Sheltered shore dive under the disused Bass Point gravel loader, about 150 m long: pylons, old loader wreckage, an anchor and chain, tyres and gravel piles in 2 to 12 m, with cuttlefish, blue groper, old wives and at times grey nurse sharks.
Visibility at Bass Point Gravel Loader
Underwater visibility at Bass Point Gravel Loader shifts with swell, wind and recent rainfall rather than holding to a fixed range. Any time, especially in southerly winds and seas; good night dive generally offers the best conditions for diving here.
Region: Shellharbour, NSW
Skill Level: Beginner
Depth: 2-12 m
Water Temperature: 17-23 °C
Best Time to Dive: Any time, especially in southerly winds and seas; good night dive
Marine Life: Old wives, giant and small cuttlefish, blue groper, bigscale bullseye, red morwong, striped seapike, black reef and mosaic leatherjackets, bream, yellowtail, one-spot pullers, eastern hulafish, pygmy leatherjackets, moray eels, squid, nudibranchs, common seahorses (occasional), grey nurse sharks (at times)
Hazards: Protected grey nurse sharks at times (follow the NSW diving code of conduct, no scooters near them); scattered steel girders and twisted metal from old loader works; reserve gate may be shut (total fire ban days, night dives), meaning a long walk from outside parking
Facilities: Park at the old boat ramp entrance just past the loader and enter from the ramp; Bass Point Reserve has a picnic area and public toilets but no barbecues, and is closed on total fire ban days.
