Michael McFadyen's Scuba Diving Web Site
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Shearwater Predator and Heinrichs Weikamp OSTC 2N
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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
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Dive Accidents and Incidents
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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
    "There are only female and juvenile male grey nurse sharks at Magic Point"
    Marys Reef
    This dive site was discovered by St George Scuba Club member, Phil Short in about 2012. He found it when running back from a dive at Marley Point. When he ended up diving it, he named it after his wife Mary who was diving with him that day.

    The site is located towards Marley Point and consists of a flat reef top with a wall that runs mostly east-west, turning towards the north on the eastern side. From Port Hacking, turn right and head on down past Barrens Hut and The Balcony. It is located at GPS 34° 06' 29.4"S 151° 09' 24.9E (using WGS84 as the datum). The depth at the mark is about 16 to 17 metres.

    Once at the GPS mark, if the wind is from the south, head south till the reef drops from 16 metres to about 20 metres. Anchor here. If the wind is from any other direction, drop anchor right on the reef top. Make sure you let out a lot of line as if the anchor moves off the top, you will need more line so you can hook it in.

    From the anchor, head south till you drop over the wall. In a southerly, you may need to pull the anchor up from the sand and put it on the reef as the rope might be rubbing on the rocks. The wall here is a shear drop of over three metres. There are lots of sea tulips and sponges all along the wall, as well as a few nice gorgonias.

    Once over the wall, head east. After about 20 metres there is a large overhang which is normally home to lots of one-spot pullers and in Autumn, Port Jackson sharks. A bit further on there are some large rocks off the wall. On the way out, go on the outside of the rocks. This site also has a lot of leatherjackets and seapike, and we have seen huge bullrays here as well.

    About 30 metres past the cave the wall turns a bit towards the north-east. Around this part there are a lot more boulders off the wall. After another 20 or so metres there are plenty of large boulders that create gutters and small gullies. There are lots of Port Jackson sharks in these gutters during August to October. Just past here you will probably need to turn around. The depth reaches about 24 metres on the sand here.

    On the way back swim through the gutters before coming back on the wall proper. Follow this back to the anchor. You should still have time to keep going so continue on to the west. About 20 metres past the anchor there is another larger overhang/cave. This is bigger than the previous one. The depth on the sand comes up to about 17 to 18 metres. This cave is also full of one-spot pullers.

    At the end of the cave, come up to the top of the reef which here is about 14 metres. Follow the top back to the east to the anchor. Spend any remaining bottom time in this area. You should get a bottom time of about 30 to 40 minutes on air.

    This is an excellent dive site, one of the best ones our club has found in the past 15 years. Unfortunately, like all the other dive sites south of Botany Bay, there is no charter boat that dives here. The only way you can dive is with a private boat or as a member of a club which has access to a boat or two.

    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!