Bare Island
Situated in the eastern suburbs of Sydney lies La Perouse and Bare Island, a heritage-listed site where Governor Philip and French explorer Jean-Francois La Perouse entered Botany Bay, marking their place in history as some of the first Europeans in Australia. Bare Island stands out as one of the most renowned and frequently visited dive sites around Sydney, drawing dozens of divers who revel in its beauty on a weekly basis. The dive site is famed for its diverse and vibrant sponge gardens, teeming with marine life, including pygmy pipefish, red Indian fish, sea stars, seahorses, blue groupers, moray eels, stingrays, and a great variety of nudibranchs, often referred to as the dragons of the sea.
Divers have two options when exploring the sites here. The left side, though challenging to access, generally offers better visibility. The maximum depth is 12 meters, with the most captivating marine life found around 8 meters. On the right side of Bare Island, divers can seek refuge in case of a significant southerly swell, potentially reaching depths of 18 meters. This area provides a high chance of encountering the famous and friendly Bare Island blue grouper.
For a good experience, arriving early for parking is crucial, especially during the busy summer months.
Blue Grouper, one of the many species of marine life found at the dive site.
Bare Island view from above, visible is the bridge connecting the carpark and the dive site.
Shelly Beach
Moving to the Northern Beaches of Sydney, in the Cabbage Tree Bay aquatic reserve which spans about 20 hectares is Shelly Beach one of the best and more reliable shore dives Sydney offers. Recreational diving and water activities flourish in this area, where fishing or collecting marine life are strictly prohibited. The dive begins at Shelly Beach, entering from the right-hand side (facing the sea). During the dive, keep the rock wall on your right as you head out and on your left when returning to shore. This site is generally shielded from easterly winds, making it more consistently diveable than other locations. The marine life is abundant and colorful, showcasing blue groupers, schools of yellowtail and big eyes, flatheads, red morwongs, occasional dusky halers sharks, and plenty of Port Jacksons and giant cuttlefish during the winter months. Shelly Beach is an excellent dive site suitable for both beginners and experienced divers with most dives being between 8 and 15 metres.
Be sure to arrive early to get in on the action as this place attracks SCUBA divers from all around Sydney who cannot wait to get in and be greated to a fantastic shore dive with plenty of marine life to look around. There is a car park at the top, just be aware of there are charges to park and can soometimes be steep. Our recommendation is to leave your gear as close to the end of the first parking area and go back and park in one of the agecent streets as it is oonly a short walk. Equipment can be hired from one of the shops on near the dive site in case you do not want to travel with all the gear, also it is common to see groups of shore divers being guided to discover the worls under the water.
Port Jackson shark, one of many marine life you can see at shelly beach.
Shelly beach from above.
Clifton Gardens
Situated along the Mosman shore, Clifton Gardens is a haven for macro life enthusiasts. The dive site boasts an array of marine life, including frogfishes, octopuses, squids, pygmy pipefish, moray eels, nudibranches, and decorator crabs. The nets surrounding the dive site house several species of seahorses, some endemic to Sydney Harbour. Accessible from the end of the jetty or the beach, this shallow dive site offers a rewarding experience for camera enthusiasts.
Decorator Crab and species found in this shore dive.
Clifton Gardens from above
Gordons Bay
Located in the eastern suburbs of Sydney, south of the iconic Bondi Beach, Gordons Bay is known for its underwater nature trail. This self-guided 600-meter trail of barrels and chains takes approximately 40 to 50 minutes to complete, depending on your speed. Divers flock to this shore dive site for its diverse marine life, including wobbegong sharks, moray eels, schools of yellowtail, old wives, octopuses, stingrays, eagle rays, blue groupers, and more. In the winter months, the site is teeming with the well-known Port Jackson sharks and the Crested Horned shark. Access this site from the southern end of Clovelly car park, following the trail down to the rocky boat ramp. While it is easier to access during high tide, navigating through big swells can pose a challenge. A must-visit for any scuba diver in Sydney!
It is not uncommon to spot southern eagle rays in this great shore dive
Gordons Bay view from above.