A cluster of offshore rocks off the NSW mid-north coast, one of the most reliable places in Australia to dive with grey nurse sharks.
Region: Seal Rocks, NSW
Skill Level: Advanced
Depth: 15-30m
Water Temperature: 18-24°C
Visibility: 5-25m
Best Time to Dive: Year-round; grey nurse aggregations peak winter to spring
Marine Life: Grey nurse sharks (critically endangered, seen most days, dozens aggregating in the gutters and the Cavern); Wobbegongs folded under the ledges; Bull rays and eagle rays cruising the sand; Green and loggerhead turtles working the reef; Big schools of yellowtail kingfish, mulloway, teraglin, trevally and bonito; Port Jackson sharks in winter and gropers on the reef.
Hazards: Strong and often unpredictable current, almost all diving is boat-based and guided; Depth, Big and Little Seal reach 30 metres and The Pinnacle falls past 45; Grey nurse critical habitat, keep distance and never block the gutters or cave exits the sharks use; Exposed offshore site with no shore access, swell regularly closes it; Highly variable visibility, from a couple of metres to over 20.
Facilities: No dive services at Seal Rocks village, operators are based in Forster; Forster, about 42 kilometres and a 35 to 40 minute drive away, is the charter base; Boat ramps and charters at Forster.
