Meet the site
The outer half of Chowder Bay is a different dive from the seahorse net at Clifton Gardens, and Michael McFadyen documents it on its own page. East of the public wharf the bay opens out toward the long naval wharf built for the submarine-mining depot in the 1890s and used by the Navy into the twentieth century; between the two lie the heavy anchor chains that once secured warship mooring dolphins, running across the sand to concrete blocks at 10–11 m, a forest of old timber piles, mooring buoys and their gear, and a scatter of larger objects – a small yacht and a launch that sank on their moorings, an Admiralty-pattern anchor, and a Land Rover that somebody put over the side. Depths are 6–8 m on the crossing and 10–12 m under the naval wharf and out at the mooring blocks. The structure attracts more fish than the inner bay: schools of yellowtail and bream around the big piles, snapper and wrasses in the shadows, moray eels in the chain links, decorator crabs and White's seahorses on the chains themselves, cuttlefish and squid on the sand, and, in season, tropical juveniles along the wharf. Sponges, ascidians and soft growth coat the piles and chains in a way the sandy inner bay cannot match. The dive takes planning: it is a 150–200 m crossing each way over featureless sand in 3–7 m visibility, the moorings are in use, and the naval wharf and HMAS Penguin grounds are restricted above the waterline, so the normal method is a compass run from the public wharf along a chain and back. Plunge Diving, based on the naval side, guides it and can arrange access there. It suits Open Water divers with sound navigation, photographers who want structure as well as critters, and night divers who have exhausted the inner bay.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Chowder Bay Wharf (naval wharf and mooring chains) is recorded as Jetty/Pier in Sydney Harbour. The listed access is shore. Confirm the actual meeting point, route and permission to visit; a map pin does not establish any of these.
Topics flagged by the stored research
These are questions prompted by the existing notes, not a verified or complete hazard assessment.
- Other water users
- Ask about vessel activity, exclusion areas and the agreed surface arrangements.
- Lines and obstructions
- Discuss any known entanglement concerns and the suitability of the planned area.
- Water movement
- Ask how swell and local exposure affect the proposed entry, exit and route.
Historical access notes exist for this record, but have not been independently verified for current use. Request current directions from the operator or site manager rather than following an old entry description.
Questions, answered
Is Chowder Bay Wharf (naval wharf and mooring chains) suitable for my certification?
The record lists Open Water. That does not establish suitability for every route or day. Share your training, recent experience and equipment needs with the operator and ask about the specific proposed dive.
Can I book Chowder Bay Wharf (naval wharf and mooring chains) through YouDive?
YouDive is an independent research directory. Contact an operator directly to confirm whether it currently runs the trip, the inclusions and the booking terms.
What you might see
White's seahorses and decorator crabs on the chains, yellowtail, bream, snapper, wrasses, moray eels, cuttlefish, squid, octopus, stingarees, tropical juveniles (autumn), sponges and ascidians on the piles
Location
The outer part of Chowder Bay: the big-piled former naval wharf, the anchor chains of the old warship mooring dolphins, timber piles, a yacht and a launch wreck, an Admiralty anchor and a sunken Land Rover in 8–12 m, reached by swimming out from Clifton Gardens wharf.
Facilities nearby
As for Clifton Gardens; Plunge Diving on the naval side for fills and guided access.
Before you make plans
Conditions, access and operator schedules can change. This is a location guide, not a dive plan. Ask a local operator about current conditions and suitability for your training and experience.
Sources & further reading
michaelmcfadyenscuba.infoviz.net.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.