Jervis Bay · Australia · Reef · Kelp forest
Murrays Beach
A self-guided shore dive over kelp and seagrass in 8-12 m
Area photo: Dave Naithani · CC BY-SA 3.0
Murrays Beach is a shore dive in Booderee National Park at the southern end of Jervis Bay, reached by a 300 m walk down a flat bush track from the carpark. The self-guided profile follows the rocky headlands out from the sand across temperate reef, dense kelp and seagrass, typically bottoming out around 8 to 12 m, with the reef system starting at the 5 m mark.
Where it is and how deep
35.1252° S, 150.7579° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
You park at the Murrays Beach carpark in Booderee National Park, a 25 to 30 minute drive from Huskisson, and walk the 300 m down a short, flat bush track to the sand. There is no boat and no guide, so the dive is yours to plan and navigate. From the beach the profile follows the rocky headlands, picking up the temperate reef system at the 5 m mark and then working out over it, typically bottoming out around 8 to 12 m.
The ground is a labyrinth of temperate reef, dense kelp forest and expansive seagrass beds, and each holds something different. Rocky crevices in the reef hold wobbegongs and Port Jackson sharks, with eastern blue gropers and nudibranchs over the same stone. The Posidonia seagrass meadows work as a nursery, including for seahorses, and they need a slower search than the rock does. Shallow water means a long dive, so cover one habitat properly and leave the rest for a second entry.
Marine life and season
- Wobbegongs
- Nudibranchs
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
Season follows Jervis Bay: Apr–Jul is clearest as summer runoff clears; seals are present through winter and grey nurse numbers peak in the cooler months.
Sources
- Jervis Bay Shore Diving & Snorkeling Guide — Experience Jervis Bay
More dive sites in Jervis Bay
Reef
Juvenile fish over sand and rock groups, from 5 m to about 20 m
Reef
A boat-only deep dive to about 30 m on the Beecroft Peninsula
Multi-level sponge reef, 10-30 m, with the Wandra wreck alongside
Reef
Kelp gardens and rock gutters, no deeper than about 13 m
Boulder swim-throughs under a 100 m cliff, from 6 m to 35 m
Reef
Winter seals over boulder ground, with the bottom at 25-30 m
Cave & cavern
A 60 m slot in the cliff, entered at 16-18 m and naturally lit
Cave & cavern
A true overhead cave running 70-80 m back into the cliff
Similar dives elsewhere
Find it by the white letter B painted on the cliff
A rock that shows at low tide and disappears at high
Yellow sponges on sand ledges at 8 to 9 m
A tennis-court-sized reef with resident green turtles