About the site

This is a great dive where you get depths of up to 20-22 metres. I have gone two directions here, north east and west to the Steps, both excellent dives.

Be sure you dive with someone who has dived here before.



What to see

This is a popular spot to see Weedy Sea Dragons, Stingrays, Cuttlefish, Rock Flathead, Bream, Southern Calamari, Moray Eels, White Ears, Maori Wrasse, Sergeant Baker, Blue Groper and Leatherjacket as well as a wide range of Nudibranch. I saw my first seahorse here in June 2010.

Conditions

The best conditions are when the seas are calm and the swell is not heading from the north, if there are southerly winds or swell, you can still dive here.

I would recommend diving this spot only if you are Advanced or higher and that you are pretty sturdy on your feet when fully kitted up as the climb down is a challenge.

The best time to dive is on an incoming tide approximately 90 before high tide. If your dive plan is from here to the Steps allow for up to 55 minutes underwater.

Directions

Head to Kurnell and take the entry to the National Park, make sure you buy a ticket from the machines at a cost of $7.00 last time I paid. (I dive here so often I bought an annual pass from the Discovery Centre for $60 odd dollars).

Stay on the main road and you will pass the entry point for the discovery centre on your left, keep straight and you will get to a sweeping right where there is a car park on the left. This will be the exit area. Keep going for approx 150 Metres and you will see a dirt car park on the right. This is where you park.

The Entry

After putting your wetsuit on you may want to consider moving your car to the car park at the Steps where you will exit otherwise you will have to trek back to the car after the climb up from the exit point which is also a challenge as it is uphill.

Once geared up and ready to go head down the path on the opposite side of the road across the flat rock expanse and then down the path to the right, winding to the left then heading right again. Climb around the rocks and continue down until you reach the ledges where you will enter.

Be aware of the last ledge you climb down as there is often slippery moss here and I have seen many divers slip.

You can enter by taking a giant LEAP to the north or you can step down on the right of the ledge to gently get in. I usually get on the right as I have underwater video gear that doesn't like jolts.

The Dive

After you enter the water swim out 20 - 30 metres to clear the surge, drop down and either swim in a north east direction until you reach the sand line at approx. 20 metres then turn west or turn north west immediately after you descend and follow the walls until you see the sand line on your right after about 15 - 20 minutes.

After approx. 30 minutes regardless of the direction you take you will start to see lots of rocks with many types of sponges, lace coral, sea fans, sea squirts and tubeworms in about 13 metres of water. Spend some time and look around its a great spot to search.

Don't forget to look out for the Weedy Sea Dragons swimming amongst the kelp.

Continue west until you pass a lot of green weed, this is my sign that there is about 10 minutes to go until I look for the exit point. around the ten minutes mark look for left and watch out for small boulders, head south and as the depth lessens look for a split in the rocks with a ledge on the left, this is your exit point.

Once out of the water, catch your breath and head up the path to the car park.