Diving-northern beaches Sydney

[sydney-diver]

I particulalry like Freshwater (or Harbord). It's not the easiest shore dive entry/exit wise so best to go with guide and it's current/swell dependent but when it's right it's awesome.

 

[Jon Shaw]

Northern Beaches wise I would also add Freshwater great when the swell is down,

Operators now on the NB's we have Ted at Fathom, Pro Dive Manly (also have a decent boat) and Dive Centre Manly another boat operator is Yves who runs Scubaroo. Another site worth a look is Clifton Gardens / Chowder Bay, great for macro work.

 

[vickobcn]

I don't want to hijack the thread, but would like to know more about the dive at Freshwater. I did a quick search but didn't come up with anything, so sorry if this has been asked before. Which side do you go in on? Max depth? Do you have to go in on a NE swell? Thanks!

 

[bowlofpetunias]

Northern Beaches wise I would also add Freshwater great when the swell is down,

Operators now on the NB's we have Ted at Fathom, Pro Dive Manly (also have a decent boat) and Dive Centre Manly another boat operator is Yves who runs Scubaroo. Another site worth a look is Clifton Gardens / Chowder Bay, great for macro work.

Clifton Gardens is a decent dive but you need decent bouyancy or the place silts up something awful and be sure to bring a knife there is a lot of fishing line so significant entanglement hazard. The anglerfish and decorator crabs make it worth the effort tho!

I don't want to hijack the thread, but would like to know more about the dive at Freshwater. I did a quick search but didn't come up with anything, so sorry if this has been asked before. Which side do you go in on? Max depth? Do you have to go in on a NE swell? Thanks!

Yes please do tell... we are not familiar with Freshwater either

 

[sydney-diver]

There's 2 entry points that I'm aware of, either enter on the far side of the pool, there's a channel by the large concrete drain) and swim out and around the point, or if it's calm enough jump in off the point. Navigation is pretty easy, you just follow the walls around the point to the north then turn around and swim back to the channel and exit by the pool. Max depth is around 12m. If you head out to the sand there's usually rays, and yesterday we watched a large cuttlefish ambushing fish from under a ledge. The walls are spectacular in the right light with loads of sponge and some really pretty lime green kelp on the way out. Viz was pretty ordinary yesterday though. Not sure on swell direction, I'll ask the guys I dive with - I just go on their recomendation

Dave

 

[naga]

Thanks for the feedback folks; only problem i was 'on the wallop' the entire time and didn't even get close to diving.

Going to Puerto Vallarta Mexico in a week and then Cuba for easter

oh well, next time.

thanks all the same.

adios until this xmas 2010

 

[DebraSue]

Hey Everyone:

I'm planning on visiting Australia in August or September, flying into Sydney. I would love to visit the GBR. Can anyone recommend a group to go with? I would be without a buddy, as none of my friends dive, but I can't imagine going to OZ without diving!

 

[Aquapro Dive Services]

There are plenty of posts here recommending operators, and also within this thread.

The majority of travelers book on these trips without a buddy, so don’t worry about that. The operators will buddy you up with someone of similar ability, and there will be plenty of opportunity to dive within a group if you wish.

The GBR has many places you can catch a boat from, but Cairns is considered the “Gateway to the GBR”

If you can afford a little bit more make an effort to take a trip that ails far north to the Cod Hole and Coral Sea (e.g. Mike Ball, Spirit of Freedom, or Taka) as this has some of the better sites.

Having said that, there are still plenty of grat sites available to visit from day rips or over nights (1 or 2 nights) out of Cairns itself.

Check out this link for a few ideas, and read back through this thread.

Cairns Discount Diving Trips - Overnight Dive Boats

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cairns Discount Dive Trips - Australia Diving - Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef

 

[Jon Shaw]

Freshwater is best dived when there is not really any swell, it is pretty exposed to any swell with South in it, but it does offer some protection from NE'ers.... but not much. I definitely advise swimming out from the pump/drain and if waves are breaking into that channel I would be cautious. I actually made a dive snorkel guide in DVD form that has all these sites if you are interested... I know this sounds like a sales pitch but you would probably find it useful, you can buy it in all good shops in Sydney and online here

the sites it covers are:

Long Reef
Freshwater
Shelly beach
Fairy Bower
Manly Nets
Clifton Gardens / Chowder Bay
North Bondi
Magic Point
Bare Island