Shelly Beach

The dive

White sand and a reef of tumbled boulders slope gently away from the beach. The reserve is no-take, so the fish are unafraid of divers. An eastern blue groper will often follow you for the whole dive.

The best of the site is further out than most people get, so you need reasonable air consumption to reach it. Swim out with the rock wall on your right until it turns north and starts to peter out. Then take a heading and follow the remains of the wall along the sea floor to a kelp bed. Weedy seadragons are often found here, in no more than 12 m of water.

Early in the dive it’s worth leaving the rocks briefly to look for a small motorcycle wreck lying on the sand. Wobbegongs sleep in crevices and under the big boulders, and you’ll find shrimps under the ledges. Port Jackson sharks and giant cuttlefish are common in season.

Getting in and out

Enter from the shore along the right-hand side of the beach as you face the sea. Keep the rock wall on your right on the way out and on your left on the way back.

Shelly Beach is about a 10-minute walk from Manly along Marine Parade. There are gear-rinse facilities and a café nearby. Only one main road leads to the beach and it can be badly congested, so arrive early.

Our guided shore dives are usually here, with your hire gear waiting at the site.

Conditions and tips

Like any site, Shelly Beach depends on the weather. It’s generally protected in easterly winds, so you can often dive here when many other Sydney sites are blown out.

Visibility ranges from 3 to 15 m and is usually clearer in winter. On a good day this is a spectacular site. It’s also a relaxed place to get back into diving: a chance to refresh your gear set-up, hand signals, weighting and buoyancy with a guide beside you.