Scientific name: Orectolobidae

You’ll find some spectacular examples of the 12 species of this beautiful “carpet shark” in and around Sydney Harbour. Affectionately referred to as “wobbies,” the name wobbegong comes from the aboriginal word meaning “shaggy beard.”

Wobbegong are placid, retiring sharks that live on the bottom in shallow temperate waters. Their teeth are small, pointy and sharp, but they’re not a threat to divers unless harassed and provoked. Humans aren’t on the menu. We’re much too big and nasty. Wobbegong will munch on crabs and lobsters, octopus and small fish unlucky enough to swim by their mouth as they lie still in their natural camouflage.

See wobbies up close on our Sydney dives

The best way to learn about wobbegong sharks is to see them in the flesh on a dive with Sydney Dive Charters. Our dive videos won’t do them justice, but perhaps they will give you the motivation to join us for a dive with these magnificient creatures.

Top Sydney shark dives

Spectacular shark dives are just a short boat trip away from Sydney. Check out our top Sydney shark diving spots.

Quick Facts on Wobbegong Sharks

• Wobbegong sharks are not protected at the moment in NSW. The population is deemed to be in good health.
• Some of the 12 species or sub-classification of wobbegong include:
  • Spotted wobbegong
  • Tasselled wobbegong
  • Ornate wobbegong
  • Orectolobus
• Wobbegong have anywhere from 4 to 18 young in one clutch. The shark pups grow inside eggs inside the womb. They’ll hatch inside their mother and will be born live after 10 to 11 months.
• As bottom dwellers, wobbegongs will often use their bottom flippers to waddle on the ocean floor.
• Wobbies are ambush predators with a powerful bite. If the prey is too large to swallow whole, they’ll hold onto it until it dies and then consume it in bite-sized chunks.
• Woobies are one of the only sharks that can turn around and bite their own tail so don’t ever pull it while diving.
• Unlike other sharks, wobbegong like bubbles going through their gills. On some dives, I have had wobbies swim on top and then lie on you while you’re digging! (Aquariums use ‘air or bubble walls’ to separate wobbgong sharks from other parts of the aquarium.)
• Their underside is bright white.
• Wobbies’ eyes are silver at night. They’re quite different from crayfish eyes (which are red.) Divers on night dives can often see silver eyes odeep in the recesses of ledges with crayfish up front. If  a diver tries to take a crayfish, the wobby will often charge out protecting his future dinner.
• A wobbegong bite ise similar to a pit bull’s. Once a wobby bites on, there is no way to get them to release unless they try to adjust their hold. Many a wobby have been killed when they wouldn’t let go.
• Divers on many occasions have knelt or laid on a wobby during a dive and the wobby will often no even move, but they will remember being mistreated by divers and have been known to swim up into midwater to harass or bite a diver who has pulled its tail on an earlier part of the dive.
• If a diver is bitten, they will typically present with a nasty bruise. If the bite is directly onto the skin, expect small needle-type marks throughout with bruising.
• On our dives, we’ve seen wobbies around 4m long. We’ve also encountered 5-6 wobbies laying side-by-side or even on top of each other in an area rich with sea life.
• At The Apartments, there is a very dark and large wobby who likes to swim midwater around our divers. We will typically follow the large wobby along. This seems out of character for wobbies who generally lie around looking like they are sleeping all the time.