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Scuba diver submerged, surrounded by air bubbles underwater, exploring ocean depths.
📷 Francesco Ungaro · Pexels

Chowder Bay

4.0 — based on 22 community signals
4.2 12 species 24 contributors

Chowder Bay near Sydney offers year-round diving with healthy coral and 12 documented marine species.

⭐ Best for beginners.

updated 4 months ago
Difficulty
Beginner
Shore entryFamily-friendlyBeginner

At a glance

Activity
dive
Difficulty
beginner
Best months
Year-round

Top operators here

See all operators ↓

Map

This spot Operators POIs Airport Nearby spots
Chowder Bay location map © Google · Map data © Google, contributors
Open in Google Maps

Conditions today

Conditions

Open-Meteo
Wind
5.3 kn
Wave
0.9 m
Water
17.8°C
N E S W
Wind direction (7d)
Primary: NE (21%)
Now: WNW (293°)
Tide (7 days)
range: 1.32m

Next: High at 01:00 (+0.15m)

+0.7 m0 m-0.6 m
▲ 01:00 · +0.15m ▼ 07:00 · -0.12m ▲ 14:00 · +0.57m ▼ 21:00 · -0.18m
Sat 19Sun 20Mon 21Tue 22Wed 23Thu 24Fri 25
UV6.7 · high Air PM2.511 · good 05:49 17:49
Day Wind Wave UV Rain
09-19 10.4 0.96 7 0mm
09-20 9.2 0.78 7 0mm
09-21 15.4 1.72 7 1mm
09-22 9.4 1.64 1 3mm
09-23 9.6 1.42 3 1mm
09-24 11.8 1.28 7 0mm
09-25 10.6 1.14 7 0mm

About this spot

Chowder Bay is a dive destination located in New South Wales, Australia, accessible year-round. The site benefits from stable coral health with no bleaching stress recorded, making it a reliable choice for divers seeking consistent conditions. The bay's ecosystem supports 12 identified marine species, providing good underwater biodiversity for exploration. This Sydney-area dive spot draws interest from the local diving community, with three community videos documenting conditions and marine life. The location sits outside marine protected areas, offering straightforward access for visiting divers. Year-round availability means you can plan trips on your schedule without seasonal restrictions. Chowder Bay suits divers looking for accessible exploration with documented marine activity. The species diversity and stable coral health indicate a functioning reef ecosystem. Community engagement through video documentation suggests active local interest and reliable information sharing about site conditions.

📖 Guide: Diving in Australia: 61 Sites from Coral Reefs to Cold-Water Wrecks

Best months

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Dive types

Reef

Trip essentials

Everything you need before you pack — checklist, sun, logistics.

Trip checklist

  • 🛂 Visa-free or visa-on-arrival
  • 📜 C-card + dive insurance (DAN)
  • 📔 Dive logbook
  • 🧴 Reef-safe sunscreen SPF 50+
  • 🔌 Plug type I · 230V adapter
  • 💊 Seasickness meds + ear drops
  • 📱 Offline maps + emergency contact

Quick facts

  • 🌓 Moon First quarter · 47%
  • GPS
Sustainability disclosures
🌍 CO2 footprint LHR ↔ 17016km · ~3914kg · €70

From your departure country

United States
Origin score: 53/100
  • Visa: e-Visa · 90 days max
  • Flight: 16h · direct
  • Jet-lag: 9h east · 6 days recovery

FAQ

When is the best time to dive Chowder Bay?

Chowder Bay is diveable year-round, so you can plan trips whenever your schedule allows. No seasonal closures or major weather restrictions limit access.

What marine life will I see?

The bay supports 12 documented marine species. Community videos show active underwater life, though specific species lists depend on current dive conditions and seasonal movement patterns.

Are there access restrictions or permits needed?

Chowder Bay is not inside a marine protected area, so standard dive site access applies. Check with local Sydney dive operators for current entry requirements and safety briefings.

What is the coral health like?

The site shows no coral bleaching stress, indicating stable reef conditions. This is positive for ecosystem health and long-term diving sustainability at the location.

Operators near this spot

Dive centres, kite & surf schools within 10 km, sourced from OpenStreetMap.

Dive Centre Bondi

Dive Centre Bondi

6.1 km
4.9 (755 reviews) closed
Dive centre
Verified Booked 49+ times this month
Hours: Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Plunge

0.1 km
Dive centre
Speaks 🇬🇧

Dive Centre Manly

6.6 km
4.9 (800 reviews) closed
Dive centre
Verified Booked 52+ times this month
Hours: Friday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Pro Dive

8.5 km
Dive centre

Recently spotted by divers

iNaturalist →

Verified marine species observations

9 records · 8 species · sources: OBIS, GBIF

Oikopleura

Appendicularia · Oikopleuridae
OBIS
Last seen:
20 May 2020
×1records

Carcharhinus leucas

Bull Shark
Elasmobranchii · Carcharhinidae
OBIS
Last seen:
13 Dec 2017
×2records

Eunice roussaei

Polychaeta · Eunicidae
OBIS
Last seen:
15 Aug 2016
×1records

Oikopleuridae

Appendicularia · Oikopleuridae
OBIS
Last seen:
11 Feb 2014
×1records
Depth:
75 m

Cryptassiminea tasmanica

Gastropoda · Assimineidae
OBIS
Last seen:
7 Sept 2002
×1records

Pterochelus duffusi

Gastropoda · Muricidae
OBIS
Last seen:
5 Dec 1978
×1records

Condylocardia notoaustralis

Bivalvia · Condylocardiidae
OBIS
Last seen:
14 May 1881
×1records

Scaeochlamys livida

Livid Fan Scallop
Bivalvia · Pectinidae
OBIS
Last seen:
Invalid Date
×1records

Data: 187,991 observations from OBIS (Ocean Biodiversity Information System) and GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility). CC-BY 4.0.

See this spot in action

YouTube videos — click to play.

Chowder Bay - Scuba Dive [4k]

Couple vlogger in Australia
💬 3 top comments
  • I love this

    @KrishnaRay-fc8vz · 👍 0
  • Lovely

    @karsubhajit1956 · 👍 0
  • Outstanding video quality 👍

    @9239506287 · 👍 0

Chowder bay Scuba diving

Deano's World
💬 1 top comments
  • Great video mate . If only people knew the amazingly beautiful organisms that live right below the surface . Good move with the garbage retrieval also . Thanks .

    @paulcombes3782 · 👍 0

Chowder Bay, Sydney Harbour Free Dive, Snorkel

LOVSEA Exploration
wind peaks Oct-Nov-Sep, calmest Jun-Apr-May, dry Jan-Dec.

5-year monthly climate

60 samples
0 5 10 15 20 25 JFMAMJJASOND
p25–p75 range Median Wind (kn) Air (°C)

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