Meet the site
Little Bay is a pocket beach tucked between the old Prince Henry Hospital site and The Coast Golf Club, and McFadyen calls the dive 'one of Sydney's easiest' – once you have got there. The logistics are the only obstacle: a walk behind the chapel, across a golf fairway behind the tee, and down a long flight of stairs to the sand, with a climb back that most people do in stages. The bay itself is 200 m long and 75 m wide with a shallow sandy bottom, and the dive proper starts at the mouth. Exiting over the rocks and heading east you pick up a smallish wall on your right that drops through 5, 7 and 10 m with nice overhangs, a couple of swim-throughs and small gullies along the way. After about 25 minutes you reach the base of the rock platform of the northern headland, an interesting area of overhangs and small canyons. From there the sand can be followed north to the opposite side of the mouth and the reef followed back west into the bay, reaching 13 m on the sand in between. Golf balls litter the whole site. Fish life is modest but pleasant: yellowtail, seapike and sweep in the deeper water, luderick and eastern rock blackfish in the overhangs near shore, and the usual leatherjackets and wrasse. There is a tap on the eastern wall of the old building near the tennis court for rinsing gear, and the golf club bistro above has what McFadyen reckons is the best view of any club in Sydney. For new divers, snorkellers and anyone wanting a quiet, protected dive in the south-eastern suburbs on a flat day, Little Bay is ideal; the neighbouring 4th Hole inlet on the same golf course is the more adventurous option.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Little Bay is recorded as Shore/Rock Platform in Sydney South & Botany Bay. 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.
- 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 Little Bay 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 Little Bay 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
Yellowtail, seapike, silver sweep, luderick, eastern rock blackfish, leatherjackets, wrasse, cuttlefish
Location
Small (200 × 75 m) sandy bay behind the former Prince Henry Hospital and The Coast Golf Club, just north of La Perouse; a wall and overhangs east of the bay mouth from 5 m to sand at 13 m.
Facilities nearby
Chapel car park (limited), tap on the old building near the tennis court, Coast Golf Club bistro and toilets; air at Abyss or Sydney Dive Academy.
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.
