Directory of 42 Dive Sites or Spots for Scuba Diving in Sydney, Australia

Diving in Sydney offers some of the best temperate water diving in the world. With water temperatures between 15 and 22 degrees Celsius, a 5mm wetsuit is usually enough, with hood and gloves in winter between June and August. Visibility generally ranges between 5 and 15 meters, getting better the further away from shore.

The waters in New South Wales are home to the weedy sea dragon. These mystical-looking creatures are a family member of the sea horse, and can only be found in the southern Australia region. Another fish specific to Sydney diving is the Blue Groper, this member of the wrasse family is well known to divers in this area and often very curious. Several species of sharks frequent the waters here, like the endangered grey nurse shark and the Wobbegong. 

Each area and each dive school offer their own selection of shore diving. Some of Sydney’s best shore dives are around Bare Island. This island, just south of Sydney, is attached to the mainland by a bridge and sports several good dive sites for any level diver. The Weedy Sea Dragon is found here, along with groupers, Morwong, Wrasse, Damsels and other fish. North Bondi, for advanced divers only, is an interesting dive to explore rock formations and has two caves, the Cathedral Cave and Split Cave. From all northern Sydney shore dive sites, Shelly Beach is by far the most popular. This dive site consists of a sandy bottom and rocky reef that, amongst other marine life, is home to the Wobbegong, Port Jackson shark, groupers, Octopus and Cuttlefish.

Magic Point is reached only by boat and offers a rare opportunity to see the grey nurse shark. The Color Reefs, outside of Sydney Harbor are about 30 meters deep and have an interesting topography with gullies, caves, and drop offs. Sea whips, anemones, gorgonians and sea fans cover the reef here and the site attracts a wealth of marine life that includes Wrasse, Scorpion fish, Cod and Old Wives.