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 02 December 2024 22:35
Navigation
Home

General
About Me
My Diving
FAQ
Downloads
Web Links - Dive Clubs
St George Scuba Club
Some of my Best Photos
Contact Me

Dive Sites
Sydney Reef Dive Sites
Sydney Shipwrecks
Sydney Dive Visibility, Swell and Temps
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
Free Shipwreck Books

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.
  • Login
    Username

    Password



    Forgotten your password?
    Request a new one here.
    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
    "Pizza Reef has lots of bastard trumpeters"
    Mistral Point
    Michael McFadyen's Scuba Diving - Mistral Point I grew up in the south-eastern suburbs of Sydney, spending most of the first 26 years of my life there. My favourite beach was (and remains) Maroubra Beach. The northern end of Maroubra Beach has one of the best shore dives in Sydney, Mahon Pool. This is an extremely difficult dive, only to be attempted by the most experienced diver and then, only on a limited number of days each year.

    In September 2001 and May 2002 I dived Mahon Pool with a friend. We used my scooters to explore a bit past the normal dive area. On these dives we discovered an excellent site, located to the north of the main Mahon Pool site and separate enough to be called a different site. This is Mistral Point.

    In May 2002 I again dived this site, this time from a boat. To find the location, head to North Maroubra and go to GPS Reading ° ' "S ° ' "E (readings to come). 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 wreck. See my GPS Page for more details and how to convert readings. Run in towards the GPS Reading from the morth-east (that is go in a south-west direction) and you will notice the depth come up from 23 metres on the sand to 20 metres and then 15 metres and then to 10 or so. Anchor in the 15 metre area.

    If diving from the shore, follow the Mahon Pool directions about entering the water. Once submerged, follow the gutter till you get to just over 10 metres and you will see a corner on your left. Turn left here and follow this wall to the north or north-west. This will bring you to the wall mentioned above and below.

    This site consists of a series of walls that run almost east-west (but perhaps with the western end heading a bit north). The first wall from the sand goes from 23 metres on the sand to 20 metres, the next from 20 to 17 metres, the next, the main wall, is 15 on top and 17 to 18 on the bottom. There is another even shallower wall which is about 10 metres on the top but this is further away.

    From the anchor go to the sand and follow this to the east. There are sea dragons along this area, in May 2002 we saw 9 here. After 10 minutes, go south up to the first wall and then head west. There are some nice small overhangs here. Look for eastern blue devilfish, giant cuttlefish as you go. Back at the anchor, continue west. It gets a little shallower, even when staying on the same level of a wall.

    Return to the anchor and spend the rest of the time in this area. On this dive you will see lots of luderick, bream, one-spot pullers, blackfish and yellowtail. We have also seen firefish, kingfish, huge moasic leatherjackets as well as some tropical wrasse species.

    A very good dive site, but only really accessible from a private boat as the charter operators do not seem interested in diving anywhere in the eastern suburbs except at the Magic Point Sharks. If you do from the shore, be very careful and do not do unless you are a very experienced diver.

    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!