Julian Rocks, Australia

Dr Simon J. Pierce · Issue 127, Jul/Aug 2022 · pp. 47–50

Products mentioned: Sony A7rIII, Nauticam NA-A7RIII housing, Canon 8-15mm fisheye lens, Metabones V adapter, YS-D2 strobes, Sharkskin hooded vest, Fourth Element Thermocline top

Julian Rocks, Australia by Dr. Simon J Pierce Julian Rocks is one of Australia’s – and the world’s – best shark dives. No hyperbole. Julian Rocks… rocks. (Sorry.) Julian Rocks are a pair of rocky outcrops named Juan and Julia. Honestly. They’re located just 2.5 km off the main beach at Byron Bay in northern New South Wales, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Australia. Byron is also the easternmost point of the country. Despite the accessible locale, it’s not a crowded site. It’s rare to see other people, even from your own boat, underwater. The rocks themselves are uninhabited, apart from eleventy-billion birds, and they aren’t particularly imposing. Juan, the taller of the two, reaches 19 m in height. You could probably swim right around the pair in an hour or so if you really wanted to. You won’t want to though. There are a lot of distractions underwater. Over 1,000 marin…