Abyss Scuba Diving · Updated daily
. Prepared for the Abyss local dive team. Editor: Peter Letts.
Storm timing: Dive this morning and leave the water if thunder is heard; late-afternoon storms are possible.
Very good diving is available this morning. The Abyss report rates The Steps 4/5 and reports 6–8 m visibility, although the site for that reading was not stated. Seabreeze shows modest SSE coastal waves. Enter before the NE wind adds chop; the latest verified surface temperature was 20.1°C, so wear a 5 mm suit and hood.
Dive The Steps this morning after checking the complete entry and exit.
Report basis: Abyss local conditions, BOM weather and marine forecasts, Seabreeze coastal waves, Fort Denison tides, access information and SeaTemperature.org.
Plan The Steps with confident shore divers; use Sutherland Point if the entry starts moving.
Best time: Morning on the rising tide; finish before afternoon storms.
Seabreeze coastal waves near 0.5–0.6 m with short 4–7 s periods support The Steps. BOM’s broader coastal NE swell is near 1 m, so check the rock platform and full exit.
Plan Oak Park’s pool-side entry for Open Water divers with recent shore experience; use Sutherland Point as backup.
Best time: Morning rising tide; finish before afternoon storms.
Seabreeze coastal waves around 0.55–0.8 m with 10–12 s periods early support Oak Park. BOM’s broader E–NE swell is near 1 m; watch several full set cycles and recheck water quality after rain.
Weekend decision: Both days are 4/5: The Steps Saturday, Oak Park Sunday.
Safe dives and happy bubbles!
Access alert: Bare Island is undiveable: bridge works have fenced all reasonable access. No mainland workaround.
Choose a date, then check the activity details and experience requirements.
Need help choosing? Find a dive that suits you.
Watch our latest posted team report. Check its site and recording date, and use it alongside the dated written report above.
Open a site for general planning guidance. The dated report and your on-site assessment take 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.
Check current access before travelling. Follow the access alert in the dated report above and current official or on-site advice. Do not use fenced or closed routes, or assume a mainland entry is available during bridge works.
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.
These ranges are a seasonal guide. Use the dated report above for the latest available water-temperature reading.
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 knowledge
A useful dive plan needs more than a swell-height forecast. We consider the swell’s direction and period, tide, wind, water quality, access and the experience of the divers.
Shore and boat conditions need separate assessments. A shore recommendation does not determine whether a boat trip will run.
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.
Talk to our local team about conditions, your experience and the right next dive.
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