reef

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Hideaway Bay

Hideaway Bay, or Dutchmans Cove to some, always feels a bit like finding a secret garden. We love it for its quiet charm and the way it always delivers something unexpected. On the left, the reef slopes in a series of knobbly ledges, shallow at first then gradually dropping away towards the point. You can spend an easy hour here just poking around the nooks and crannies. Over on the right, it’s a different vibe, a sheer wall that plunges to about 18 metres, with a sandy gully at its base. This is where we’ve often spotted eagle rays gliding past, or the occasional kingfish cruising by in the blue. Keep an eye out for Luculentus wrasse flitting amongst the algae, and those striking blue-eyed triplefins perched on the rocks. Winter dives here often mean a bonus encounter; the local seals use the neighbouring bay as a hangout, and they're notoriously curious, often buzzing divers with playful turns. It’s a site that suits a relaxed pace, where you can properly absorb the details rather than rushing between big pelagics.