Michael McFadyen's Scuba Diving Web Site
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Kelly Talking on ABC Sydney about Shipwrecks
NSW Dive Sites
Sydney Shipwreck Summary
NSW Shipwreck GPS/Marks
Australian Dive Sites
Overseas Dive Sites
Aircraft I have Dived
Old Bottles
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Dive Related Equipment
Shearwater Predator and Heinrichs Weikamp OSTC 2N
Uwatec Aladin Dive Computers
Apollo AV1 Underwater Scooter
Bauer Compressor
DIY Oxygen Stick - Nitrox
GoPro HD Hero Video Camera
My Camera Setup
Purchase of New Dive Boat
My Dive Boat - Mak Cat
My Old Dive Boat - Le Scat
My Dive Gear
GPS and Diving
Make Your Own Car Tank Rack

Marine Life
Rarer Sydney Marine Life
Bare Island Pygmy Pipe Horses
Bare Island Sea Horses
Bare Island Nudibranchs
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
Site Map
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
    "The Colours is a spectacular dive site"
    Bondi Wall
    Michael McFadyen's Scuba Diving - Bondi Wall The stretch of Sydney coastline from Sydney Harbour south is as impressive a section of coast as anywhere in the World. The cliffs from South Head to Bondi Beach are massive, shear vertical goliaths that form an unbroken barrier for over seven kilometres.

    The water along this section of Sydney's coast is deep, right off the shore. In spots it is almost 30 metres deep only 20 metres off the cliff. This gives rise to many spectacular dive locations. One of these is Bondi Wall.

    Accessed from Sydney Harbour, you run for about 6.5 kilometres south until you see the huge chimney from the Bondi Sewage Treatment Plant. This plant, only treats the sewage to a basic standard and until July 1991, the treated sewage was piped straight out to see under the rock platform below the chimney. However, in July 1991 the deep ocean outfalls was opened and the sewage now is pumped over four kilometres out to sea. This opened up even more sites to diving, as it was virtually impossible to dive most of the coast around the North Bondi area.

    Once off the chimney (about 500 to 600 metres north of Ben Buckler Point (the North Bondi headland), go to GPS Reading latitude of 33° 53' 20" S and longitude of 151° 17' 14" E. Note that all the GPS Readings on my Web Site are taken using AUS66 as the map datum. If you use another datum you may be about 220 metres off the site. See my GPS Page for more details and how to convert readings. Approach the GPS Reading by running in from out to see (where the sand is 30 to 34 metres deep) and as you near the reading, the floor comes up from 34 metres to about 30 and then in one jump, rises to about 20 to 21 metres. Anchor in this area.

    Once you descend to the bottom, make sure that you secure the anchor as the sea floor here is quite flat and devoid of many places for an anchor to catch. Head to the east and you will shortly see the wall. This runs north-south and is quite spectacular. The wall drops mostly in one go from 21 to 27 metres but in some spots it goes to an intermediate ledge. The wall meanders a little in spots, but basically runs in a straight line.

    The sponge life here is very nice, and you will also see a lot of nudibranches. Sea dragons are sometimes seen as well. Look on the sand or amongt the kelp at 20 metres. However, I have been disappointed with the fishlife at this spot, nowhere as good as I expected. Fish seen include silver sweep, yellowtail, blue groper and lots of sergeant bakers.

    A visually exciting dive site but lacking a lot of fishlife.

    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!