A small aquatic-reserve wall dive in Port Hacking, a Sydney macro mecca dived only at slack tide and rated the city's best night dive.
Region: Port Hacking, NSW
Skill Level: Intermediate
Depth: 3-18m
Water Temperature: 14-22°C
Visibility: 4-15m
Best Time to Dive: High slack tide only; year-round, best on a clear high tide
Marine Life: Weedy seadragons drifting along the sand line near the entry; The endemic Sydney pygmy pipehorse on the sponge-covered wall; Seahorses and a long list of nudibranchs; Octopus and cuttlefish hunting the reef; Sea pens that glow blue when touched on a night dive; Over 130 recorded fish species in the caves and crevices.
Hazards: Strong tidal current, dive only in the slack window, about 30 minutes either side of high or low tide; Boat traffic crosses the estuary above, carry a surface marker and stay aware; The wall reaches 18 metres, watch gas and bottom time; Estuary visibility is often low, especially at low tide and after rain; Aquatic reserve, no-take, with delicate sponge growth on the wall.
Facilities: Shore entry at the end of Shiprock Road, off Port Hacking Road South, Burraneer; Limited street parking, no facilities on site; Air and gear from dive shops in the Cronulla and St George areas.
