My Experience in Tweed River – Hidden Treasures Beneath the Surface
Ella Matlock Oct 31, 2025
Back in 2013, I became the youngest scuba diver in Tweed Heads to complete a full scuba diving course. I was only 10 years old — and at that time, it was almost unheard of for kids to be certified divers. Luckily for me, I had a little inside help… the dive shop owner just happened to be my dad.
I still remember my very first open water dive like it was yesterday. We dropped beneath the surface of the Tweed River, and suddenly everything went dark and murky. For a 10-year-old, it was pretty intimidating — shapes moved in the shadows, the current tugged at my fins, and I clung to my dad’s side like my life depended on it.
But then came the second dive. The water cleared, the current eased, and the river came alive — fish darting through the seagrass, octopus scuttling along the bottom, and shafts of sunlight dancing across the sand. That’s when I knew: I was hooked. Diving wasn’t just something my dad did. It was something I wanted to be part of too.
Fast forward 12 years, and here I am — a PADI Scuba Instructor, Technician, and part-owner of the family business, Kirra Dive on the Tweed.
You might think that by now I’ve racked up hundreds of dives all over the world — but truth is, I spent most of those years working behind the scenes. I learned every aspect of running a dive shop: servicing equipment, managing logistics, organizing courses, and helping new divers take their first breath underwater. It wasn’t glamorous, but it taught me more about diving — and people — than any single trip ever could.
Over the years, I’ve worked with hundreds of divers from all walks of life — from digital nomads and backpackers to stay-at-home parents and lifelong adventurers. The one thing they all have in common? They find it hard to say goodbye — not just to the Tweed River, but to the Kirra Dive team and the sense of community that lives here.
Because once you dive the Tweed, you’re part of the family.
Every weekend for the past ten years, I somehow always find myself right back where it all began — the Tweed River. No matter how many dives I’ve done there, it never ceases to amaze me. There’s always something new waiting beneath the surface — a rare creature hiding in the sand, a school of fish gliding through the current, or something big passing quietly in the distance. Some days its 20+ meter visibilty to 30cm...
I’ve done hundreds of dives in this river — sunrise dives, night dives, long drifts — and every single one has its own story. But believe it or not, after all these years, I’ve still never seen a shark in the Tweed river.
That doesn’t stop me from trying, though. The moment I hear whispers of a shark sighting, I’m already grabbing my gear and heading straight for the water. Because for me, the Tweed River isn’t just a dive site — it’s home, it’s history, and it’s where the adventure never really ends.
When most people think of diving around the Tweed, they picture offshore reefs like Cook Island or Nine Mile. But locals know there’s another gem right on our doorstep — the Tweed River.
The Tweed might look calm on the surface, but below lies a surprisingly rich underwater world. The river’s estuary system is home to schools of bream, mangrove jack, estuary cod, rays, cuttlefish, and even the occasional turtle. The mix of tidal flow and sandy bottom creates an ever-changing landscape that’s perfect for macro photography, drift dives, and skill refreshers.
For new divers, the Tweed River offers gentle conditions and easy access, making it a great spot to build confidence and get comfortable in the water. For experienced divers, it’s an ideal place to slow down and discover the small wonders — from camouflaged seahorses to shy octopus tucked beneath the pylons.
At Kirra Dive on the Tweed, we run regular river dives depending on tides and conditions. It’s local, it’s easy, and best of all, it’s full of surprises. Let me show you my world...
