Montague Island (Barunguba)

Seals

Between about 400 and 2,000 Australian and New Zealand fur seals use the island, depending on the season. They are in the water all year and often come right up to snorkellers and divers, especially in the shallower spots. Much of the water around the island is deep, so even snorkelling needs some experience and confidence.

Grey nurse sharks

Grey nurse sharks are critically endangered in NSW and gather at Montague Island, mostly on deeper dives from about November to April. The island is grey nurse shark critical habitat, inside a Habitat Protection Zone of Batemans Marine Park.

The national Code of Conduct for Diving with Grey Nurse Sharks applies. Divers must not dive at night at a critical habitat site, must not touch, feed, chase or harass the sharks, must not block caves or gutters, must keep groups to ten divers or fewer, and must not use scooters, shark pods or other devices. Heavy penalties apply.

Other marine life and conditions

Kelp beds, bull rays, Port Jackson sharks and pot-bellied seahorses are among the other things to look for, and turtles turn up on deeper dives. Humpback whales pass in winter, and little penguins nest on the island.

Visibility ranges from about 10 to 30 metres or more. Water is about 16°C in winter and warmest from December to May. Landing on the island itself is only possible on a tour with a NPWS-contracted operator, and the nature reserve closes to visitors in August.