Explore Sydney
Sydney is located in New South Wales and is one of the biggest cities in Australia. It is well known for its Opera House, Harbour Bridge and zoo with animal encounters - on dry land. The scuba diving here is often overlooked in favour of the more famous diving on the Great Barrier Reef to the north, but it has some excellent diving of its own.
Of all the big cities in Australia, Sydney has the highest marine biodiversity and biggest diving scene. The year round diving opportunities here are taken advantage of by tourists and locals alike. Over 600 marine animals have been identified in the waters here, with surely many more to be discovered.
There are plenty of dive centers in Sydney, mainly towards the coast in Manly, Coogee and Bondi. Most of these offer dive courses from beginner right up to professional levels. There are no dive resorts as the centers are all based in busy areas. Liveaboards also do not operate here as the ocean conditions, particularly in winter, can be tempestuous.
The diving here is generally colder than the northern waters but you can be assured that the diving is just as colourful. Highlights include bright reefs, covered in corals, wreck diving for the more advanced divers and marine mammal encounters. Grey nurse sharks, wobbegong sharks and fur seals patrol many sites here, even great white sharks have been seen on dives. During the right season you may even be lucky enough to hear the song of humpback whales migrating through the deep water around these dive sites.
Top Dive Sites Map
Diving in Sydney
The diving in Sydney is diverse and can be catered to a variety of levels of divers. Many of the dives here are reef dives which can be accessed from the shore, perfect for beginners. Bare Island is a great example of this, hosting several reef dives suitable for beginners in the calm, protected eastern shore.
There are some fabulous wall dives in the area such as The Colours at South Head. The vibrancy of the gorgonian fans which litter the wall are the reason for the name. Other such dive sites echo the bright colours of the reefs - the cooler water found here encourages healthy corals to flourish.
A number of wrecks can be found here, perfect for a variety of levels. The SS Tuggerah is 45m deep so ideal for technical divers or experienced wreck divers. There is also the HMAS Adelaide, suitable for most other divers.
Certain sites offer swim throughs and caves, such as The Apartments and South West Rocks. A number of the sites can also be dived as drifts in the right conditions. Shelly Beach is known as a muck diving destination with plenty in the blue to keep everyone occupied.
The best Months to dive in Sydney
Diving in Sydney is possible all year round. It has a subtropical climate with generally mild temperatures. The most popular time to dive is during the summer months as they are warmer but winter conditions can be just as good - if colder.
The summer months (November - March) are generally very warm with average temperatures around 27°C or so. There is still rainfall during the summer but the ground can dry out very quickly, leading to the national blight - wildfires. The water temperatures in summer have highs of 25°C, necessitating at least a 3mm long wetsuit for most people.
The winter months between May and September have colder temperatures. The air temperatures average at 17°C with an annual low of 9°C. The water temperatures are 17°C throughout the months of June - November. Though this is cold (many people require a 7mm wetsuit in these temperatures), the diving is still good. Winter storms can bring in strong, cold, southerly winds however which may cause conditions to halt diving in some locations due to surge and wave height. These are also the most common months to hear humpback whales as they migrate - first north to birth their young and then back south to feed in the Antarctic. Though rare to see them, you might be lucky enough to hear their melodies.
Statistics
Historical data and trends
Dive Activity & Environmental Conditions
Centers Map
GIBBERAGONG ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTRE
P.O BOX 3276, 2077 BOBBIN HEAD, NSW - AUS
Shark Dive Xtreme
SEA LIFE - SYDNEY AQUARIUM, 2000 SYDNEY, NSW - AUS
Eunoia Freediving
82 Riviera Avenue, 2107 Avalon Beach, NSW - AUS
INSPIRED FREEDIVING
83 KOOLANG RD, 2251 GREEN POINT, NSW - AUS
William Clarke College
1 Morris Grove, 2155 Kellyville, NSW - AUS