An island off Port Stephens with one of the most reliable grey nurse shark dives in NSW and the dramatic swim through the Looking Glass.
Region: Port Stephens, NSW
Skill Level: Advanced
Depth: 4-21m
Water Temperature: 16-23°C
Visibility: 8-25m
Best Time to Dive: Year-round for grey nurse sharks, warmest and clearest in summer and autumn
Marine Life: Grey nurse sharks gathering at North Rock, sometimes more than 25 at once; Schools of striped trumpeter and mado over the kelp shelf; Bullseyes and roughy packing the shallows; Cuttlefish hiding in the gutters; Wobbegongs under the ledges and rays on the sand; Tropical strays carried south by the East Australian Current in summer.
Hazards: Current runs around the island, strongest at the Looking Glass and North Rock; Depths to around 21 metres on exposed offshore sites; Grey nurse sanctuary, follow the single-file protocol through the Looking Glass and keep clear of the sharks; Exposed to swell, trips depend on conditions, a surface marker buoy is essential.
Facilities: Boat access only, charters run from Nelson Bay; Nelson Bay is the dive hub of Port Stephens, about 2.5 hours north of Sydney; Gear hire and guiding through Nelson Bay operators.
