Julian Rocks - Needles
Located at the southern end of Julian Rocks in Australia, The Needles is a popular dive site offering a diverse underwater experience. With large bombies extending up to shallow depths and visibility of 12m, this site is perfect for divers of all levels, including beginners. The maximum depth of 14m allows for a comfortable dive experience.
The Needles is known as a feeding station for manta rays and a hangout spot for leopard sharks during the summer months. Divers can also expect to encounter large schools of fish, turtles, bull rays, and eagle rays throughout the year. The currents and shallow depths of 5-15m create an abundance of marine life, making this site a must-visit for divers seeking an immersive underwater adventure.
Located within the Julian Rocks Nguthungulli Nature Reserve, The Needles is conveniently situated near Byron Bay in the Byron Shire Council of New South Wales. Plan your dive at this remarkable site and experience the wonders of underwater exploration in Australia.
The Needles is known as a feeding station for manta rays and a hangout spot for leopard sharks during the summer months. Divers can also expect to encounter large schools of fish, turtles, bull rays, and eagle rays throughout the year. The currents and shallow depths of 5-15m create an abundance of marine life, making this site a must-visit for divers seeking an immersive underwater adventure.
Located within the Julian Rocks Nguthungulli Nature Reserve, The Needles is conveniently situated near Byron Bay in the Byron Shire Council of New South Wales. Plan your dive at this remarkable site and experience the wonders of underwater exploration in Australia.
Diving Conditions Score for Julian Rocks - Needles
5
AverageAverage conditions, be alert.
The score is based on a calculation of the current weather and sea conditions.
Dive Site Overview for Julian Rocks - Needles
Depth
14m
Visibility
12m
Experience Level
beginner
Weather Conditions for Julian Rocks - Needles
Wave Height
0.94m
Wind Speed
9.5 m/s
Water Temp
21.7°C
Visibility
1.36km
Cloud Cover
15%
Wave Period
9.95s
Air Temperature
14.8°C
Precipitation
0 mm
Detailed 7-Day Diving Forecast for Julian Rocks - Needles
Alpha
Dive Score Chart for Julian Rocks - Needles
Best time to dive: 11:00 with score 7.9073871404399325/10. Water conditions: Waves 0.96m, Wind 0.2 m/s.Best night dive time: 23:00 with score 6.580999145299145/10.
Chart showing hourly dive conditions including wave height, wind speed, water temperature, and visibility throughout the day.
Sunrise at Julian Rocks - Needles: 06:00
Sunset at Julian Rocks - Needles: 18:00
Optimal diving conditions at Julian Rocks - Needles are affected by daylight hours. Sunrise occurs at 06:00 and sunset at 18:00, which impacts visibility and water temperature for scuba diving and snorkeling.
Best Overall
11:00Score: 7.9/10
Waves: 0.96m (9.85s), Wind: 0.2 m/s
Best Night
23:00Score: 6.6/10
Waves: 0.86m, Wind: 13.5 m/s
Seasonal Analysis for Julian Rocks - NeedlesAlpha
Historical patterns and best seasons for diving at Julian Rocks - Needles
The dive score combines all factors to rate overall diving conditions throughout the year. Higher scores indicate better diving conditions.
Monthly Dive Score Analysis - Seasonal Diving Conditions
Higher values indicate better diving conditions
Seasonal DiveScore Chart
This chart displays monthly diveScore data throughout the year, showing seasonal patterns. The data is presented as a bar chart with an overlaid line graph.Dive scores range from 1 to 10, with 10 being optimal conditions.
Higher values indicate better diving conditions
Best Season for Julian Rocks - Needles
Summer
Avg. Score: 8.6/10
Summer offers the warmest water temperatures and generally favorable conditions for all levels of divers.
Best Months for Julian Rocks - Needles
July
Score: 8.7
June
Score: 8.6
August
Score: 8.6
Ideal Conditions for Julian Rocks - Needles
Water Temp
20.4°C / 68.7°F
March
Visibility
13.3m / 43.6ft
November
Wave Height
1.1m / 3.6ft
January
Wave Period
8.0s
January
Seasonal Insights for Julian Rocks - Needles
Julian Rocks - Needles follows southern hemisphere patterns with March being the warmest month (20.4°C) and July the coldest (14.7°C). The calmest conditions typically occur in January with average wave heights of 1.1m and wave periods of 8.0s. The most comfortable wave conditions are in January with a low wave steepness ratio, creating gentler swells. January offers the longest wave periods (8.0s), creating more comfortable and predictable conditions for boat entries and exits. Ocean currents are slowest in January (0.5m/s) and strongest in January (0.5m/s). June is usually the driest month with 0.0mm of precipitation. For beginners, the best time to visit would be during January to March, when ocean conditions are calmer with long-period waves and currents are typically weaker. Experienced divers might enjoy the challenges and potentially better visibility during the shoulder seasons, with moderate currents that can improve marine life encounters.
Last updated: 1 min. ago - Jun 20, 2026
Note: This dive site is not a verified dive site. Please dive with caution. This dive site might have incorrect information by the community.
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