Meet the site
The Kurnell Desalination Plant Inlet is a man-made site with a surprisingly good marine community. The Sydney Desalination Plant at Kurnell was completed in 2010 and draws its seawater through four intake structures on the seabed off Tabbagai Gap, with a separate outlet discharging brine. The four inlets stand in an east–west line about 15–20 m apart. Each is round, about 10–12 m across and 5–6 m high, with solid walls rising from the bottom and removable 'prison bar' windows through which the water is drawn in. They sit on concrete-filled fabric bases looped to form a circle, and their removable roof sections carry attachment points and ropes. The seabed is at about 25 m, with the tops at about 18 m; Inlets 3 and 4 are slightly shallower at 23–24 m. Kelp covers the tops, and the underside of the roof overhang is the highlight: thousands of jewel anemones in four or five colours – pink, yellow, blue and others – packed together like a carpet. Around the structures there are large schools of seapike and yellowtail, many small leatherjackets and a few octopuses, and McFadyen has seen a wobbegong on the floor inside Inlet 3, along with kingfish and a fiddler ray on other dives. In February 2025 he had 20 m visibility, enough to see one inlet from the next. The site suits Advanced divers comfortable at 25 m who can plan a nitrox dive around several separate structures; it is a private-boat dive because no charter currently visits. Divers should treat the intakes with respect: they are working infrastructure, and the windows draw water when the plant is running. Also note that the 2008 construction damaged the reef nearby at Tabbagai Point, a reminder of the site's industrial origin.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Kurnell Desalination Plant Inlet is recorded as Artificial Reef 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.
- Lines and obstructions
- Discuss any known entanglement concerns and the suitability of the planned area.
- 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 Kurnell Desalination Plant Inlet suitable for my certification?
The record lists Advanced 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 Kurnell Desalination Plant Inlet 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
Jewel anemones (multi-coloured), seapike, yellowtail, yellowtail kingfish, leatherjackets, octopus, wobbegong, fiddler ray, kelp
Location
Four cylindrical concrete intake structures of the Sydney Desalination Plant in a 15–20 m east–west line on the seabed off Tabbagai Gap, Kurnell; bottom about 25 m, tops at about 18 m.
Facilities nearby
Departure only: Botany Bay ramps (Kyeemagh, Foreshore Road, Bonna Point at Kurnell) or Port Hacking ramps (Gunnamatta Bay, Lilli Pilli), with parking and toilets; air/nitrox at Abyss (Ramsgate) and Pro Dive Cronulla.
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.
