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Oak Park
Oak Park Cronulla is a massive dive site with so much to see
| Oak Park | |
|---|---|
| Site | Large site, diverse marine life |
| Experience Level | Open Water |
| Max Depth | 12m |
| Warnings | Exit Point Important, some boat traffic |
| Conditions | Exposed to SE to N Swell great than 0.7m, Best diving on low tide |
| Location | Jibbon Street Cronulla |
Oak Park Dive Site Cronulla
Oak Park Dive Site Cronulla: Oak Park is a popular dive location in New South Wales, Australia on the Cronulla peninsula. It is an excellent dive site with substantial sponge gardens and great wildlife. It is also a good beginner dive as it's easy to navigate and doesn't get too deep. The free parking and toilet block are also convenient for scuba divers.
Great fish life and marine biodiversity: When diving at Oak Park Cronulla, you can expect to see a wide variety of marine life, including great fish life and marine biodiversity.
- Great fish life and marine biodiversity
- Sponge gardens
- Massive site with dozens of options
Whether you're a beginner or an experienced diver, Oak park is a great dive site to explore!
Dives Scheduled for Oak Park
Marine Life at Oak Park.
Great fish life and marine biodiversity: When diving at Oak Park Cronulla, you can expect to see a wide variety of marine life, including great fish life and marine biodiversity.
The Dive Site
The Oak Park dive site can be entered from either side of the ocean pool, but it's better to do so from the northern side. The wall appears to end, but if you stay at a depth of 6-7 meters, you will see a small V-shaped section of sand amongst the bedrock. Take a left here, and you will find that the wall becomes quite pronounced again. If you explore the eastern part of the bedrock, you'll find several ledges ideal for spotting octopus, bull rays, and eagle rays.
If you swim about 60 meters, you will be 9 meters deep and see Split Rock. As the name suggests, a split goes down the middle of this rock. You can either swim over the top of it or go through a swim-through on the east side.
If you explore the eastern part of the bedrock, you'll find a number of ledges ideal for spotting octopus, bull rays, and eagle rays. If you stay close to the wall, you'll be rewarded with an almost continuous overhang that's teeming with giant cuttlefish and resident eastern blue devilfish (arguably one of the best places in Sydney to see these amazing creatures).
If you swim about 60 meters, you will be 9 meters deep and see Split Rock. As the name suggests, a split goes down the middle of this rock. You can either swim over the top of it or go through a swim-through on the east side. There is sand at this depth too.
The wall decreases in height and curves to the northeast. Continue following it until you see sand and sea tulips, at which point the wall starts to break up. If you go east (right), you'll see a second reef running in a similar direction as your current bearing. You can choose to explore either side of the reef.
After swimming 50 metres, you'll reach a mysterious ceramic urinal at 11 metres depth. Only 15 metres later is a small cave. This cavern is around 3 metres tall, with light coming in from a large crack on the far side. There's also a little tunnel that leads off to the north--but don't go in! It's not safe to swim through because of all the dense schools of bullseyes and roughies that live there.
Plus, during mating season you might find Port Jackson sharks in the cave. From here (with enough air), it is possible to continue on to Fish Soup. 100 metres after noticing kelp along the wall’s ridge, head due east and swim over a large gully. You'll be led straight to Fish Soup from there - full with aquatic life!
Very Popular Location for Both Scuba Diving and Surfing
Oak Park is a popular location for both scuba diving and surfing. The dive site is known for its Blue Groper, Port Jackson sharks, turtles, and plenty of fish. Sea dragons can also be found at the site. Oak Park is an excellent beginner dive due to its easy navigation and shallow depth of 10 meters. Sandshoes is an exposed reef break that offers consistent waves for surfing.
How Tides Affect the Diving
Oak Park is a shore dive that won't be affected by the tides in terms of visibility or currents, making it ideal for divers. The best time to dive here is during low tide for safety reasons relating to the exit back onto shore. The dive site is especially good in southerly swells less than about 1m. The tide dramatically affects the ease of exit at the dive, so it's essential to be mindful of the tide's movement. It is safest to dive when there is an outgoing tide.