Arrawarra Headland

Arrawarra Headland: Shore Diving with Turtles and Tranquillity

By ScubaDownUnder Team · 2025-06-27

On the mid-north coast of New South Wales, just north of Coffs Harbour, Arrawarra Headland offers a relaxed yet rewarding shore dive ideal for beginners and turtle lovers. Known more for its right-hand surf break and low-key coastal vibe, the headland also hides a calm underwater world with scattered reefs, swim-throughs, and excellent marine life diversity just a few fin kicks from shore.

## Getting There and Entry

Access is via Arrawarra Beach Road, leading to a car park beside the headland. A short walk across the sand brings you to a wide, protected bay bordered by the rocky outcrop of the headland on one side. Entry is easiest from the southern corner of the beach near the rocks, where you can wade in through shallow water and swim out on a bearing of roughly 30 degrees to the bommie area. There’s no need for a boat or deep surf entry here, conditions are often gentle thanks to the partial protection of the reef and prevailing swell direction.

Dive conditions are best at high tide with minimal swell. Visibility ranges from 5 to 15 metres depending on recent weather. Summer tends to offer better clarity and warmer waters around 24°C, while winter dips to about 18°C and brings occasional surge.

## Underwater Landscape

Arrawarra’s underwater terrain is built for slow, exploratory diving. The reef is composed of flat rocky shelves, scattered boulders, small caves and a few distinct bommies that rise from the sandy bottom at around 8 to 10 metres. Macro photographers will appreciate the ledges and crevices hiding blennies, nudibranchs, and shrimp. Larger marine life tends to patrol the perimeter, with schools of goatfish and drummer passing through.

What makes Arrawarra special is the resident turtle population. Green turtles are a common sight here, often cruising past in pairs or seen resting beneath rocky overhangs. Some divers report encountering four or more turtles on a single dive. While not guaranteed, they are frequent enough to make repeat visits worthwhile.

There are also regular sightings of octopus, wobbegong sharks, and on occasion, eagle rays gliding over the sand flats. During the warmer months, juvenile tropical species such as damsels and butterflyfish migrate down the East Australian Current, adding colour and variety.

## Dive Plan and Navigation

After entering near the southern rocks, head northeast towards the bommies. The first major one sits at around 6 metres and acts as a useful navigation marker. From there, divers can either loop around the deeper bommies at 10–12 metres or follow the reef edge north before returning along the same path or completing a square route back to the beach.

It’s a straightforward dive with low risk of getting lost, but a compass is still handy, especially if visibility drops. Be aware of surfers in the area and avoid surf zones closer to the point. Because this is an unpatrolled area, diving with a buddy and carrying a surface marker buoy is recommended.

## Who It’s For

Arrawarra Headland is ideal fo

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*Planning a NSW dive trip? See our [region-by-region guide to the best places to dive in NSW](https://www.scubadownunder.com/blog/best-places-to-dive-in-nsw) for the full overview of dive sites across the state.*