New South Wales

Northern Beaches Council

Australia

The Vailant was a tug boat that sunk in 1981. This is ones of Sydneys most recent wrecks.

Vessel size: 22.5m x 5.4 m (72 tons).

The Vailant wreck is off Barrenjoey Head, Palm Beach.

The Valiant is also known as The Valient (mispelled name).

Palm Beach

The Valiant

Average site, but a good alternative when you are tired of other sites. Be aware of surge from a southerly swell, it can be a problem if the seas are up.

Enter the dive site at the end of Ocean Park rd, south end. Cross the beach and dive the headland and dive to the southeast. Simple.

Scuttled 19 August 1980.

Long Reef Wreck Site

The Coolooli

The SS duckenfield was a steam-powered cargo ship used to transport coal. It sank in 1889 with a cargo of coal, coke and copper. The copper cargo was salvaged. The current remains are the boiler, the engine, and some pieces scattered on sandy ocean floor.



SS Duckenfield

It is surprising that this site has not been listed sooner. The wreck lies upright and divers can penetrate safely as there are cutouts everywhere providing immediate escape. Divers need to watch their bottom time to ensure they don't go into deco (people have died diving this site). Terrigal Dive is a local operator that runs double boat dives

This is the wreck of the Frigate EX HMAS Adelaide which was sunk to become an artificial reef and dive site 13 April 2011.

Ex HMAS Adelaide

Good dive site for beginners. Reef is characterised by boulders with gradual descent sloping uniformily down to 12 meters. Plenty of rays (including bull rays), schools of fish, eels, groupers. Watch out for passing boats - surface in the shallows. If you have a boat this area is a good launching spot for many other local dives.

Park in the Council car park off Terrigal Esp. Parking is free as of May 08. The dive site is a short walk (<50) down to the concrete boat ramp and sand.

Terrigal Haven

The dive path goes towards the left. You may choose to dive over the shallow rocks covered with kelp, or a little further, where the rocks meet the sandy bottom.

The area has numerous rock arrangements with small openings and overhangs. There is numerous rock fish life, making this a very popular spot among spearfishers.

The site is on the northern side of Queenscliff Bay. There is a ticket parking area where you can gear up. There are also some free car spaces just outside the parking area.

To reach the dive site, walk down the steps and circle the rock pool. The entry point is through a small canal on the seaside end of the rock pool. Note that this area is very exposed and the shallow reef may make it difficult to enter and exit.

Harbord

Manly Bombie

Ship wreck which is usually only dived for training purposes to demonstrate zero-visibility in wrecks. However, looks great if dived carefully and makes for nice pictures.

Wreck in only max. 3m depth. Very silty, great practice dive with zero visibility. 
However, great photo opportunities if dived carefully.

Itata

White sand and a natural reef of boulders and rocks. Sea dragons, dusky whalers, small rays... but not much fixed life.

Parking available in Council car park at end of Bower St - parking $4+ or free if you park on the residential streets further away. Short walk down to sandy beach - park benches and open space available near entry.

Shelly Beach

Shallow, easy dive to navigate. Head straight into the water and follow the reek either left or right and turn around once you're halfway through your air.
Lots of things to see like eels, occys and nudi's. Highlight here is if you get to catch a glimpse of the dusky whalers. GREAT night dive!

Go down the set of stairs at the end of Little Bower Street.

The Valiant

Snorkeling and Scuba Diving at The Valiant