Little Beach - NSW

Best months: Jan–Mar

Protected Area

Shark Island

Why dive here

With 199+ marine species recorded in the area - including blue sharks, bull sharks, dolphins, dugongs and great white sharks - Little Beach - NSW offers some of Sydney & New South Wales's richest reef diving. Water ranges 18-23°C, warmest January, February, March.

Best timeJan–Mar

WetsuitA 3mm full wetsuit

Marine lifeBlue Sharks, Bull Sharks, Dolphins, Dugongs and Great White Sharks · 199+ species recorded

Water18-23°C · warmest January, February, March

CharacterReef dive

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

Little Beach is one of those sites we always recommend to people visiting Port Stephens, especially if they’re newer to wreck diving or just want a chill poke around. The real draw here isn’t the beach itself, though the shallows near the boathouse do hold some nice surprises like schooling fish and the occasional cuttlefish for wide-angle shots. No, our pick is the barge wreck, about a hundred metres off the jetty at around 10-11m. It’s not a massive wreck, but it’s nicely broken up, creating a maze of nooks and crannies. You’ll weave through metal plates and twisted beams, and that’s where the action is. We’ve found frogfish tucked into the crevices, little pygmy leatherjackets hiding amongst the kelp that grows on the hull, and quite a few wobbegongs just chilling on the sand next to the wreckage. The current can pick up sometimes, but generally, it’s a calm dive, making it perfect for an extended rummage or for honing those wreck skills without feeling overwhelmed. Visibility averages about 7m, which is decent for a wreck this size – enough to appreciate the structure and spot the smaller critters without getting lost.