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Skillion Cave

Skillion Cave, it’s fair to say, isn’t really a cave. It’s more of a very deep, very cool crevice in the reef, with a big boulder wedged in the top creating a sort of overhead environment. We love it because when the conditions line up – and that’s the trick, it needs to be calm – it’s a genuinely standout shore dive in Sydney. Dropping down, the first thing you notice is the way the light filters through the opening. Shafts of sunlight pierce the gloom, illuminating walls covered in sponges and gorgonians. Keep an eye out for Rusty Catsharks tucked into the crevices; they’re pretty reliably there. We’ve seen Bluespotted Flatheads lying on the sand inside, and if you hover quietly, you might catch a Crampfish or a Banjo Shark in the sandy patches just outside the entrance. The max depth is 18m, so it’s well within recreational limits, but the surge can be strong, even on calmer days, so buoyancy control is key. This is a dive for those patient enough to wait for the right weather, offering a different kind of Sydney experience away from the usual suspects.