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Shelly Beach in Manly, in the northern part of Sydney is a great dive site that is often very protected from swell. It is the only west-facing ocean-side beach in Sydney, so when those southerly or easterly swells are smashing other dive sites, Shelly Beach is often completed unaffected. The entrance via Shelly Beach is an easy entry / exit and is diveable in almost all conditions. You can also enter via the Fairy Bower steps near the swimming pool area.
Since 2002, this site has been part of an aquatic reserve, known as Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve. This no-take zone has allowed its marine life to recover and flourish. The site is fairly shallow (max 12m) so often divers share the space with snorkellers and free-divers. You can have entire dives on the sandy floor looking out for rays, critters and dusky flatheads (even better at night) or you can head over to the rocks and bommies and swim around to look for sharks and cuttlefish. Divers have seen lots of things at this site, including grey nurse sharks, turtles, dusky whaler sharks and schools of cownose rays! |
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Marine Life to look for...
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