DIVE LOG JUNE 2025 issue 412

Into the Depths of Nguthungulli: A Freediver’s Adventure at Julian Rocks

Article and photos by Vadim Belakov and Angus Scarrabelotti .

Remoras form a unique symbiotic relationship with Leopard Sharks, attaching to them using their sucker disc. This allows the Remora to feed on parasites and food scraps from the shark, while the shark is unaffected by the Remora's presence

Many people believe scuba diving is the only way to get close to the gentle giants of the marine world. But that’s not the case at Nguthungulli, also known as Julian Rocks. Julian Rocks, Nguthungulli Nature Reserve is 2.5 kilometres off Byron Bay in Northern NSW and is one of Australia’s best snorkelling, free and scuba diving sites! Just a few minutes by boat from the mainland, it offers encounters with an incredible abundance of marine life that is usually the domain of scuba divers. The spot is one of the few places in the world where you’re guaranteed to encounter sharks. Nguthungulli, as it is known to the Bundjalung people, is a culturally and environmentally significant landmark. The Bundjalung people have a deep connection with the rocks, which they believe is the resting place of

Nguthungulli, the Father of the World. In recent years, the traditional name Nguthungulli has gained recognition, reflecting efforts to honour Indigenous culture and history. More than 20 million years ago, a volcanic eruption shaped these formations, creating an underwater terrain of caves, walls, and trenches. The warm tropical currents meeting cooler temperate waters here have created a unique environment that supports over 1,000 marine species, including rare and critically endangered.

Green Turtles that we saw.

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DIVE LOG Australasia #412 June 25

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