Dive Site: Camp Cove

General description
An easy going dive, excellent as a back-up when conditions in Sydney are severe, providing effortless access and all amenities.

Getting there
Very close to to Watsons Bay, go past the Watsons Bay Hotel into Short Street (follow the Camp Cove sign)with the best parking in Cliff St, although there is also parking in Green Point Reserve at the end of Pacific Street.

Entry and exit
Couldn't be easier: park at the lot just off Cliff Street, gear up, walk the 50 metres or so to the beach and jump in! It's probably best to put your fins on in waist-deep water, leaning back with a fully inflated BC - much easier than wading backwards. Only attempt this at sites with sandy beach entries with pancake flat conditions. Enter just southwest of the wharf. Also serves as exit point.

Entry Point

The Dives
Enter at the North-Eastern end of Camp Cove and follow the wall northwest as it bends towards the South Head. Some swim throughs can be found, as well as some nice overhangs. Heading west from the beach will lead you to a small reef (not to be confused with the Sow & Pigs reef, which is much further out - and dangerously close to the ferry line). Keep your eyes peeled for antique bottles and designer label sunglasses carelessly flung from one of the many million$+ boats that frequent the area (1 instructor has found to date: 1x pair Gucci, 1x pair Prada). Can be crowded on weekends, not just with diving schools, but also snorkelers and swimmers. Be very careful when ascending, as there are often myriad boats, many with diver-ignorant skippers onboard. Home to a good number of octopus, cuttlefish and sea horses.

Click for Print Quality Map

Over the years many glass antiquities have found themselves in the Cove - find time capsules such as old school beer bottles, beautifully blown blue medicine bottles as well as modern day treasures.

Things to be careful of.

• Heavy boat traffic - always ascend with one arm extended and looking skywards
• When gearing up, keep your kit in the immediate vicinity of your car - fines have been issued for all and sundry...
• When heading towards the South Head, prepare for sudden surge, swell and even white water as you approach the open ocean
• Watch for fishing lines - particularly around the wharf