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 14 October 2024 16:36
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
    "Red Indianfish seem to prefer northern sides of the entrances to bays and harbours"
    Two Poles
    This site is located off the cliff at the northern end of the beach that stretches from Terrigal north. Originally this site was found by using two telegraph poles that were used to locate the site. One of these is no longer visible as someone built a house in front of it. I do not have any marks or GPS co-ordinates to find it.

    The site is not that far from shore, perhaps 650 metres. The reef comes up to about 12 metres in one spot. The main site consists of a sand gutter that runs from the south-east to the north-west into the reef. The sand gutter is not very wide, perhaps 10 metres at the most. The depth of the gutter is about 19 metres.

    Sea DragonSponge
    A sea dragon at Two PolesKelly and a nice sponge

    You normally anchor at the north-western end of the sand. From here, head down along the southern side of the gutter. The reef juts up a metre or so in a series of small boulders and walls. There are a lot of sea squirts and some sponges along here.

    After this, turn around and head back towards the anchor. Once back at the anchor, follow the reef edge to the south-east again, but this time on the northern side of the gutter. Along the edge there are some nice small gorgonias and you may even see a sea dragon like I did. After about 40 metres the northern side of the reef almost meets up with the southern side.

    Sea DragonSponge
    Shaun Reynolds and a colourful gorgoniaA sort of barrel sponge

    Head back towards the anchor, this time staying a bit shallower away from the reef edge. Soon you will see some larger boulders and the reef top. These form some cracks and overhangs. In this area you should see large cuttlefish and at least one resident wobbegong that is said to be here all the time. There are also normally large schools of ladder-finned pomfrets, one-spot pullers and yellowtail.

    As well as the fishlife, the most interesting feature of this area is the fantastic number of gorgonias. There are dozens of them, of all colours. They are not very large, the biggest about the side of a tabloid newspaper, but there are so many. They make a great photograph (see some of mine on this page).

    Sea DragonSponge
    Kelly and another colourful gorgoniaDifferent coloured gorgonias

    Once back near the anchor, you can continue to the north-west. The gutter sort of disappears but a bit further on it comes back, although there is no sand in it. This is also an interesting place to explore.

    By now you will probably be low on bottom time (especially as this is often a second dive) so head back to the anchor and ascend.

    This is a reasonable dive site, not one of the greatest I have done but interesting nonetheless.

    You can dive it with Terrigal Dive Centre or Pro Dive Central Coast, both of whom I am happy to recommend.

    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!