Australia’s 50 Great Dives index

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MAGIC POINT

South Sydney, New South Wales

Type of dive:

Reef

Snorkelling:

Too deep for snorkellers but great for free divers!

Scuba:

Open Water

Access:

Boat (25 minutes)

Shore diving is not recommended

Depth:

8-24 metres (25-80’)

Visibility:

10-25 metres (30-80’)

Water temperature:

17 – 23°C (63-73°F)

Seasonal:

No, can visit anytime

Sydney’s best grey nurse shark dive!

Magic Point is a Grey Nurse Shark Critical Habitat, located just off the Malabar Headland National Park less than 20 kilometres (12 mi) south of Sydney’s center.

It is the only location near Sydney where divers can rely on an interaction with grey nurse sharks.

Grey nurse sharks are easily identified by their two similarly sized dorsal fins, tail lob and their jagged pointy teeth which gives them their fearsome appearance. They can reach over 3.5 metres (12’) in length and can weigh 300 kilograms (660 lb).

Late last century, these docile harmless creatures were regarded as ‘man-eaters’ and because they were easy targets, spear fishers who contributed significantly to the reduction of their numbers to critically low levels.

In 1984, due to concerns about declining shark populations, New South Wales legislation was introduced to protect the vulnerable species. It was the first shark protection legislation in the world.

Sadly, despite protection grey nurse numbers are still falling and there are now only an estimated 1000-1500 grey nurse sharks on the east coast of Australia.

Other threats to these magnificent creatures include illegal fishing, accidental capture and beach nets. Grey nurse sharks with fish hooks in their mouths is not an uncommon sight when these creatures are encountered underwater.

Magic Point, with its boulders sitting on the sandy bottom and rocky caves provides the grey nurse with its preferred habitat. The main rock wall runs north to south for several hundred metres with the depth ranging from eight metres (25’) at the top to 24 metres (80’) on the bottom.

There are several caves and the main large cave with its floor situated in 16 metres (50’) is where divers can interact with up to 12 individual grey nurse sharks.

The cave entrance is also home to large schools of yellowtail scat and catfish.

As well as grey nurse sharks, other sharks including Port Jacksons and Wobbegongs (carpet sharks) are very common.

Other fish life includes pineapple fish, blue groper, large bull rays, occasional schools of kingfish and large sunfish.

Cuttlefish, octopus and other invertebrate life such as sponges and soft corals adorn the rocks, and an underwater torch is recommended to appreciate the true colour and splendour of Magic Point.

Magic Point is also famous for its resident weedy sea dragons, usually found amongst the kelp at the bottom of the wall.

Bottlenose dolphins and humpback whales are also known to visit Magic Point and sometimes divers will encounter seals and dolphins underwater.

Special thanks to the Abyss Scuba Diving Team.
Copyright © 2024 Steve Sinclair

OTHER GREAT DIVES WHILE IN THE AREA
Long Reef, Blue Fish Point, Harbord Headland, The Dukenfield, Shelly Beach and Fairlight.

2026 GREAT AUSTRALIAN DIVE CHALLENGE
Dive Registration
To register this dive for validation, go to: www.50greatdives.com.
NOTE: Entrants should do this dive with one of the following preferred dive services.