Shark Bay
Protected Area
Batemans
Why dive here
With 199+ marine species recorded in the area - including blue sharks, bull sharks, dolphins, dugongs and great white sharks - Shark Bay offers some of Sydney & New South Wales's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 18-23°C, warmest January, February, March.
Shark Bay might sound toothy, but it’s actually named for the Banjo Sharks, a type of guitarfish, that like to cruise the shallows here. We often duck into this spot when the ocean swell is up, making exposed sites a no-go. It’s a proper bay, sheltered and calm, with a gentle slope down to about 13 metres at its deepest. You'll spend most of your time at 4-8 metres, drifting over seagrass meadows and sandy patches. What we really love about Shark Bay is the macro life and the sense of discovery. You’ll spot Crested Weedfish swaying in the seagrass, plenty of Snakehead Cowries clinging to rocks, and if you’re patient, the odd Australian Spiny Pipehorse camouflaged among the blades. Keep an eye out for the Grey Plover poking around the sand, too. Visibility averages around 9 metres, which is decent for a shallow, sandy-bottomed bay, especially on an incoming tide. This is a perfect dive for photographers looking for interesting critters or anyone who enjoys a relaxed, unhurried poke around the shallows.
Safety Notes
Wreck site - avoid penetration without wreck diving certification. Watch for sharp metal and entanglement hazards.
Reviews for Shark Bay
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Shark Bay
Shark Bay Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for Shark Bay, sourced from Open-Meteo marine data - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (-33.18, 151.63) (7km away)
October Averages
Sea Temperature
20°C
67°F · Range: 18.5–20.7°C
Air Temperature
17°C
63°F
Wind Speed
5.95 m/s
11.6 knots
Atmospheric Pressure
1016.2 hPa
Based on 4 years of monitoring data · Data sources: Open-Meteo marine data
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