Favourite Sydney Boat Dive Sites
The Apartments
The Apartments has it all – spectacular sea life, topography replete with tunnels and boulders with some of the best visibility of all our Sydney dive sites. Let’s not forget the grey nurse sharks that congregate at the Cathedral entrance. Divers will swim through schools of 10’s of thousands of Southern Pomfrets that permanently live throughout this dive site. An interesting fact about the interaction of these schools of fish and the Grey Nurse sharks is we commonly see the Grey Nurse sharks congregating under the Southern Pomfrets schools.
Quick Facts on The Apartments Boat Dive
- Location: North-East of Fisherman Beach
- Diver Level: Open Water Qualification (10 boat dives+)
- Depth: 8m to 21m
- Recommended Gas: 21% or Nitrox
- Dive time: Between 25 to 60 mins or 4hr double dive
- Visibility: 10m to 40m
- Season: All year but best in December – April/May peak.
Sydney’s Seal Colony
Just a 10-15 minute boat ride from our pickup point on the Northern Beaches we can find a rock platform that is home to Sydney Harbour’s Australian Fur Seal colony. Depending on the time of year, the Australian Fur Seal colony will include between 2-20 individuals. Diving just off this rock platform is the best way to see these stunning animals in their natural habitat. The dive site includes a sheer underwater wall down to 10-13m and a plateau, which is the best spot to interact with the inquisitive Fur Seals under water.. Large schools of small fish are also seen in this area.
Quick Facts on our Sydney Colony Boat Dive
- Location: Sydney Harbour South Head
- Diver Level: Open Water Qualification
- Depth: 15m to 37m
- Recommended Gas: 21% or Nitrox
- Dive time: Generally, 35 to 70 mins
- Visibility: 5m to 25m
- Season: Winter (20 to 30 Seals) or Summer (10 to 15 seals)
Bluefish Valley
The Bluefish Valley boat dive site is located near Bluefish Point at North Head, north of Sydney Harbor, and has recently been discovered as a year-round Grey Nurse Shark colony and mating site. This Sydney shark dive site is perfect for recently certified divers as it is located in a sheltered area of Bluefish Point, protected from wind and waves. It has a depth range from 16m at the reef edge to 7m in the valley. There is rarely any current at all, and visibility usually ranges between 10-30m, depending on sea conditions. We rate this dive site as an Open Water level dive, which is perfect for new or first time boat divers. Buefish Valley has sheer walls on either side and boulders covered in kelp and soft corals, often providing cover for Giant Cuttlefish. The Grey Nurse Shark colony is mostly cruising around within the valley, allowing divers to get up close with these gentle creatures. Grey Nurse Shark numbers range generally from10-20 sharks, depending on the season.
Quick Facts on our Bluefish Valley Boat Dive
- Location: Bluefish Point, North Head
- Diver Level: Open Water Qualification
- Depth: 5m to 16m
- Recommended Gas: 21% or Nitrox
- Dive time: 35 to 70 mins
- Visibility: 10m to 30m
- Season: All seasons
Diamond’s Wall
Diamond’s wall is an amazing dive site and can be dived in two directions. Scuba divers are dropped off either at the northern end or southern end of the wall to do a one-way drift dive following a 100m long cliff wall to a depth of up to 24m. The depth can be managed to cater to the diver’s skill level. The undersea flora and fauna are worth the visit, this underwater sea wall attracts schooling Kingfish with growing numbers in recent years. There are also several large swim throughs with resident Giant Cuttlefish, Banded Shrimp, Crayfish and Slipper Crays, Grey Nurse Sharks and Wobbegong Sharks. Our dive guide will guide the group until the predetermined dive time or until minimum gas is reached, then an SMB will be deployed and a safety stop completed before surfacing and signalling the dive boat for pickup.
Quick Facts about our Diamond’s Wall Boat Dive
- Location: South of Sydney Harbour
- Diver Level: Open Water Qualification
- Depth: 13m to 24m
- Recommended Gas: 21% or Nitrox
- Dive time: 35 to 70 mins
- Visibility: Over 10m to 30m
- Season: All seasons
Fairfax Lookout
Fairfax Lookout is located at the far end or Eastern end of North Head and is part of the North Harbour Aquatic Reserve which extends west. Our Master will anchor our purpose built Sydney dive boat in one of several beautiful dive sites, in depths to suits the divers aboard on the day. Needless to say you will descend to any number of colourful sponge gardens renowned for their colour and diversity of marine life. Our dive guide generally doesn’t have to travel far throughout the dive as there is so much to see, however if the dive group wants to explore the different depths levels and their corresponding sea life the Master is always happy to plan a one way dive using the prevailing tide to assist the divers cover as much ground with as little effort as possible. Again, we strongly recommend bringing or renting a good torch to get the best view of the abundant (and colourful) marine life.
Quick Facts on Outer Colours Boat Dive
- Location: Half nautical mile off South Head
- Diver level: Advanced
- Depth: 26m to 33m
- Recommended Gas: 21% or Nitrox
- Dive time: Generally, 35 to 70 mins
- Visibility: 5m to 25m
- Season: All year
The Split
The Split is located on the outer area of South Head and sits in a large area extending from the 10m boulder line to the reef edge. To its north is where many artefacts still lay from Sydney’s most tragic naval event, the sinking of the full-rigged ship “The Dunbar” which struct the rock in 1857 with the loss of 121 souls. To the west of our anchoring position we see the Sydney dive site known as “The Gap”. Sydney divers of all certification levels will explore the many swim throughs and large boulders all covered in colourful sponges and corals, and often will plan to do a ‘one way dive” coming up in the shallows to see the awaiting dive boat. You will see Gorgonia Fan corals and many different schooling fish such as Yellowtail (Yakka’s), Southern Pomfrets and Whiting. Scuba divers will also encounter Wobbiegong and Port Jackson sharks and during winter.
Quick Facts on The Split Boat Dive
- Location: Three dive sites north of the heads
- Diver Level: Advanced
- Depth: 10m to 24m
- Recommended Gas: 21% or Nitrox
- Dive time: 35 to 70 mins
- Visibility: 5m to 25m
- Season : All year
Outer / Inner Colours
An advanced dive outside of the heads. The Inner and Outer Colours is a offshore reef which extend north to south a miles or so off South Head. Bring a torch to experience the full impact of this colourful Sydney marine life coral reef dive. Our purpose built dive boat has several great dive sites to anchor, so scuba divers can explore and navigate the several walls covered in colourful sponges and soft corals, all the while keeping an eye out for the large school’s of Kingfish which frequent this offshore Sydney dive site. We often encounter large single Grey Nurse sharks with schools of pilot fish in tow. We also see the Wobbiegong and Port Jackson shark throughout this area. If you’re into underwater photography it will be hard to choose which lens to use, macro or wide-angle, as the reef is covered with many varieties of small colourful Nudibranch, as well as encountering larger Bull Rays and Sharks. Scuba divers will use Nitox on this deeper Sydney dive site so they can stay down longer.
Quick Facts about our Inner/Outer Colours Boat Dive
- Location: A mile offshore from south head
- Diver level: Advanced
- Depth: 26m to 33m
- Recommended Gas: 21% or Nitrox
- Dive time: 35 to 70 mins
- Visibility: 5m to 25m
- Season: All year
Bluefish Point
Bluefish point is a fantastic dive north of the heads towards Manly, famed for its schools of big fish, ledges and caves. This is one of our most popular dives for marine life. Bluefish Point dive site can be dived two different ways depending on the daily weather conditions, the first is, we anchor in the lee of the headland and dive to the point where we encounter the many types of schooling fish, a beautiful soft sponge and coral garden that has resident Weedy Seadragons. On other days when the weather conditions are more favourable we can dive along the front of the headland, along a shear wall, using the wall to assist our navigation and using the prevailing current to do a one way dive, meeting the boat crew 100s of metres away from our entry point. During this “one way” Sydney dive we explore many caves, swim throughs, encounter Bull Ray’s, big school’s of Kingfish and Grey Nurse sharks.
Quick Facts on our Bluefish Point Boat Dive
- Location: Three dive sites north of the heads
- Diver Level: Advanced
- Depth: 10m to 24m
- Recommended Gas: 21% or Nitrox
- Dive time: 35 to 70 mins
- Visibility: 5m to 25m
- Season: All year
North Harbour Aquatic Reserve
A collection of five dive spots all in the Sydney’s North Harbour Aquatic Reserve. These dive sites have an abundance of aquatic life including sharks and over 60 species of colourful sponges and corals. Sydney’s North Harbour Aquatic Reserve is one of Sydney’s underwater treasures and could be explored everyday of a scuba divers life with new marine life being encountered daily. With so many colourful sponges and corals in so many different areas and depths with several different reef topography such as boulders, flat reef, small caves and ledges. This area is also very sheltered so is perfect for open water or advanced scuba divers. Big schools of Kingfish, Wobbegong, Port Jackson, Crested Horn sharks and Giant Cuttlefish are commonly encountered, however the biggest attraction is the Weedy Seadragons we find in the sponge gardens – a must see Sydney dive location.
Quick Facts on our North Harbour Aquatic Reserve Boat Dives
- Location: Inner North Head West, north of Sydney Harbour.
- Diver Level: Open Water Qualification
- Depth: 10m to 36m
- Recommended Gas: 21% or Nitrox
- Dive time: 35 to 70 mins
- Visibility: 10m to 30m
- Season: All seasons
Dee Why Wide
A magnificent offshore dive site has with many great long swim throughs, big walls covered in many colourful sponges and hard corals. Divers will encounter Eastern Blue Devil fish, Giant Cuttlefish, Port Jackson and Wobbegong sharks in the many long swim through which your dive guide will guide you through, a dive torch is necessary diving Dee Why Wide. Scuba divers will need to hold a minimum advanced certificate to dive this extensive dive site and we suggest diving on nitrox to extend your bottom time as your average dive depth would generally be 26m but divers can reach over 30m. One of the few Sydney dives that the friendly Giant Cuttlefish will occasionally interact with our diving parties. Take in the beautiful surroundings whilst you enjoy a beautiful day out with Sydney’s best boat dive charter scuba diving crew.
Quick Facts on our Dee Why Wide Boat Dive
- Location: Offshore reef north of Sydney Harbour
- Diver Level: Advanced Divers
- Depth: 20m to 36m
- Recommended Gas: Nitrox
- Dive time: 25 to 60 mins
- Visibility: 30m +
- Season: All seasons
Ex-HMAS Adelaide
We set out from the Northern Beaches to save time and to ensure a safer diving experience as scuba divers don’t need to travel over Mt White on their return journey to Sydney after their dives which reduces the risk of a DCI incident. The wreck of the Ex-HMAS Adelaide is now well established and home to many colourful corals and soft sponges which cover the outer hull and super structure, the radar and upper deck structure provides a great safe area for big schools of Kingfish and has over the last few years being used by Sydney’s popular of Grey Nurse sharks and we are regularly checked out by several Australian Fur seals who have found a perfect feeding area with the large schools of fish that now have moved into the marine reserve. The Ex-HMAS Adelaide is a dive only area and as such, NO fishing is allowed in the Marine Reserve. Our Sydney dive guide will guide you through many different internal areas of the ships hull after discussing what you feel comfortable with achieving and what you would like to see and where you would like your photo taken, such as the wheelhouse Captains chair. The Ex-HMAS Adelaide has been specially designed for scuba diver safety, and went through extensive cleaning and hazard reduction to protect Sydney scuba divers, with many holes being strategically cut into the outer hull and decking so there is always a exit close by whilst you enjoy this marvellous wreck dive. Our 35min boat run up the coast gives our divers the change to see Humpback and Southern Right whales up close. We also offer a more advanced version 70-minute version of this dive for those qualified.
Quick Facts on our Ex-HMAS Adelaide Boat Dive
- Location: Off Sydney’s Central Coast (Avoca Beach)
- Diver Level: Advanced
- Depth: 15m to 37m
- Recommended Gas: Nitrox 30%
- Dive time: Generally, 35 to 70 mins
- Visibility: 5m to 25m
- Season: All seasons
Magic Point
Magic Point has earned a reputation for being a spectacular gathering point for Sydney’s Grey Nurse sharks population which can seen while scuba diving all year round, with Sydney’s summer months starting around December and slowing down around May, this period being the most productive mating time for Grey Nurse sharks off Sydney, this is when Grey Nurse shark numbers can grow to around 25-30. Magic Point dive site also features many other interesting marine creatures that our scuba divers can encounter, watch and take underwater photos of. Boat diving Sydney’s Magic Point dive site is the best way to dive this great dive site and Sydney Dive Charters provides an experienced dive guide so you will be able to explore this dive site. After anchoring our purpose built dive boat on the shallowest part of the reef at around 7m, this is generally where we start our scuba dive from before diving down over the reef wall on the way to the cave where the many Grey Nurse sharks are found and large schools of Yellowtail or Yakkas, we also commonly see 2-3m Bull Rays in this area. After we have all the photos we need your dive guide will guide the dive group down the reef to explore the colourful sponge gardens covering the boulder fields, passing more schooling fish such a Whiting, always on the lookout for the many Giant Cuttlefish or the very rare and shy resident Pineapple fish located at the back of any number of ledges or small caves, a torch is essential if you wan to get the most out of your dive experience with Sydney Dive Charters as the water depth takes all of those bright colours away unless an artificial light is used. Wobbegong, Port Jackson and Crested Horn sharks are also common and regularly seen, your dive guide will take you in search of the resident Weedy Seadragons which can be found in the kelp gardens just off the reef edge before heading back up the reef to conduct a safety stop before surfacing and boarding the dive boat.
Quick Facts on our Magic Point Boat Dive
- Location: Maroubra
- Diver Level: Open Water Qualification
- Depth: 7m to 23m
- Recommended Gas: 21% or Nitrox
- Dive time: 35 to 70 mins
- Visibility: 10m to 30m
- Season: All seasons
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Sydney Scuba Dive Costings
All prices include GST. Prices are per person.
Single Dive $89.00
Single Night Dive $89.00
TSS Currajong Night Dive $150.00
Double Boat Dive $145.00
Technical Tec 1 Dive (40-51m) $150.00
Tec 1 Dive + 1 Recreational Dive $180.00
Technical Tec 2 Dive (51-78m) $180.00
Tec 2 “Peak” Dive $1500 (full boat rate. max 6 divers)
Ex – HMAS Adelaide Double Dive $150.00
Freediving $450.00ph (10pax max)
Whale Watching $65.00
Charter Rate $POA
Freediver $145.00 pp
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Sydney Dive Charters has a full range of the very best top quality hire gear range including Scubapro, Halcyon, Faber steel tanks or aluminium tanks and has all dive gases such as air, nitrox, helium, and oxygen, dive gases can be blended on request when dive certification is provided. Sydney Dive Charters hire gear BCD’s are Scubapro Tec Wing’s which allows scuba divers to get the very most out of their Sydney diving. Scuba divers when booking their Sydney boat dives can add-on any variety of our top of the range hire gear simply by adding on the hire gear package that best suits their needs for the day boat diving.
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I had an awesome couple of dives on the Ex-HMAS Adelaide for my 100th dive. It was an amazing experience thanks to Jason’s excellent boat and service, his detailed briefing really helped me navigate the ship wreck.
We dive regularly with Jason. He really looks after us. Great diving. Love the boat. Dives run on time which let’s us get to work after our dives.
I’ve chartered Sydney Dive Charters for my company’s annual Christmas party and we had a great time, the boat is great and Jason really went out of his way to accommodate our needs. I will definitely be back on board this year!
“I’ve been diving with Jason aboard Sydney Dive Charters dive boat for nearly 3 years now and I keep coming back. I’ve had the pleasure of exploring and enjoying some of the best technical wrecks in the Sydney Region. The boat makes for comfortable, easy diving – which when coupled with Jason’s local knowledge provides a complete service. There is nothing better than diving on a boat when you know the skipper is first and foremost a diver himself”
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