The Needles

The Needles take their name from a row of big bommies that rise close to the surface at the southern end of Julian Rocks, with a central sandy arena and lanes between them. Swell and current reach this side of the rocks, which draws large schools of fish. From about December to April or May leopard sharks gather on the sand, and manta rays visit the larger bommies to be cleaned. Turtles, bull rays, eagle rays and shovelnose rays are seen all year, and the caves hold crayfish, morays and black coral in two colour forms. Divers often continue from here to the Mohole, the Cray Crags and the Line of Smiles.