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. Maccas Reef was found by accident when wind pushed the St George Scuba Club boat north-east of the intended Pizza Reef mark, and McFadyen named it after McDonald's – not himself – because of its fast-food neighbours. He rates it one of the best dives he has done in Sydney. The reef comprises two sections separated by sand. A prominent wall runs north-east to south-west near the mark, north–south beyond it and east–west to the south-west, dropping from 22 m to 24–25 m and then sloping to almost 27 m on sand. The reef top is at 21–22 m. A flatter northern section extends about 350 m, confirmed on the sounder. Small boulders, gullies, overhangs and cracks add structure, and the whole reef is covered in very large sponges, small gorgonians and many sea squirts. The fish life is prolific: huge schools of silver sweep, yellowtail and one-spot pullers, with leatherjackets, bastard trumpeter, blue morwong and bream. Cuttlefish, weedy sea dragons, Port Jackson sharks, eastern blue devilfish and seals are all seen, as are donut nembrotha nudibranchs on purple ascidians. Visibility is usually excellent. At 24–27 m bottom time is limited to about 25 minutes on air, so nitrox is a real advantage, and several dives are needed to cover both sections. There is no charter; it is a private-boat or club dive. It suits experienced Advanced divers.
What you might see
Silver sweep, yellowtail, one-spot puller, leatherjackets, bastard trumpeter, blue morwong, bream, cuttlefish, weedy sea dragon, Port Jackson shark, eastern blue devilfish, Australian fur seal, donut nembrotha nudibranch, purple ascidians, very large sponges, gorgonians, sea squirts
Location
Two-part reef with a prominent multi-directional wall off Jibbon Bombora, north-east of Pizza Reef; reef top 21–22 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.infomichaelmcfadyenscuba.infoRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.