Bare Island East - Sydney & New South Wales
Coral Key is one of those spots where you just settle in and let the reef come alive around you. We love diving it on an incoming tide, which means the colours really pop. The wall itself starts right at the surface, even breaking through at low tide, then drops gently to a sandy bottom around 18 metres. It’s not about epic depth here, it’s about the sheer density of life. The coral coverage is fantastic – we’re talking big plates of hard coral mixed with whips and sea fans, all vying for space. You’ll spot groups of Ambon Pullers and fusiliers thick enough to dim the light for a moment. Keep an eye on the wall for the smaller stuff too, we’ve often seen Finespot Eviotas peering out, and we’re always on the hunt for an Ivory Cowry tucked away. It’s a photographer’s dream, particularly if you're into macro, but also just a beautiful drift for anyone who appreciates a vibrant, healthy reef.
- Location
- Sydney & New South Wales, Australia, Australasia
- Coordinates
- -33.990800, 151.232300
- Type
- wall
Marine Protected Area: Cape Banks
Nearby Dive Sites in Sydney & New South Wales
- 3 mile Bommie (cave)
- 3 mile Bommie (reef)
- 3rd Gutter (reef)
- 3rd Gutter
- 4th-5th Reefs - 5-20m (reef)
- 7th and 8th Reefs (reef)
- Acheron Ledge (reef)
- Adelaide (Wreck) (wreck)
- Adelaide (Wreck) (wreck)
- Adreno (diving gear)
- Avoca (drift)
- Avoca
- Bait Reef (reef)
- Balmoral Baths
- Barren s Hut
Nearest Dive Centres to Bare Island East
- Abyss Scuba Diving - ["PADI"]
- Aquatic Explorers
- CENTRAL COAST DIVERS - SSI
- Deep Sensations Pty Ltd
- Dive Centre Bondi - ["PADI"]
- Dive Centre Manly - ["PADI"]
Marine Life in Sydney & New South Wales
Home to 202 recorded species including 129 reef fish, 41 sharks & rays, 9 whales & dolphins, 5 other, 4 crabs & lobsters, 3 octopus & squid.
Notable Species
- Bull Shark (Carcharhinus leucas) - Sharks & Rays
- Spotted wobbegong (Orectolobus maculatus) - Sharks & Rays
- Bream (Acanthopagrus australis) - Reef Fish
- Port Jackson shark (Heterodontus portusjacksoni) - Sharks & Rays
- Great White Shark (Carcharodon carcharias) - Sharks & Rays
- California Yellowtail (Seriola lalandi) - Reef Fish
- chambered nautilus (Nautilus pompilius) - Octopus & Squid
- Banjo Shark (Trygonorrhina fasciata) - Sharks & Rays
- blubber jellyfish (Catostylus mosaicus) - Jellyfish
- dory (Zeus faber) - Reef Fish
- Australian Fur Seal (Arctocephalus pusillus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Snapper (Pagrus auratus) - Reef Fish
- Silver Bream (Rhabdosargus sarba) - Reef Fish
- Bluefin Gurnard (Chelidonichthys kumu) - Reef Fish
- Chubby Basketfish (Anoplocapros inermis) - Reef Fish
- Banks Shovelnose Ray (Aptychotrema rostrata) - Sharks & Rays
- Bellowfish (Macroramphosus scolopax) - Reef Fish
- gray mangrove (Avicennia marina) - Seagrass & Algae
- Pacific sardine (Sardinops sagax) - Reef Fish
- Common Silver Belly (Gerres subfasciatus) - Reef Fish