Julian Rocks

About Julian Rocks
Julian Rocks consists of ancient sedimentary rock, which remains from a volcanic eruption over 20 million years ago. There are two rocky islands, which make up the Marine Reserve, both named by Captain Cook in 1776, after his niece and nephew (Juan and Julia). These rocks are also a breeding ground for many seabirds including Seagulls and Cormorants. According to the Aboriginal people of Australia, there is a legend that says that a jealous husband threw his spear at the canoe of his wife and lover while they were trying to escape and the canoe broke in two pieces and sank to the bottom of the ocean. Only the back and the front of the canoe stick out of the water and this represents the two rocks that you can currently see today. You reach Julian Rocks by boat from Byron Bay.

Diving Julian Rocks
Visibility here can range from 1 – 30m, depending on the currents, with usual visibility at about 10 - 20m. There is a mix of tropical and temperate waters surrounding Julian Rocks which makes every dive here different, as over 500 species of fish have been recorded. The Marine Reserve is protected under the NSW legislation where fishing and collecting have been made illegal. As part of this protection action, permanent moorings have been put in place so boat anchors are not needed and both hard and soft corals are protected from destruction.

Novice divers
For inexperienced divers, the South-Western side of Julian Rocks is the most protected area away from most of the swell and currents. The Nursery is much shallower than the rest of the sites, ranging from 5 – 12m, and is home to many smaller species of fish and invertebrate including clown fish, cuttlefish, starfish and nudibranches, (which are colourful underwater snails without shells). Lionfish, Stonefish, Stingrays, Wobbegongs and Leopard Sharks are all in abundance and even Manta Rays also frequent the outer edges of this area in the Summer and early Autumn.

Expert divers
If you are a more experienced diver, you should definitely check out the Cod Hole, which is a small rocky arch that you can swim through. It is home to such a dense amount of fish in one area, including schools of Bullseyes, Jewfish, Moray Eels, and even a lone Grey Nurse Shark. The depth ranges from 14 – 18m and here, you will be so entranced by the amount of fish that you will not want to leave to explore the other areas. If you do decide to go any further, however, you will come across an area called the Wide Trenches (ranging from 20 – 22m), which is where the larger animals (Guitarfish, Blue Grouper, Loggerhead Turtles, etc) normally gather. Several Grey Nurse Sharks are known to locate this area in the Winter and Humpback Whales are also known to swim past around May – October.