Kurnell/The Steps/Weedy Seadragon/some questions

[BiSi]

Hi All,
my partner and I will have a short layover in Sydney after our dream Fiji trip in May/June. We are trying to get a dive in around Sydney (around June 10th) and after some research we´ve narrowed it down to trying our luck with finding a Weedy seadragon at the Steps. I´ve already enquired with the known shops in the area, but some questions remain:
1. since it´s more or less winter, is it even a good idea to try with regards to rough conditions (I gathered getting back out might be an issue?)/water temperature/visibility? I know that not every day is the same, but I mean is it generally a good idea this time of the year? Since we need equipment and also a guide (for better chances to find them), we have to book in advance and if the probability that it will be sh** is high, then we might reconsider.
2. Did I understand correctly that the dive shops provide equipment, but no transport to the site? So a rental car would be a must?
3. Is it doable to go there/to the shop by car in the morning starting from The Harbour or does it make sense to find accomodation close by (which I didn´t manage yet, so any recommendation would be appreciated).

Thank you in advance for any comments on the above - it´s really hard to get a good picture from far away, even after browsing the forum and Michael McFadyens website.
Kind regards
Birgit

 

[hotsong]

Abyss is the closest dive centre to The Steps and the best place to start with guided dives specifically for weedys. Good crew. Email and have a chat with them, they don’t provide transport but can likely make some recommendations or hook you up - I’m sure it’s a common question.

Pretty sure Dive Centre Bondi do have transport as an alternative - they’d be the only one that might - check that out, excellent operators. They’d be the two I’d follow up.

Dive shops in Sydney as you’ve found require your own transport, and the other operators I’d recommend are more northside (with no transport either)

If you’re only in Sydney a short time I’d definitely stay closer to the city - or beach like Bondi - with the harbour, restaurants etc. and all that has to offer. You don’t say if you have visited Sydney before.

Water temp that time of year would be maybe 17-18oC, even possibly a bit warmer. Winter is really the better time of year as well in terms of viz, don’t let that put you off.

You’re from Europe and experienced divers based on your profile, so I’ll ask if you have DIN regs? (not sure if you’re hiring everything, or traveling with basics like regs), but just be aware that all Abyss hire tanks are yoke only.

 

[SteveCapnK]

Hi @BiSi
Regarding Q3, yes, it’s not a problem to stay in the Sydney CBD and drive out with a hire car.
It’s about 1hr from the city to Kurnell, and the Abyss store is about half way.
So it might be a early start, but you would also probably be going the opposite direction to majority of the traffic.

Do you have a few days in Sydney in case the conditions mean you need to be a little flexible with dates?

+1 for Abyss if you want the certainty of going with a DM.

 

[BiSi]

Good morning (or evening where you are )

Thank you both for the answers and tips, that helps heaps. I had already enquired with Abyss before I did the post, but they didn't go too deep into specific questions.
We have been to Sydney before, so this time will be really short and with regard to flight times it only leaves us 2 days to try the dive. Also I think that once you're booked into a date with the shop, you cannot just change it.

Thanks also for the tip with DIN/yoke - I do have an adapter and my partner is renting anyway.

Any comment on rough sea conditions in winter? I am not really afraid, but don't feel like being washed against some rocks is an experience I want to make

And 16-18 degrees is quite chilly, even for Europeans
But I guess Abyss is renting out 7mm suits.

Anyway, thanks again for your help, I will contact Abyss again.

Looking forward to any other comments
Have a good day
Birgit

 

[happy-diver]

A most comprehensive guide on everything contained therein

Michael McFadyen's Scuba Diving Web Site

Waiting for a cab at the airport will certainly cost you dive time

Hire a car
Hire some gear
Drive around and check out some comfort appropriate dive sites

When you're in Sydney Sydney diving simply the best!

 

[clownfishsydney]

A most comprehensive guide on everything contained therein

Michael McFadyen's Scuba Diving Web Site

Waiting for a cab at the airport will certainly cost you dive time

Hire a car
Hire some gear
Drive around and check out some comfort appropriate dive sites

When you're in Sydney Sydney diving simply the best!

Thanks for linking my website.

Birgit, I would take you diving there myself but I will be away in Bali diving till that day. Some people who I took diving to Clifton Gardens in Sydney Harbour earlier this month ended up doing a double guided dive there using Abyss (I was unavailable for the first two days they were in Sydney). They should be able to work something out. You would need to get to their shop, train and taxi/Uber, then I am sure they could provide transport to Kurnell. A rental car would also be good.

As to conditions. Winter is normally the calmest seas in Sydney and best visibility. In any case, if Inscription Point is problematic due to swell, then in most cases, you can dive on the opposite side of Botany Bay at Bare Island. There is one sea dragon there at the moment and lots of other great things. In the past two days I and some friends have seen four pipefish, two sea horses, the sea dragon, two robust ghost pipefish and two ornate ghost pipefish. A good alternative if the weather prevails.

Temperature over the last three Junes has been in the range of 17 to 19C. Hope this all helps.

 

[BiSi]

Thanks for linking my website.

Birgit, I would take you diving there myself but I will be away in Bali diving till that day. Some people who I took diving to Clifton Gardens in Sydney Harbour earlier this month ended up doing a double guided dive there using Abyss (I was unavailable for the first two days they were in Sydney). They should be able to work something out. You would need to get to their shop, train and taxi/Uber, then I am sure they could provide transport to Kurnell. A rental car would also be good.

As to conditions. Winter is normally the calmest seas in Sydney and best visibility. In any case, if Inscription Point is problematic due to swell, then in most cases, you can dive on the opposite side of Botany Bay at Bare Island. There is one sea dragon there at the moment and lots of other great things. In the past two days I and some friends have seen four pipefish, two sea horses, the sea dragon, two robust ghost pipefish and two ornate ghost pipefish. A good alternative if the weather prevails.

Temperature over the last three Junes has been in the range of 17 to 19C. Hope this all helps.

Thanks a lot, that´s very helpful information! I will contact Abyss again. And thank you for offering to take us, if you were there, that´s very kind!
Enjoy Bali