Dive Site: The Leap

General description
SThe Leap is another shore dive in the Kurnell National Park, between Steps and Cape Solander. Like Cape Solander, it possesses a potentially risky entry point and goes beyond the 18 metre limit for Open Water divers. Generally done as a drift dive to Steps, it can be done as a dive using the entry as an exit, but only if the conditions are extremely placid. A diverse dive that offers not only the extended visibility of Cape Solander, but also the unique aquatic life seen at ‘Steps’.

 

Getting there
To reach the dive site, follow the main park road past the turn-off to the Discovery Centre and the car-park for Steps (on your left). 200 metres or so past the Steps car park there is a make-shift car park on your right... There’s a path that leads through the bush onto a broad expanse of bedrock. Near the cliffs edge there’s a number of boulders that descend from left to right.

 

 

 

 

Entry and exit
TFollow these down and the path resumes, forming a zig-zag that leads down the cliff face. There are a few sections with steps; take care through these, as they can be slippery. The final steps are hewn into the bedrock itself and the rock below is covered in a black moss that is extremely slippery at all times. A small rock pool can be found here, perfect for rinsing your mask. At the edge of the ledge there is a small pile of concrete – it’s fairly conspicuous and is the perfect place with which to execute your giant stride entry. Just to the right of the entry, the ledge drops away, with another ledge much closer to water level. This can be used as an exit, but only if the swell is nil.

 

    

 

The Dives
After entering, swim on the surface for about 50 metres and descend into around 10 metres, heading northeast until you reach a distinct drop-off that meets the sand in 22 metres, populated by boulders and overhangs. Head along the wall in a general westerly direction until you reach a narrow rock canyon with a sandy floor. It ascends to about 16 metres, meeting a broader gully. Follow this and be on the lookout for a neat swim through on your right. From here you can meet up with the sand line which will lead you into the vicinity of the Steps site (depending on your air consumption, you may prefer to head to the 5 metre mark with a dense line of boulders just on your left (to the south)). Eventually the rock will be replaced by kelp, which abruptly stops (at about 8-9 metres) leaving an expanse of sand that leads right up to the shore-line boulders in the 5 metre mark, before resuming about 30 metres onwards. This is your cue to head to the shore. See the Steps site for exit details.

 

Things you can see.
Great swim throughs to be found at The Leap including Garth’s orifice and the Chimney - keep your eyes peeled for the sand ramp that leads off the bottom through the bedrock and you’ll be led to these swim throughs (see map). Wobbegonges and giant cuttlefish are often at rest under the overhangs leaving Port Jackson sharks to chill on the sand line and don’t be surprised if blue groupers follow you for the entire duration of the dive. In season, almost impenetrable schools of catfish lurk within the swim throughs (don’t let them touch bare skin – their barbs are toxic). A great site to spot massive bull-rays and if you’re very lucky, grey nurse sharks. At the 15 metre mark you can be lost within dense schools of yellowtail. Near the exit, keep your eyes peeled for weedy sea dragons amongst the kelp; Steps has arguably the highest population density on the entire planet for this unique species.

 

Things to be careful of.

• The path down the cliff can be treacherous in wet weather
• Because of the profile of this sight it must be dived using a dive computer
• When reaching the bottom avoid the black moss – even when dry it is extremely slippery
• Maximum depths at this site exceed the limit for Open Water divers; don’t dive beyond your limitations
• It’s recommended that if diving Leap for the first time, go with a diver with site specific experience

Return to map of Sydney dive sites