Blue Groper

No doubt Sydney's premier sponge gardens. Rockley is a site that has a broad variation of sponges and sea squirts, and it possesses a dazzling range of colours. The depth of the site ranges from twelve meters down to approximately twenty-six meters along towards the main shipping channel. There are large boulders at the sand line while many ledges, overhangs and swim-throughs can be found throughout the reef. The extensive fish population includes groper, yellowtail, old wife, mado, morwong, cuttlefish, and if you carefully check over the sponges you will find red Indian fish. If you look under the overhangs, be sure to see the eastern blue devilfish and are indubitably will see some cuttlefish in addition. Keep your eyes open for sea dragons as there are quite a few to be seen. Best dived on an incoming tide.

Sutherland Point is a perfect destination to find the highly interesting Weedy Sea Dragon, as well as a unique attraction in the form of a small cave which is home to the family of blind sharks. The site has numerous swim-throughs and a small sponge garden and commonly a large variety of schooled fish such as Yellowtail, Giant Cuttlefish, Wobbegongs and Blue Groper may be seen. The site is shielded from southernly swell and can be dived when it's too rough for the other sites in the area. Because of its proximity to the shore of the bay, its visibility is usually not as good. For the best visibility, it’s always best to dive this site on an incoming tide.

The top of the reef is covered in kelp as you drop over the wall to the 24m mark you will see a variety of soft sponges. The site is easy to navigate as you just keep the reef on one side on the way out and the other side on the way back. A great array of macro underwater creatures and the usual cool Sydney marine life can be observed at this site. Here you will see a variety of Sydney's native marine life, including blue groper, red morwong, cuttlefish, mado, striped wrasse, silver sweep, sergeant baker, old wife, striped sea pike, white ear, black reef leatherjacket, yellow-striped leatherjacket, Port Jackson shark and many more.

The Steps is a great dive site, especially when you want to see weedy seadragons. The site is a favourite location for many divers because of its beautiful sponge gardens. You are likely to find Weedy sea dragons masquerading as Kelp, along with Bream, Old wives, Luderick, Blue gropers, Giant cuttlefish. We recommend diving this site on slack or incoming tide. Once in the water, descend and head North to the sandy line at which point turn east (heading out of the bay). Check the kelp for sea dragons after 40 m. The kelp opens into many rocks covered in sponges with a range of fish life. When you reach your turnaround pressure, head back into towards the shore where you encounter a wall of large boulders which are the home form many cuttlefish. Follow the wall back to your exit/entry point. If you have never observed seadragons then this is the site for you, but we do recommend a guide for the first dive as the guide can show you how to spot the weedy seadragon.