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Diver explores vibrant marine life around a sunken shipwreck, surrounded by coral and fish.
📷 Ayden Zaki · Pexels

Clifton Gardens

3.9 — based on 19 community signals
4.2 12 species 24 contributors

Clifton Gardens is a year-round dive destination in New South Wales, Australia, with diverse marine life and accessible conditions.

⭐ Best for beginners.

updated 4 months ago
Difficulty
Beginner
Family-friendlyShore entryPhotoFriendly

At a glance

Activity
dive
Difficulty
beginner
Best months
Year-round

Top operators here

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Map

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Clifton Gardens 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

Clifton Gardens in New South Wales offers diving opportunities throughout the year. The site draws divers looking to explore healthy marine ecosystems with no current coral bleaching concerns. Twelve species observations have been documented at this location, giving you a good sense of the biodiversity you'll encounter. Community videos are available to help you prepare and understand what to expect before your dive. This unprotected locality means fewer regulatory restrictions compared to marine protected areas, making access straightforward for visiting divers. The healthy coral status indicates a thriving reef environment worth exploring. Whether you're planning a solo trip or group dive, year-round access means you can schedule your visit around your calendar rather than seasonal windows. Local knowledge shared through community video content provides real-world perspective on conditions and marine encounters. The documented species observations suggest consistent marine activity and reasonable expectations for what you might see. Clifton Gardens works well as part of a broader New South Wales dive itinerary.

📖 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

Can I dive Clifton Gardens year-round?

Yes. Clifton Gardens is accessible for diving throughout the year, so you can plan your visit based on your schedule rather than seasonal limitations.

What marine life might I encounter?

Twelve species observations have been documented at Clifton Gardens. Community videos show real dives at the site—check those for specific marine life sightings and behavior.

Is the reef healthy?

Clifton Gardens shows no coral bleaching stress, indicating a healthy reef environment. This is a positive sign for the ecosystem and marine biodiversity you'll explore.

Do I need permits or special authorization?

Clifton Gardens is not within a marine protected area, so access is straightforward. Always check local regulations and conditions before diving, and respect any site-specific guidelines.

Operators near this spot

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

Dive Centre Bondi

Dive Centre Bondi

6 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

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

Pro Dive

8.6 km
Dive centre

Recently spotted by divers

iNaturalist →

Verified marine species observations

12 records · 10 species · sources: OBIS, GBIF

Obelia geniculata

Hydrozoa · Campanulariidae
OBIS
Last seen:
30 Jan 2024
×1records

Molgula complanata

Ascidiacea · Molgulidae
OBIS
Last seen:
3 Apr 2019
×1records

Carcharhinus leucas

Bull Shark
Elasmobranchii · Carcharhinidae
OBIS
Last seen:
13 Feb 2016
×1records

Carcharhinus leucas

Bull Shark
Elasmobranchii · Carcharhinidae
OBIS
Last seen:
2 Mar 2015
×1records

Carcharhinus leucas

Bull Shark
Elasmobranchii · Carcharhinidae
OBIS
Last seen:
15 Feb 2012
×1records
Depth:
29 m

Xenotrophon euschema

Graceful Trophon
Gastropoda · Muricidae
OBIS
Last seen:
5 Dec 1977
×1records

Lumbrineris

Polychaeta · Lumbrineridae
OBIS
Last seen:
20 Jan 1977
×1records

Appendicularia

Appendicularia
OBIS
Last seen:
30 May 1939
×1records
Depth:
91 m

Callyspongia (Euplacella)

Demospongiae · Callyspongiidae
OBIS
Last seen:
Invalid Date
×1records

Spisula trigonella

Little Trough Shell Or Triangular Cockle
Bivalvia · Mactridae
OBIS
Last seen:
Invalid Date
×1records

Squalus megalops

Elasmobranchii · Squalidae
OBIS
Last seen:
Invalid Date
×1records

Callyspongia (Callyspongia) serpentina

Demospongiae · Callyspongiidae
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.

Clifton Gardens Sydney – Seahorses & Secret Spots

Choke Point

Clifton Gardens Sydney – Sydney’s Underwater Playground

Choke Point

Clifton Gardens, Sydney - Scuba Diving 4K, Australia

Seamount
💬 1 top comments
  • Nicely shot.

    @mawfish1 · 👍 0
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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