious about diving with either Leopard or Grey Nurse Sharks, you need to plan your trip to coincide with the right season.
Summer: best for Leopard Sharks
From December to May, you’ll find Leopard Sharks and Manta Rays in the waters near Julian Rocks.
The water temperature ranges from 22 to 27 degrees during this time, so it’s a great time to be out in the water.
Winter: Best for Grey Nurse Sharks
The cooler winter months from June to October attract Grey Nurse Sharks.
These critically endangered species may look terrifying, but they’re harmless, and it’s safe to dive with them.
You’ll also get to do some whale watching during this time. But it’s cold, and you’ll be diving in water that’s 18 to 23 degrees.
Byron Bay dive sites at Julian Rocks
Here are the top dive sites at Julian Rocks.
The Cod Hole
The Cod Hole is one of the most popular Byron Bay dive sites.
At 15 to 21 meters, it’s deeper than the other sites and is a hotspot for Grey Nurse Shark encounters (from June to October).
You may even spot a few Manta Rays during the summer months. Sweetlips, trevally, and moray eels also hang out in The Cod Hole.
The Needles
With a depth of 10 to 15m, Needles is where you want to dive from December to May to see Leopard Sharks.
It’s located south of Julian Rocks and is also popular with turtles, wobbegongs, and giant rays. We dived here in September and saw turtles, wobbegong, rays, nudibranchs, and an incredible stone fish.
The Nursery
This shallow site (5-12m) is the most sheltered of all Byron Bay dive sites and is protected from currents.
This makes it an easier dive that’s ideal for beginners. The Nursery isn’t only an excellent site for diving but also for snorkeling (find out more here).
You’ll find Leopard Sharks and Manta Rays here during the summer months and Grey Nurse Sharks during the winter.
Hugos Trench
Running through Julian Rocks, Hugos Trench offers a 15 to 18m dive where you’ll spot big and small marine life, including wobbegongs, Eagle Rays, and turtles.
During the winter months, Grey Nurse Sharks are also often spotted here.
The Cray Cave
This cave offers a narrower swim-through compared to The Cod Hole. Only one diver can enter at a time.
You’ll be diving at about 18 to 25m with sightings of Grey Nurse Shark, turtles, cods, and rays. It is only recommended for experienced divers!
Snorkeling at Julian Rocks
If you’re not a certified diver, you should definitely go on a snorkeling tour like this one.
Julian Rocks offer shallow waters, making it perfect for snorkeling. The Nursey is a popular site for snorkelers as it’s shallow and protected.
Turtle sightings are common, and you’ll see plenty of marine life here.
Byron Bay scuba diving trips
There are three dive operators that make regular trips to Julian Rocks dive sites.
Byron Bay operators | Sundive and Byron Bay Dive Centre are both based in Byron Bay. They offer similar packages, which include all your diving gear. You can do 1 or 2 dives, and you’ll head back to the dive shop between dives.
Brunswick Heads operators | Blue Bay Divers is the third tour operator that visits the Byron Bay dive sites. They’re based in Brunswick Heads, and it’s a 30-minute boat ride from Brunswick Heads to Julian Rocks. They offer double dives, but unlike the tours departing from Byron, you stay on the water between dives.
My experience of scuba diving at Julian Rocks
I booked my dive trip with Sundive and was very happy with their service and the quality of their scuba gear.
The winter water is freezing, so you’ll want a thick wetsuit, hoodie, and booties. Sundive had everything I needed to stay warm!
Are you looking to go scuba diving in Byron Bay? Do you have any questions about your trip? Drop me a message in the comments section below.
Looking for more Australia travel inspiration? Check out my other posts!
Hey .. loved your article n now an actually going to change my itinerary to include a dive at Byron Bay (but only for a day) – I plan to travel in June-end – July 1st week … I had a couple of questions
1. What time do the dives leave – can I leave early in the morning from Gold Coast and still make it for the first dive or would I need to stay in Byron Bay that night?
2. I plan to go with my wife and son who would love snokerling – would these boats take me to such locations where snokerling also could be done or would that have to be different trip?
Hi Jaideep, apologies for the late reply.
To answer your questions, dives are scheduled throughout the day, with the first starting at 7 am and the last at 2 pm. I booked at 10 am dive and drove from the Gold Coast to Byron Bay that morning of my dive. You can easily do a day trip from Gold Coast, which is what I did.
Julian Rocks, which is where you’ll dive, is also a great place to go snorkeling. So yes, the boat will go to the same area where you’ll dive, but the exact sites may differ. Most dive operators offer these snorkeling options as well.
Enjoy diving in Byron Bay!