reef

Sydney & New South Wales, Australia

Bushrangers Bay

Best months: Jan–Mar

Protected Area

Bushrangers Bay

Why dive here

With 199+ marine species recorded in the area - including blue sharks, bull sharks, dolphins, dugongs and great white sharks - Bushrangers Bay offers some of Sydney & New South Wales's richest reef diving. Water ranges 18-23°C, warmest January, February, March.

Best timeJan–Mar

WetsuitA 3mm full wetsuit

Marine lifeBlue Sharks, Bull Sharks, Dolphins, Dugongs and Great White Sharks · 199+ species recorded

Water18-23°C · warmest January, February, March

CharacterReef dive

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

Bushrangers Bay is one of those spots we always point people towards when they ask about easy Sydney diving. Yeah, the visibility can drop, averaging around 7m, but it’s a marine protected area, and that makes a real difference. We love it because you’re almost guaranteed to spot grey nurse sharks, particularly during the summer months when they gather here. They cruise along the bottom, sometimes just hanging out in the sand channels, completely unbothered. The entry is a timber staircase down to a rocky beach, so sturdy boots are a smart move. Once you’re in, it’s a gentle swim out, never deeper than 14m. Look for stingrays gliding over the sand in the shallows, and we’ve often found Port Jackson sharks tucked into crevices a bit deeper. You’ll see plenty of bream, scissortail sergeants zipping about, and we’ve even come across oriental flying gurnards fanning their incredible fins. It’s an ideal spot for a relaxed dive, good for newer divers or anyone who just wants to spend time watching sharks without a big effort.