WHERE ARE WE GOING?
Today we are diving in Sydney, Gordons Bay – Australia!
HOW DO WE GET THERE?
Diving in Sydney can be close to the CBD. We are going to Gordon’s Bay which is a local shore dive in Sydney – about a 20 – 30 minute drive south east of Sydney’s CBD. There is public transport access to this area (by bus). However, the easiest way is by motor vehicle, especially if transporting dive gear.
Follow Clovelly Road all the way along and there is parking at the southern end of the car park, close to the entry point for this dive.
This is generally a popular seaside location for beachgoers etc. so parking can fill up on the weekends! Parking is free, though, on the weekends, the surf lifesaving club takes donations at the carpark entrance.
Access to the water is from the southwestern corner of the car park, down a gently sloping concrete path onto a rock platform.
WHY ARE WE DIVING IN SYDNEY – GORDONS BAY?
Diving in Sydney, Gordons Bay, offers a nice variety of marine life. It is an easily accessible dive location, in a sheltered bay, offering reasonably calm and easy dive conditions. It is particularly suited to new or inexperienced divers for this reason. I first dove here many years ago when completing my own PADI Open Water course.
WHICH DIVE SITES ARE MUST-SEE?
Gordons Bay is an easy dive site, with a maximum depth of around 14 meters. While on some days conditions can be rough, generally the bay is protected from the wind and has calm conditions.
TELL ME MORE
There is a variety of marine life to be seen including the Blue Grouper, octopus, moray eel, stingray, shrimp, as well as a range of fish including leather jackets, wrasse and even the occasional boxfish.
Sharks in Australia: How Far Away can Sharks Smell Blood?
DO I NEED ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT?
For most of the year a 5mm to 7mm wersuit will suffice when diving in Sydney, east coast. Some people may prefer a semi-dry or a drysuit if planning long dives or multiple dives in the cooler temperatures.
Fins requiring booties will make it easier to walk the rock platform when entering the water.
A torch is useful for illuminating underneath and between rocks.
There are local dive operators who are able to provide the gear you will need for a scuba dive.
WHAT LEVEL CERTIFICATION SHOULD I BE?
This is an excellent dive site for Open Water level and up divers.
WHAT ARE THE CONDITIONS?
This is an easy dive site with a max. depth of around 14 meters. Access is via a concrete path that leads to a rock platform allowing easy access to the water. There can be very small waves but with care, these are easy to navigate.
Visibility can at times, get down to just a few meters or up to 8-10 meters.
Water temperature during early Spring is around 18 degrees Celsius rising to approximately 23 degrees by mid-summer.
The bay is easy to navigate with a sandy floor towards the center, and rocks and boulders along its northern edge.
The site is frequented by divers but is rarely busy.
HOW MUCH WILL I SPEND?
There are local dive shops and these can be contacted directly for pricing. Coogee Pro Dive is closest to the dive site. A full set of rental gear is approximately $80 AUD including 1 tank.
WHAT TYPE OF ACCOMMODATION IS AVAILABLE?
There are a variety of hostels and hotels in Coogee, and neighbouring Bondi, ranging in price from approximately $30 to upwards of $300.
WHERE DID YOU STAY?
I’m a local!
DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
Like most dive sites the dive conditions can change, resulting in some dives being more favourable than others. On a good day when diving in Sydney, Gordon’s Bay can be an enjoyable dive site with some great marine life. Being a local dive site with minimal logistics and easy conditions means less fuss and is appealing when a simple relaxed dive is desired.
WHAT DO WE DO ON SURFACE INTERVALS?
The famous Bondi Beach is nearby!
There is also a coastal path that runs from Coogee to Bondi, offering a beautiful walk with spectacular ocean views and abundant viewpoints along the way.
Diving in Australia? Check out the diving in Melbourne, at the famous Port Phillip Bay!
