Meet the site
Jolong is a deep, quiet wall 700 m north of Cape Banks, the northern headland of Botany Bay, below the cliffs of the Kamay Botany Bay National Park with their WWII gun emplacements. The reef top lies at about 20 m, deepening to 23 m near the edge, and drops in one or two steps to 25–26 m; between there and a further drop to 28 m the bottom is sand, rocks and kelp, and beyond that it continues past 30 m. The wall has good overhangs and a few small cracks, with large boulders lying off it. Growth is rich – sea tulips, sponges and gorgonians on the face – and the kelp on the slope shelters weedy seadragons and cuttlefish. Fish are the usual clean-coast assemblage: bream, luderick, yellowtail, silver sweep, black reef leatherjackets and one-spot pullers, with small rays on the sand. What distinguishes Jolong from the Royal National Park walls to the south is current: McFadyen notes it runs here far more often, which combined with the depth makes it an advanced dive best done on nitrox as the first of the day. The shore opposite is Botany Bay National Park, and the adjacent Lilli Pilli Baths rock ledge has claimed many rock fishers' lives, a reminder of how swell rears on this shelf. No charter visits; it is a St George Scuba Club and private-boat site, twenty minutes from the Botany Bay ramps, and McFadyen rates it a very good location well worth repeated dives.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Jolong (Cape Banks) 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.
- Current and timing
- Ask how the operator assesses the current window for the actual route. Historical tide notes are not a departure instruction.
- 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.
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 Jolong (Cape Banks) 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 Jolong (Cape Banks) 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
Weedy seadragon, cuttlefish, bream, luderick, yellowtail, silver sweep, black reef leatherjacket, one-spot pullers, small rays, sea tulips, sponges, gorgonians
Location
North–south wall 700 m north of Cape Banks off Kamay Botany Bay National Park; reef top 20–23 m, wall to 25–26 m, second drop to 28–30 m.
Facilities nearby
None.
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.infomichaelmcfadyenscuba.infoRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.
