Breathe in, dive deep and see it for yourself.
SCUBA DIVE — JERVIS BAY MARINE PARK, NSW
Grey nurse sharks. Weedy sea dragons. Ancient sponge gardens. Fur seals that want to play. Guided scuba diving in Jervis Bay Marine Park — led by locals who have called this coastline home their entire lives.
AT A GLANCE
ORCA AFFILIATED
SDI CERTIFIED INSTRUCTION
SMALL GROUPS ONLY
TRIP ADVISOR TRAVELLER’S CHOICE
Why dive with Woebegone?
Diving you can feel good about!
We are Dylan and Lara — born and raised on the South Coast, with more than 30 years of combined ocean experience. When we founded Woebegone Dive in Huskisson in 2018, we made a decision: environment comes before profit. That is still true on every single trip we run.
We are SDI-certified scuba instructors — so whether it's your first time underwater or your hundredth dive, you'll learn properly and dive with confidence.
We are affiliated with ORRCA — the Organisation for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia — sharing a commitment to the protection and welfare of the whales, dolphins and seals that call these waters home. We carry no single-use plastics on board. We serve homemade plant-based food on our tours. And we keep our group sizes small — because when you are underwater with a grey nurse shark, you do not want twelve strangers crowding the moment.
This is scuba diving that gives something back. To the ocean, and to you.
WHAT YOU WILL ENCOUNTER
With over thirty dive sites, Jervis Bay is one extraordinary marine park.
Jervis Bay Marine Park is one of the most biodiverse temperate dive destinations on the Australian east coast. We visit over 30 dive sites featuring walls, swim-throughs, sponge gardens, kelp forests, and dramatic bommies. With most of them reachable in a short boat ride from Huskisson.
What you actually see on any given day depends on the season, the site, and what the ocean decides to do. Here is a sample of what has been waiting below the surface.
Wobbegong Sharks
Seagrass beds, rocky reefs and caves
Grey Nurse Sharks
December - April
Australian Fur Seals
April - November
Eastern Blue Groper
July - October
Common Dolphins
Year-round
Humpback Whales
May - November
Bull Rays
Sandy and weedy bottom sites
Weedy Sea Dragon
June - January
OUR JERVIS BAY SCUBA EXPERIENCES
Wherever you are in your dive journey, there is a way in.
Just getting started?
Our SDI Open Water Course runs over three days, right here in Jervis Bay — some of the best diving south of the GBR. Three days in the water, in one of Australia's most beautiful marine environments, with experienced instructors and small groups.
You'll start in the pool and finish on the boat, gaining a globally recognised certification along the way. No experience needed — just a willingness to get in the water.
Day One — Theory and Pool
Dive theory, then into the pool to build your foundations. By the end of the day, the ocean feels a lot less daunting.
Day Two — Beach Dives in Booderee National Park
Two shore dives in calm coastal water — your first real taste of the reef.
Dive sites subject to weather. National Park entry fees may apply.
Day Three — Two Boat Dives in the Jervis Bay Marine Park
Out on our dive boat for two dives, with the real chance of rays, seals and grey nurse sharks gliding past.
Certified and Confident
After three days, you'll walk away a fully certified Open Water diver — confident in real ocean conditions, experienced in beach and boat diving, and ready to dive anywhere in the world.
What's Included
Professional tuition from experienced instructors
Internationally recognised SDI Open Water Diver certification
Online theory (completed before the course)
All diving equipment — bring your own if you'd prefer
Morning tea on the boat day
More experienced?
Discover Scuba
Never been underwater with a tank? Discover Scuba is a half-day introduction — no certification required, no prior experience needed. After a shore-based briefing with one of our instructors, you will head into the water in the shallows of Jervis Bay for your first ever scuba experience. By the time you surface, you will have a good idea of whether diving is for you. Spoiler: it usually is.
Suitable for ages 10 and up.
SDI Open Water Course
Your internationally recognised scuba certification. Three full days including four boat dives to Jervis Bay's best reef sites. For ocean lovers aged 10 and up. Complete this and you are certified to dive anywhere in the world.
Guided Boat Dive
Two dives at Jervis Bay's most iconic reef sites. All equipment included. Suitable for certified divers of all levels.
Advanced Dive Experiences
Night dives, deep dives, and navigation specialties. Push further with instructors who know these sites intimately.
Private Dive Guide
Your own dedicated guide for the day. Ideal for couples, small groups, or divers who want a tailored, unhurried experience.
HOW IT WORKS
Departs early from Woollamia Boat Ramp, Jervis Bay
We head out early to make the most of calm morning conditions and give ourselves maximum time on the water.
We let the whales come to us
This is fundamental to how we operate. We never chase whales or drive our boat up to them. Instead, we read their direction, cut the motors, and wait. What happens next is entirely on the whale's terms. When a curious humpback decides to investigate—and they often do; the result is something no amount of planning could produce.
In-water encounters
When conditions allow and whales are close, your guide will lead you into the water. You will need to be a confident swimmer with snorkelling experience and able to swim 200 metres unassisted. This is deep open water. A positive attitude and a willingness to step out of your comfort zone is essential.
Seals and dolphins along the way
The fur seal colonies at Drum and Drumsticks are part of most tours. Even on days where whale encounters don't come together, swimming with playful, curious fur seals, and dolphins riding the bow and wake of the boat in their home environment is a genuine highlight in its own right.
Sea caves and coastal scenery
Jervis Bay's sandstone headlands, sea caves, and pristine coastline frame every journey. Our guides share the natural history of the area.
Homemade morning tea on board
Plant-based, gluten-free friendly. No single-use plastics on board.
Tour Details
Duration: 5–6 hours
Departs: 7am, Woollamia Boat Ramp, Jervis Bay
Price:
$300 per person with your own suitable gear
$350 per person including full premium dive gear hire
We highly recommend hiring our gear for this experience. For an extra $50, you’ll be set up with a warm 8mm wetsuit and the right equipment for spending time in open water.
We also carry a hydrophone on board, so when conditions allow, you may be able to listen to the whales singing beneath the surface. It’s pretty special.
A focused morning on the water, led by conditions and whale behaviour.
Good to know before you book.
This is a wild ocean experience, so every day is a little different.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
-
It can be. This is a deep-water experience that involves swimming in open ocean conditions. You need to be a confident swimmer with snorkelling experience and able to swim 200 metres unassisted.
It is not suitable for non-swimmers or anyone uncomfortable in deep water.
-
No. Whales are wild animals, and every encounter happens on their terms.
What we can promise is that we will give you the best possible chance, operate respectfully, and make the day memorable regardless of what the whales decide to do. Many guests still leave having swum with fur seals, having seen dolphins, explored the coastline, and experienced Jervis Bay from a completely different perspective.
-
You can bring your own mask, snorkel, wetsuit, and fins.
Full gear hire is available for an extra $50 and includes a warm 8mm wetsuit, which we highly recommend for this experience. The water can be cold, and good gear makes a big difference.
We also provide reef-safe sunscreen and complimentary waterproof jackets for all guests.
-
The whale swim is best suited to confident swimmers. For younger guests, we recommend getting in touch before booking so we can talk through what’s involved.
The broader tour experience, including the boat trip, seals, dolphins, and coastal scenery, can still be a wonderful day out for a range of ages.
-
Our whale swim season runs from June to October, when humpbacks are moving along the coast.
June to August is the northern migration, when whales are travelling north. September and October bring the southern migration, when whales return with calves. Each part of the season is different, and both can be incredible in their own way.
Client Reviews
★★★★★
"Absolutely insane experience — snorkelling with whales in the middle of the ocean."
— Tom, Trip Advisor★★★★★
"Woebegone are the experience you need when you desire an authentic and meaningful connection to the ocean. Their passion and stewardship for the ocean is lived and breathed."
— Caroline, TripAdvisor★★★★★
"Absolutely insane experience — snorkelling with whales in the middle of the ocean."
— Kate, TripAdvisor