Michael McFadyen's Scuba Diving Web Site
Home · Contact Me · Sydney Reef Dive Sites · Sydney Shipwrecks · NSW Dive Sites · Australian Dive Sites · Overseas Dive Sites · Dive Accidents and Incidents · My Yachting Adventures · 4WD Trips · Weather · Search 03 December 2024 07:16
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Dive Related Equipment
Shearwater Predator and Heinrichs Weikamp OSTC 2N
Uwatec Aladin Dive Computers
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Bauer Compressor
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Purchase of New Dive Boat
My Dive Boat - Mak Cat
My Old Dive Boat - Le Scat
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Make Your Own Car Tank Rack

Marine Life
Rarer Sydney Marine Life
Bare Island Pygmy Pipe Horses
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Bare Island Marine Life
Encounter with Southern Right Whale and Calf

Other Dive Info
How Weather Affects Diving in Sydney
Visibility and Wave Averages in Sydney
Waves and Diving
Diving Weather and Sea Conditions
Tide Tables
Dive Accidents and Incidents
Dive Book Reviews
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Noel Hitchins 1951-2005
Lloyd Bridges - Mike Nelson in Sea Hunt
My Yachting Adventures
Below is a list of links to the main pages about my yacht, Catlypso and My Yachting Adventures:
  • Purchase of Catlypso
  • Details about Catlypso
  • Cleaning/Repairing Catlypso
  • My Yachting Adventures.
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    Michael's 4WD Trips
    Click here for a list of my Four Wheel Drive and Camping Trips.
    Home Brewing
    Click here for an article about Home Brewing.
    Sydney Dive Site Hints
    "A seal can often be seen at Middle Ground"
    Back Creek
    Michael McFadyen's Scuba Diving - Back Creek The town of South West Rocks on the Mid-North Coast of NSW has some simply amazing dive sites. As well as the normal ocean dives such as Green Island and Black Rock, there is the mind-blowing Fish Rock. Fish Rock Cave, the Pinnacle and The Shark Gutters are fantastic dives but, well, they are in the ocean.

    Two other dive sites at SWR that are excellent but very unexpected at the Back Creek and the Macleay River. Back Creek is located on the western side of the township and is where most of the dive boats depart for Fish Rock. On incoming tides, the normally dirty water of the creek can be quite clear. In June 1994 after I returned from a dive on the PS Agnes Irving, the water was so inviting, a friend and I decided to go for a dive. Using the rest of the air in our tanks, we spent 31 minutes (maximum depth 5 metres) exploring the wharf, moorings, bridge piles and creek bottom. Imagine our surprise to find numerous firefish, flutemouth, and huge flathead everywhere. Hundreds of big luderick and bream swarmed in and around the pedestrian bridge pylons while the biggest moray eel I have ever seen lives under the north-eastern pylon.

    Since 1994 the water depth here has lessened due to silting up (lack of a decent flood) so the dive is a bit more awkward than before due to the extreme shallowness.

    A truly amazing dive site, though care must be taken to avoid passing boats. A must do if the water is clear and a chance for a dive if the open ocean is blown out.

    NOTE: Since about 2002 the Back Creek has been severely silted and is probably not worth the effort. A good flood may well clean it out.

    Copyright © Michael McFadyen 1990 to 2024
    Non-commercial use of an article or photograph is permitted with appropriate URL reference to this site.
    Dive shops, dive operators, publications and government departments cannot use anything without first seeking and receiving approval from Michael McFadyen.
    This web site has been wholly thought up, designed, constructed and funded for almost 30 years by Michael McFadyen without any help from the Australian Dive Industry.
    Website created 1996!