Diving for all levels

Sydney is one of the few major cities in the world where you can go from the heart of downtown to incredible dive sites in under an hour. With a diverse mix of sheltered bays, rocky reefs, kelp forests, and historic shipwrecks, Sydney offers fantastic diving for all experience levels, from beginners to seasoned technical divers.

The temperate waters here are home to an incredible variety of marine life, including weedy sea dragons, wobbegong sharks, giant cuttlefish, and even the occasional grey nurse shark. Thanks to the East Australian Current, Sydney’s underwater world also sees visits from tropical species, making it a unique blend of both temperate and warm-water marine ecosystems.

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Highlights

• Boat dives for beginner to experienced divers
• Discover Sydney’s diverse marine life
• Spectacular and unique dive sites

Boat Dives in Sydney

Magic Point

Magic Point is one of Sydney’s most iconic dive sites, and is suitable for beginner divers and above. It is best known for its large rock ledge and cave that starts at 7m and extends to a depth of 16m. This site is a key habitat for grey nurse sharks, which have historically gathered here in large numbers—sometimes over 30 at a time. To support their conservation, Magic Point was designated a protected area in 2013, banning fishing to help the population recover.

Beyond the sharks, divers can encounter wobbegongs, Port Jackson sharks, giant cuttlefish, bull rays, yellowtail, weedy sea dragons, and pineapple fish. During the right season, lucky divers may even spot humpback whales and bottlenose dolphins passing through. With its incredible marine life and conservation significance, Magic Point is a must-dive for anyone exploring Sydney’s underwater world.

North Harbour Aquatic Reserve

North Harbour Aquatic Reserve, located between Manly and Dobroyd Head, is a fantastic dive spot offering a mix of sheltered bays, rocky reefs, and diverse marine life. The reserve is home to seagrass meadows, sponge gardens, and kelp forests, creating a rich habitat for a variety of species.

Divers can encounter weedy sea dragons, giant cuttlefish, octopuses, wobbegong sharks, and Port Jackson sharks, along with schools of bream, yellowtail, and leatherjackets. The reserve’s calm waters and relatively shallow depths make it ideal for both beginners and experienced divers looking for a relaxed dive.

Popular sites within the reserve include Fairlight Beach, Reef Beach, and Washaway Beach, each offering unique underwater landscapes. With its protected status, the marine life here thrives, making North Harbour Aquatic Reserve a must-visit for those looking to experience Sydney’s diverse underwater ecosystems.

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Long Reef/ The Apartments

Located north of Sydney Harbour, Long Reef is a spectacular dive site featuring a dramatic rock wall that drops to depths of 15–20 meters. One of its standout features is The Cathedral, a breathtaking swim-through formed by two massive boulders leaning against each other, covered in sea tulips, sponges, and bryozoans. The ceiling of The Cathedral is teeming with marine life, while the western exit opens up to schools of bullseyes, roughies, yellowtail, pike, and tailor.

Divers can also encounter large cuttlefish, wobbegongs, Port Jackson sharks, and, during winter, young grey nurse sharks in the gutters north of The Cathedral. Visibility tends to improve in the cooler months, making it an excellent winter dive. However, strong currents can be present so this dive is suitable for advanced divers only.

Dee Why Wide

Dee Why is an offshore reef north of Sydney Harbour, known for its stunning underwater topography and vibrant marine life. Suitable for advanced divers, the site ranges from 20m to 36m in depth and features multiple dive spots along a north-to-south reef system. The reef edge is characterized by impressive boulder formations and flat ledges, all covered in a dense array of soft corals and sponges in a variety of colors and shapes. This rich habitat attracts diverse marine species, making it an exciting dive for those seeking deeper, more challenging underwater exploration.

Non- Certified divers:

If you are not a certified diver, unfortunately you will not be able to participate in the boat dives. However, there are courses available in Sydney for those looking to learn how to dive.

From Manly Yacht Club
Departs 7.45am – please be at the wharf 15 minutes prior to departure
From Rose Bay Ferry Wharf (top of boat ramp)
Departs 8.15am – please be at the wharf 15 minutes prior to departure

Afternoon Dives

From Rose Bay Ferry Wharf (top of boat ramp)
Departs 12.30pm – please be at the wharf 15 minutes prior to departure
From Manly Yacht Club
Departs 1.00pm – please be at the wharf 15 minutes prior to departure

Please note:  Rose Bay has a new Ferry wharf THIS IS NOT THE WHARF WE PICK UP AT, we pick up at the wharf at the top of the boat ramp.

Please be at the wharf 15 minutes prior to departure

*WARNING – parking is difficult in Sydney and especially at peak times during the day, we encourage you to arrive at your chosen pickup point at least 30-40 minutes prior to departure. If you miss the dives due to traffic and/or parking issues, you will forfeit your dives as per our terms and conditions.