Meet the site
The Jibbon reef complex is a cluster of deep reefs discovered by McFadyen and the St George Scuba Club from the 2000s onward, named in a running joke after fast-food outlets – because such outlets are always found near one another. Pizza Reef, named because it is round, came first; KFC, Maccas, Hungry Jacks, Red Rooster and Oporto followed as the club found neighbouring reefs, often by accident when wind pushed the boat off the intended mark. Hungry Jacks was another accidental discovery, found when wind pushed the boat north-east from Pizza Reef, and it lies just north of Maccas. The main feature is a wall running north–south that drops from a 20 m reef top to 24–25 m and then slopes across rocks to just over 27 m on sand, with small boulders leading out to a smaller wall and then the sand. Further north, larger boulders sit on the rocky section before the sand. Along the wall are low but large overhangs and tiny caves, and to the north the reef flattens and turns west. The fixed life is rich – very large sponges, small gorgonians and many sea squirts – and under the boulders divers find Port Jackson sharks and cuttlefish, with occasional weedy sea dragons. The fish can be abundant: huge numbers of seapike, yellowtail, silver sweep and trevally, plus bastard trumpeter, black reef leatherjackets and one-spot pullers. The route is simple – north along the wall to the western turn, back along the western section, then south past the anchor to the deeper wall – and fits comfortably into a nitrox dive. As with the rest of the complex, only private boats and the St George Scuba Club dive it. It suits experienced Advanced divers who have done Pizza and Maccas and want to explore further.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Hungry Jacks (Jibbon) is recorded as Wall in Sydney South & Botany Bay. The listed access is boat. 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.
- Planned depth
- Confirm the intended route and training requirements; the recorded maximum is not a target.
- Overhead environments
- Ask whether the plan stays entirely in open water. A wreck or cave listing is not permission or training to enter.
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 Hungry Jacks (Jibbon) suitable for my certification?
The record lists Deep/Advanced + experience. 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 Hungry Jacks (Jibbon) 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
Very large sponges, small gorgonians, sea squirts, Port Jackson shark, cuttlefish, weedy sea dragon, seapike, yellowtail, silver sweep, trevally, bastard trumpeter, black reef leatherjacket, one-spot puller
Location
North–south wall reef north of Maccas in the Jibbon reef complex off Royal National Park; reef top 20 m, wall to 24–25 m, sand at 27 m.
Facilities nearby
Departure only: Port Hacking ramps – Tonkin Park/Gunnamatta Bay (Cronulla), Lilli Pilli, Bundeena – with parking and toilets; air/nitrox at Pro Dive Cronulla and Abyss (Ramsgate).
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.infoRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.
