Abyss Scuba Diving · Local Sydney report
Start with today’s practical call on visibility, water temperature, swell, tide and the shore entries worth checking.
. Prepared for the Abyss local dive team. Editor: Peter Letts.
Water-quality caution: Beachwatch flags pollution possible at nearby Silver Beach after rain. This is not a test at The Steps; avoid runoff or discoloured water.
Very good diving for confident shore divers. Today’s Abyss report favours The Steps and reports 19°C water, 6–8 m visibility and no runoff. Light winds suit a short reef dive; check the rocky exit for easterly wave wrap.
Check several sets, current and the return before gearing up.
Report basis: Today’s Abyss note, Seabreeze, BOM, tides and Beachwatch. Pollution is forecast unlikely at Congwong Bay: nearby context for Bare Island only.
Plan The Steps’ short out-and-back for confident shore divers.
Best time: Late morning to early afternoon, after Botany Bay’s 11:23 am low, AEDT.
Seabreeze coastal waves around 0.6–0.8 m ENE, roughly 9 seconds, and light winds favour daytime diving. Recheck water quality and exit wash. Strong Wind Warnings apply to Sydney Coast and Enclosed Waters: the late-evening W–SW change may bring squalls and 30-knot winds. Skip night diving.
Safe dives and happy bubbles!
Access: Bare Island’s bridge, island and construction precinct remain closed. Use permitted mainland access outside fences and water closures; allow a longer walk. Follow Kurnell construction signs.
Straight from the Abyss dive team
Watch the latest post-dive report from an Abyss team member, recorded at a Sydney dive site immediately after they completed their dive. In their own words, they describe the conditions they actually encountered — giving you a genuine first-hand account from someone who has just been in the water, not stock footage or a computer-generated forecast. We replace the video whenever a newer team report is available. Check the site and recording date, as the video reflects conditions at that site and time, and use it alongside today’s written report.
Plan your next suitable dive
Our guided dives are selected and briefed for the divers booked and the conditions on the day.
Not sure which dive suits you? Use our simple dive matcher.
Site-by-site planning reference
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 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 is protected from ocean swell, but tidal flow is the controlling factor. Plan the dive around high slack (entering the water between 10 to 20 minutes before high tide), allow a conservative margin for the group, and do not substitute a generic Sydney high-tide time without checking the relevant station.
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 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 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 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.
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 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 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.
Access notice — effective 24 August 2026: the official closure covers the Bare Island precinct, including the access road, bridge, rock shelf and fort. Fencing will be in place, and temporary restrictions beneath the bridge may also apply during construction.
Do not assume either mainland entry remains lawfully accessible. During the closure, use Bare Island only when current official or on-site advice confirms the exact route is open and outside the closed precinct. A western-entry recommendation also requires a fresh visual check confirming a flat, manageable entry and exit.
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
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 |
Local judgement, clearly explained
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.
Recent Abyss observations are tied to the actual site, entry and observation time. Yesterday’s result is background, not today’s guarantee.
Height, direction, period and trend all matter. The same swell height can create very different entry movement and underwater surge.
We match tide stage and wind to the proposed entry, then consider recent heavy rain, actual runoff and likely visibility impacts.
The proposed entry, exit and route must be available and appropriate for the group’s certification, recent diving and confidence.
More Sydney diving resources
Use these guides for full site profiles, seasonal marine-life planning and separate shore-versus-boat operational guidance.
Quick answers
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 guided dive that fits your certification, recent experience and confidence, or ask us which option makes sense.
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