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A group of divers explores a mysterious underwater cave with fascinating rock formations.
📷 Caroline O.marcel · Pexels

Bubble Cave

3.6 — based on 20 community signals
4.3 12 species 30 contributors

Bubble Cave is a year-round dive site near North Solitary Island in Australia's Solitary Islands Marine Park, featuring healthy coral and diverse marine life.

⭐ Best for intermediate divers.

🐢 MPA · Solitary Islands Marine Park updated 4 months ago
Difficulty
Intermediate
MPAShore entryYearRoundHealthyReef

At a glance

Activity
dive
Difficulty
intermediate
Marine life
Nudibranch

Map

This spot POIs Airport Nearby spots
Bubble Cave location map © Google · Map data © Google, contributors
Open in Google Maps

Conditions today

Conditions

Open-Meteo
Wind
7.4 kn
Wave
1.2 m
Water
20.5°C
N E S W
Wind direction (7d)
Primary: E (19%)
Now: WNW (303°)
Tide (7 days)
range: 1.42m

Next: High at 01:00 (+0.31m)

+0.9 m0 m-0.5 m
▲ 01:00 · +0.31m ▼ 07:00 · -0.05m ▲ 14:00 · +0.72m ▼ 21:00 · -0.04m
Sat 19Sun 20Mon 21Tue 22Wed 23Thu 24Fri 25
UV7.2 · high Air PM2.56 · good 05:40 17:40
Day Wind Wave UV Rain
09-19 10.7 1.28 7 0mm
09-20 19.9 1.12 7 0mm
09-21 28.1 1.16 7 0mm
09-22 27.6 1.8 5 0mm
09-23 15.8 1.62 5 0mm
09-24 12.7 1.4 5 3mm
09-25 14.2 1.44 7 5mm

About this spot

Bubble Cave sits within the protected waters of Solitary Islands Marine Park off New South Wales, Australia. The site draws divers to explore underwater formations shaped by natural cave systems and geological features. The area benefits from its marine protected status, which helps maintain thriving coral ecosystems and stable fish populations. The dive is accessible year-round, making it flexible for trip planning. Twelve documented species observations confirm regular marine activity, including reef fish, crustaceans, and other wildlife typical of temperate Australian waters. The coral here shows no signs of bleaching stress, indicating healthy conditions and a resilient ecosystem worth protecting. Planning a dive at Bubble Cave requires coordination with local operators and understanding MPA regulations. The Solitary Islands area is known for clear waters and strong marine biodiversity. Community divers have documented the site through multiple videos, providing reference material for first-timers. Check current conditions and entry requirements before booking, as marine parks enforce specific rules around anchoring, collection, and diver density to preserve the environment.

📖 Guide: Diving in Australia: 61 Sites from Coral Reefs to Cold-Water Wrecks

Marine life

Nudibranch

Dive types

CaveReef

Trip essentials

Everything you need before you pack — checklist, sun, logistics.

Trip checklist

  • 🛂 Visa-free or visa-on-arrival
  • 📜 C-card + dive insurance (DAN)
  • 📔 Dive logbook
  • 🧴 Reef-safe sunscreen SPF 50+
  • 🔌 Plug type I · 230V adapter
  • 💊 Seasickness meds + ear drops
  • 📱 Offline maps + emergency contact

Quick facts

  • 🌓 Moon First quarter · 47%
  • GPS
Sustainability disclosures
🌍 CO2 footprint LHR ↔ 16794km · ~3863kg · €70

From your departure country

United States
Origin score: 53/100
  • Visa: e-Visa · 90 days max
  • Flight: 16h · direct
  • Jet-lag: 9h east · 6 days recovery

FAQ

When is the best time to dive Bubble Cave?

Bubble Cave is diveable year-round. Conditions and weather vary by season, so check local forecasts and operator schedules before planning your trip.

What marine life will I see?

Twelve species have been documented at Bubble Cave, including reef fish and other temperate-water marine life. Coral here is healthy with no bleaching stress reported.

Do I need permits or have restrictions?

Yes. Bubble Cave is inside Solitary Islands Marine Park. You must follow MPA rules, including no collection, restricted anchoring, and diver regulations. Check current rules with local authorities.

How do I access Bubble Cave?

Access is via boat from the NSW coast near North Solitary Island. Work with local dive operators familiar with the site and current entry requirements.

Recently spotted by divers

iNaturalist →

Verified marine species observations

65 records · 41 species · sources: OBIS, GBIF

Megaptera novaeangliae

Humpback whale
Mammalia · Balaenopteridae
OBIS
Last seen:
17 Jun 2023
×1records

Carcharodon carcharias

White Shark
Elasmobranchii · Lamnidae
OBIS
Last seen:
21 Jun 2021
×2records
Depth:
31–32 m

Carcharhinus plumbeus

Sandbar Shark
Elasmobranchii · Carcharhinidae
OBIS
Last seen:
3 Jun 2021
×2records
Depth:
47–52 m

Carcharodon carcharias

White Shark
Elasmobranchii · Lamnidae
OBIS
Last seen:
30 Jul 2019
×1records
Depth:
25 m

Carcharodon carcharias

White Shark
Elasmobranchii · Lamnidae
OBIS
Last seen:
4 Nov 2018
×4records
Depth:
18–52 m

Galeocerdo cuvier

Tiger Shark
Elasmobranchii · Galeocerdonidae
OBIS
Last seen:
11 Mar 2018
×1records
Depth:
25 m

Galeocerdo cuvier

Tiger Shark
Elasmobranchii · Galeocerdonidae
OBIS
Last seen:
29 Nov 2017
×1records
Depth:
0 m

Carcharodon carcharias

White Shark
Elasmobranchii · Lamnidae
OBIS
Last seen:
2 Nov 2017
×3records
Depth:
27–32 m

Maldanidae

Polychaeta · Maldanidae
OBIS
Last seen:
5 Jun 2017
×1records
Depth:
4414–4436 m

Carcharhinus plumbeus

Sandbar Shark
Elasmobranchii · Carcharhinidae
OBIS
Last seen:
18 Apr 2016
×2records
Depth:
50–56 m

Aglaura hemistoma

Hydrozoa · Rhopalonematidae
OBIS
Last seen:
20 Jul 2015
×1records
Depth:
0–5 m

Carcharhinus plumbeus

Sandbar Shark
Elasmobranchii · Carcharhinidae
OBIS
Last seen:
26 Jun 2015
×6records
Depth:
32–36 m

Data: 187,991 observations from OBIS (Ocean Biodiversity Information System) and GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility). CC-BY 4.0.

See this spot in action

YouTube videos — click to play.

Cave Diving The Pines Cave Mount Gambier, SA

ScubaCrave (OzDiverDown)
💬 3 top comments
  • Wow that looks awesome

    @tylerbushell2333 · 👍 1
  • Removed / altered some text. I removed between Mount Gambier and Millicent. but otherwise No. The best thing we could do is Just don't let the person who contacted you know about Google , and it should remain hidden to them.

    @ozdiverdown · 👍 0
  • Wow! That looks scary yet awesome.

    @Chic1110 · 👍 0

Kislbys Cave Mt Gambier September 2012

Joseph Bicanic (CA)
💬 2 top comments
  • wonderful :)

    @Jordee05 · 👍 0
  • Thanks Joseph now I got one more reason to visit Australia. But it is toooooo damn faaaar :(((

    @MrNotebookguy · 👍 0

This is a Silt Out in an Underwater Cave!

Guy Bryant
💬 3 top comments
  • I can imagine a lot of people have lost their lives due to silt out. Part of the reason I’ll probably never go cave diving. Open water diving sounds really fun though

    @Autumn_0401 · 👍 27
  • Thank God you had that line Guy!

    @jaredmajor6920 · 👍 10
  • Thats cozy 😂

    @frosty_depths · 👍 2
wind peaks Oct-Sep-Apr, calmest Mar-Feb-Jun, dry Jan-Dec.

5-year monthly climate

60 samples
0 5 10 15 20 25 JFMAMJJASOND
p25–p75 range Median Wind (kn) Air (°C)
Visibility (month-by-month)
Best: May (100/100) Worst: Mar (0/100) Now: Sep (44/100) NOAA MODIS Aqua · 5y mean

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