Meet the site
Long Bay is the gentle shore dive of the Malabar coast, a protected inlet between the Long Bay Rifle Range headland and the Randwick Golf Club, dived from the ocean pool on its western side. It is another site that simply did not exist for divers until the Malabar sewage outfall was moved offshore in 1990; by the summer of 1991–92 it was not unusual to see 25 divers in the bay on a single morning, and it remains a popular easy dive and a very good night dive. From the entry the sand is only 2 m deep and shelves slowly to 6.5 m. Fifty metres out two large rocks rise from the sand at 9–10 m with overhangs beneath them, and a narrow slit on the southern side leads through into a rocky area, more sand, a small drop-off and a distinctive anvil-shaped rock. Beyond is a kelp bed and a wide aisle between big boulders, with reef-and-sand edges everywhere. The life is what you expect of a sheltered sandy bay: bullseyes and eastern rock blackfish packed under the overhangs, flathead, stingarees and numbfish on the sand, common seadragons in the kelp, Port Jackson sharks in winter, bream, snapper, yellowtail and whiting, six-spined, reef, rough and velvet leatherjackets, and the occasional very large crayfish under a ledge. Maximum depth is under 10 m, navigation is a simple out-and-back on a compass, and the entry and exit are protected, which makes it a good Open Water and night-diving site and a fallback when the ocean shore sites are blown out. The MV Malabar wreck lies on the opposite (northern) headland of the same bay but is a different and far more exposed dive.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Long Bay (Malabar) 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.
- Other water users
- Ask about vessel activity, exclusion areas and the agreed surface arrangements.
- 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 Long Bay (Malabar) 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 Long Bay (Malabar) 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, Port Jackson shark, bullseyes, eastern rock blackfish, flathead, stingaree, numbfish, bream, snapper, yellowtail, whiting, six-spined/reef/rough/velvet leatherjackets, large crayfish
Location
Sheltered shore dive from the ocean pool on the western (Randwick Golf Club) side of Long Bay, Malabar; sand, kelp and two large overhung rocks in 2–10 m.
Facilities nearby
Golf club car park, Malabar ocean pool, toilets and kiosk at the beach, golf club bistro; air at Abyss (Ramsgate) or Sydney Dive Academy (Matraville).
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.
