# Diving in Narooma | Montague Island Diving, Seals & Sharks Guide Canonical: https://bookfromowner.com.au/guides/nsw/south-coast/narooma/diving/ Type: ActivityGuide Location: Narooma, Eurobodalla Coast, NSW Last updated: 2026-06-01 > A complete guide to diving in Narooma — Montague Island diving with fur seals, grey nurse sharks and kelp reefs. Dive sites, depths, seasons, marine life, operators and what to expect on the NSW Sapphire Coast. ## Quick Answer - Best for: Wildlife divers & snorkellers - Price range: Snorkel/dive trips & courses — confirm with operators - Vibe: World-class, accessible, wild - Distance: NSW Sapphire Coast ## Featured Properties - BIG4 Narooma Easts Holiday Park: 4.4/5 (665 reviews) Book direct: http://www.eastsnarooma.com.au/ BIG4 Narooma Easts Holiday Park — Narooma - Amooran Oceanside Apartments and Motel: 4.4/5 (275 reviews) Book direct: http://www.amooran.com.au/ Amooran Oceanside Apartments and Motel — Narooma - Discovery Parks - Narooma Beach: 4.2/5 (330 reviews) Book direct: https://www.discoveryholidayparks.com.au/caravan-parks/new-south-wales/south-coast/narooma-beach?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=gmb&utm_term=visit-website&utm_content=DHP-NSW-Narooma-Beach Discovery Parks - Narooma Beach — Narooma ## FAQ Q: What is diving in Narooma like? A: Diving in Narooma centres on Montague Island, around nine kilometres offshore — one of the best dive destinations in NSW. The highlight is diving or snorkelling with the largest fur seal colony on the NSW coast, in shallow, sheltered water where the seals actively play with divers. Deeper reefs offer kelp beds, rays, wobbegongs, Port Jackson sharks and seasonally grey nurse sharks. The island has dozens of dive sites, so there’s usually a diveable spot in any weather, and conditions suit everyone from first-timers to experienced divers. Q: Can beginners dive at Montague Island? A: Yes. The seal sites are shallow (around 5–20m) and sheltered, making them suitable for all certification levels. Complete beginners can take a Discover Scuba Dive — a supervised introduction with PADI instructors, generally for ages 12 and up — and dive with the seals with no prior experience. Narooma also has a PADI dive centre offering full certification courses. For those who don’t want to scuba at all, snorkelling with the seals is open to any confident swimmer. Q: When can you see grey nurse sharks at Montague Island? A: Grey nurse sharks are seen seasonally at Montague Island, but the timing varies and there are periods when they aren’t present at all. Different operators report different peak times, so rather than relying on a fixed season, the best approach is to ask your dive operator about recent sightings when you book, so you have realistic expectations. The fur seals, on the other hand, are present year-round and are a near-certainty on any dive or snorkel trip. Q: Do I need to be certified to dive in Narooma? A: To scuba dive, yes — Australian operators require you to show a recognised certification (‘C’ card) or qualification papers before diving. However, you can experience the underwater world without certification through a Discover Scuba Dive (a supervised beginner experience) or by snorkelling with the seals, which only requires being a confident swimmer. If you want to get certified, Narooma’s PADI dive centre runs courses locally. Q: Can you snorkel instead of dive at Montague Island? A: Absolutely — snorkelling with the seals is a hugely popular alternative to scuba and is just as memorable for many visitors. Operators run dedicated snorkelling trips to the shallow seal sites, where you watch and interact with the fur seals from the surface. You need to be a confident swimmer, as the water can be 5 to 15 metres deep and conditions are open water. Wetsuits and gear are provided. Many trips carry both divers and snorkellers, so mixed groups can go out together. Q: How do I get to the Montague Island dive sites? A: All diving and snorkelling at Montague Island is accessed by licensed charter boat from Narooma harbour — there’s no other way to reach the island, and access is managed within the Batemans Marine Park. It’s about a 25-minute boat ride each way. Book with a licensed dive operator in advance, arrive at the wharf around 15 minutes before departure, and be prepared for trips to depend on weather and sea conditions, with the skipper making the final call on safety. ## At a Glance - Main dive site: Montague Island (Barunguba) — approx. 9km / 25-min boat ride offshore - Star attraction: Australian and New Zealand fur seals — the largest colony on the NSW coast - Seal dive depth: Around 5–20m — suitable for all certification levels - Big drawcard: Grey nurse sharks (seasonal), wobbegongs, Port Jackson sharks, rays, turtles - Certification: Scuba requires a ‘C’ card; Discover Scuba available for first-timers (12+) - Snorkelling: Yes — snorkel with the seals; must be a confident swimmer (5–15m water) - Marine park: Batemans Marine Park — protected area, rules apply - Departs from: Narooma harbour — the only access point to the island ## Featured - 1. Diving with the seals — ‘the Aquarium’ — All levels · 5–20m · the main event - Why people love it: It’s a genuinely world-class wildlife encounter that almost anyone can have — the seals play with a fourth-ever diver as happily as a seasoned one. - Don't miss: A shallow, sunlit dive at ‘the Aquarium’ with fur seals circling and darting around you — bring a camera. - Good to know: It’s open water, not a pool — non-swimmers and anyone uneasy out of their depth should start with a confident-swimmer snorkel or a Discover Scuba session first. - 2. The deeper reefs and kelp beds — Certified divers · sharks, rays and kelp drop-offs - Why people love it: Kelp, granite drop-offs, rays and the chance of grey nurse sharks — it’s the dive that earns Montague its reputation, not just its seals. - Don't miss: A double-dive trip — the seal site first, then a deeper kelp reef for the sharks and rays. - Good to know: Not for beginners — depth and current make these certified-diver sites. Don’t bank on grey nurse sharks; ask about recent sightings before you book. - 3. Snorkelling with the seals — Confident swimmers · no scuba required - Why people love it: You get the full curious-seal encounter with no certification, no tank and no course — just a wetsuit, a snorkel and the ability to swim. - Don't miss: A snorkel trip that shares the boat with the divers — same site, same seals, no scuba needed. - Good to know: You must be a confident open-water swimmer — it’s 5–15m deep and not a calm pool. Nervous swimmers should build confidence before going. - 4. Learning to dive — Underwater Safaris (PADI) — Beginner to pro · learn among the seals - Why people love it: You can learn to dive — from your first breath to professional level — with your training dives at one of the best sites in NSW, surrounded by seals. - Don't miss: A Discover Scuba Dive — a supervised first dive with the seals, no experience or certification needed. - Good to know: Discover Scuba has a minimum age (generally 12) and isn’t a certification — and courses book out in peak season, so plan ahead rather than turning up. - 5. Choosing a dive operator — All trips depart Narooma harbour - Why people love it: There’s an operator for every kind of visitor — a PADI school for beginners and mixed groups, a dive-customised charter for self-sufficient certified divers. - Don't miss: Matching the operator to your group — guided/PADI for beginners and snorkellers, unguided charter for experienced divers. - Good to know: Operators, schedules and prices change, and trips depend on weather — confirm current details directly, and don’t book your only free day with no buffer. ## What travellers say - [positive] A world-class encounter that’s accessible to anyone: The recurring praise is the same: the seals genuinely play with you, the sites are shallow and clear, and you don’t need to be an expert — or even a diver at all — to have one of the best wildlife experiences of your trip. - [mixed] It’s wild — conditions and sharks aren’t guaranteed: Divers who treat it as a wildlife experience rather than a theme-park ride leave delighted; the grey nurse sharks come and go, the crossing is open water, and the skipper’s call on weather is final — flexibility is rewarded. - [positive] What a recent visitor said: - [positive] What a recent visitor said: - [positive] What a recent visitor said: