reef

Log This Dive

Bait Reef

Bait Reef is one of those sites that quietly punches above its weight. Just a short boat ride from shore, we love it for its unusual mix of kelp forests and scattered coral bombs – a real Sydney mash-up. The sheer density of schooling fish here is what always gets us. You’ll fin through thick clouds of yellowtail bullseyes, often so numerous they filter the sunlight, creating a shimmering, silvery light show. It’s a deceptively large area, and we’ve definitely spent a dive or two working out exactly where we were going, but that’s part of the fun. You can easily spend an hour meandering through the kelp, spotting wobbegongs tucked into crevices, or watching tuna dart past in the blue. Keep an eye out for a passing bull shark, too. Visibility hovers around 13m on a good day, but it's the sheer biomass that makes Bait Reef a standout. It suits divers who appreciate a lively temperate reef and don’t mind a bit of exploration.