Weather: Showers with an 80% rain chance; southeasterly winds 10–15 knots, tending easterly later.
Air Temperature: Maximum 17°C.
Water Temperature: Expected around 18°C for southern Sydney shore dives.
Visibility: Expected around 10 m or better, with slight runoff having little apparent effect.
Swell: Approximately 1.0 m S at 8 seconds, easing towards midday; secondary 1.1 m ESE energy at 7 seconds.
Tides: Botany Bay – low 5:21 am, 0.29 m; high 11:36 am, 1.39 m; low 5:43 pm, 0.43 m; high 11:43 pm, 1.31 m.
Recommended Sites: Fresh local evidence
Recent Abyss observations are tied to the actual site, entry and observation time. Yesterday’s result is background, not today’s guarantee.
Abyss Scuba Diving · Local Sydney report
Sydney Dive Conditions – Updated Daily
Start with today’s practical call on visibility, water temperature, swell, tide and the shore entries worth checking.
Sydney Diving Conditions – Monday 17 August 2026
Updated 6:29 am AEST by Abyss Scuba Diving’s local dive team
Marine warning: The coastal forecast carries a morning hazardous-surf caution, with conditions potentially more powerful than they appear. Treat every rock entry and exit as check-first.
Today’s call: Conditional. Sutherland Point’s signed rock-gap entry is the best shore option around the 11:36 am high-water turn. It suits recently active Open Water divers comfortable with rocky entries; use The Steps only if its platform and exit are calm.
Conditions at a Glance
- Weather: Showers with an 80% rain chance; southeasterly winds 10–15 knots, tending easterly later.
- Air Temperature: Maximum 17°C.
- Water Temperature: Expected around 18°C for southern Sydney shore dives.
- Visibility: Expected around 10 m or better, with slight runoff having little apparent effect.
- Swell: Approximately 1.0 m S at 8 seconds, easing towards midday; secondary 1.1 m ESE energy at 7 seconds.
- Tides: Botany Bay – low 5:21 am, 0.29 m; high 11:36 am, 1.39 m; low 5:43 pm, 0.43 m; high 11:43 pm, 1.31 m.
- Recommended Sites: Sutherland Point’s signed rock-gap entry as the protected Kurnell choice; The Steps rock-platform entry as the backup after inspecting the exit.
Detailed Report
The short-period S and ESE energy, combined with the southeasterly breeze, will put movement onto exposed rock platforms. Sutherland Point is the conservative Kurnell choice, but watch several sets at the entry before gearing up. Change plans if the approach or exit is pushing.
Use the incoming tide and aim for approximately 11:00 am to noon around the 11:36 am high. Local slack can differ from the prediction, so confirm the actual flow before descending. The Steps is worthwhile only if its platform, entry and planned exit are clearly manageable.
Kamay Botany Bay National Park opens at 7:00 am. The visitor-centre precinct and its car park are closed for construction, while parking and toilets remain available at Commemoration Flat. Follow current signs and keep outside fenced work areas.
Prepare for approximately 18°C water with a warm wetsuit and hood. Carry a torch for shaded reef and swim-through areas. Divers who are rusty or uncertain around moving rock entries should postpone or dive with experienced local guidance.
Safe dives and happy bubbles!
Check again at the site. Conditions can change after this report is published. Inspect the proposed entry and exit before gearing up; if the water does not match the report, use the recommended backup or call the dive.
Real local footage
Real Local Dive Report
See what the Abyss team found underwater on a real Sydney dive. This is genuine field footage, not stock imagery. Conditions can differ at another entry or later in the day, so use the dated written report above for today’s plan.
Site-by-site planning reference
How Conditions Affect Sydney Dive Sites
Select a site below to open its guidance. Use this as a general planning reference, not today’s go/no-go call. Swell height, direction, period and trend, tide, wind and actual entry movement must be assessed together. Today’s dated report above takes priority.
Lilli Pilli
Lilli Pilli is protected from most ocean swell and can be useful when ocean entries are moving. An incoming tide often improves the plan. Strong westerly wind, recent heavy rain, runoff and water-quality alerts still need checking.
Shiprock
Shiprock is protected from ocean swell, but tidal flow is the controlling factor. Plan the dive around high slack, allow a conservative margin for the group, and do not substitute a generic Sydney high-tide time without checking the relevant station.
Bass & Flinders
An incoming tide often helps water movement and visibility here. North-easterly swell and wind can make the entry and surface swim less friendly, so assess the actual entry, sets and surface chop rather than relying on height alone.
Oak Park
Oak Park is usually friendlier from low to mid tide. Swell direction, period and larger sets determine whether the platform and exit are manageable; a short-period southerly swell is not an automatic exclusion. Avoid committing if the platform is washing or surging.
Voodoo
Voodoo is an exposed rocky entry for experienced divers. It needs exceptionally placid conditions and a direct check of both entry and exit. Tide can alter access, but a favourable tide does not overcome swell or unsafe rock movement.
Cape Solander
Cape Solander is highly exposed and requires very calm water plus a current local inspection. Swell direction, period, sets and the exit matter more than a broad statement that tide has no effect. Do not treat it as a general shore-diving recommendation.
The Leap
Leap to Steps is an experienced-diver drift best considered on an incoming tide. Check The Steps exit before entering at The Leap. Rising, longer-period or easterly swell requires a more conservative decision, even when the headline height looks moderate.
The Steps
The Steps often remains workable in short-period southerly swell because the headland reduces direct exposure. Easterly and east-southeasterly swell can wrap into the entry. Inspect the rocks, exit and larger sets before committing.
Sutherland Point
Sutherland Point can provide a more conservative Kurnell option when other ocean entries are moving. An incoming tide often helps, but east-southeasterly swell, surface chop and the actual shoreline movement still need checking.
Bare Island
Access notice — effective 24 August 2026: the bridge and island are closed from 24 August. The eastern mainland entry immediately east of the bridge and the western mainland entry immediately west of the bridge remain available, subject to conditions, on-site access and any newer restriction.
The western mainland entry requires flatter conditions and a fresh visual check of both entry and exit. Do not plan a route that crosses the bridge or depends on island access. During the closure, recommendations on this page will name the exact mainland entry.
Shelly Beach
Shelly Beach can be a useful protected alternative, but it is not automatically suitable for every diver or every day. Check its own swell and wind exposure, access, crowds and current water-quality advice before deciding.
Year-round temperature guide
Typical Sydney Water Temperatures by Month
Sydney’s water temperature changes gradually through the year. These monthly ranges are a seasonal guide rather than today’s measurement; use the dated daily report above for the latest observed or expected temperature.
What to wear: many Sydney divers choose a 5–7 mm wetsuit, adjusting for the season, dive length and personal cold tolerance. A hood can make a substantial difference in cooler water.
| Month | Minimum °C | Maximum °C |
|---|---|---|
| January | 21.5 | 25.1 |
| February | 22.1 | 25.3 |
| March | 21.6 | 25.3 |
| April | 20.8 | 24.6 |
| May | 18.8 | 22.6 |
| June | 17.5 | 21.1 |
| July | 17.3 | 20.9 |
| August | 17.4 | 20.2 |
| September | 17.2 | 19.9 |
| October | 17.5 | 20.9 |
| November | 19.1 | 22.1 |
| December | 19.5 | 24.3 |
Plan your next suitable dive
Choose the calendar that fits you
Our guided dives are selected and briefed for the divers booked and the conditions on the day.
Certified divers Sydney Dive Calendar Browse upcoming shore and boat dives Newer or returning Beginner Dive Calendar Find supported dives chosen to build or rebuild confidence
Not sure which dive suits you? Ask the Abyss team.
Local judgement, clearly explained
How we make today’s call
A useful shore-diving recommendation needs more than one offshore swell number. We combine current evidence and translate it into a site, entry, time and diver-suitability call.
Effective swell
Height, direction, period and trend all matter. The same swell height can create very different entry movement and underwater surge.
Tide, wind and runoff
We match tide stage and wind to the proposed entry, then consider recent heavy rain, actual runoff and likely visibility impacts.
Access and diver fit
The proposed entry, exit and route must be available and appropriate for the group’s certification, recent diving and confidence.
Shore and boat calls are different. The lead-site recommendation in the daily report is shore-entry guidance. Offshore boat operations require a separate assessment.
More Sydney diving resources
Plan beyond today’s conditions
Use these guides for full site profiles, seasonal marine-life planning and separate shore-versus-boat operational guidance.
Quick answers
Sydney dive-conditions questions
How often is this report updated?
The main report is prepared daily in Sydney time. Always check its visible date and update time; do not assume an older report still describes the entry.
Does the report guarantee that a site is safe?
No. It is a planning guide based on current evidence. Conditions can change quickly, and divers must inspect the entry and exit, remain within their training and experience, and be prepared to change the plan.
Why can visibility differ between Sydney sites?
Swell exposure, tide, recent heavy rain, runoff, algae and local seabed conditions all matter. That is why observations are tied to a named site and time rather than presented as one Sydney-wide measurement.
Does high tide always mean better diving?
No. Shiprock relies on high slack, while Oak Park is often friendlier from low to mid tide. The useful tide stage depends on the site, entry and planned route.
How do I know whether today’s recommendation suits me?
Read the diver-suitability wording in the daily report. Certification, recent experience, confidence, buddy support and familiarity with the entry all matter. Newer divers can start with the Beginner Dive Calendar.
Dive with local support
Choose a dive that fits the conditions and your experience
Choose a guided dive that fits your certification, recent experience and confidence, or ask us which option makes sense.
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