Meet the site
The Manly Gasworks dive takes its name from the gas plant that stood on Little Manly Point from 1883 until the 1960s, and its legacy is the strangest bottom on the harbour: the sandy-silty floor of the point is strewn with coal, from crushed fragments to lumps as big as a watermelon, spilled or dumped over eighty years of coal deliveries, now half-buried and colonised by weed. The site sits between Little Manly Cove and Spring Cove at the end of Stuart Street, a short walk from the Little Manly boat ramp where the Manly charters load, and it is entered over the rocks either from a rough track at the street's end or via the small bridge joining two concreted sections of foreshore. Depth is 4–5 m at the point and 6–7 m about 15–20 m out; the bottom is a sandy-silty mixture with small rocks, larger boulders in places, kelp patches and seagrass, and the shoreline has overhangs worth searching. Michael McFadyen's verdict was that it is 'worth doing every now and again, and is probably a better night dive', and that is a fair description. Fish are small and numerous – old wives, bream, luderick, leatherjackets, yellowtail – with small cuttlefish and octopus under the ledges, a great many small rays on the sand, and the seahorses and pipefish that live along this whole stretch of North Harbour, inside the aquatic reserve. At night the coal beds come alive with crabs, shrimps and hunting cuttlefish. The attraction is solitude: while Manly Cove and Shelly Beach are crowded, the point is empty, parking is free, and the walk is short. The drawbacks are the scrambly entry, ordinary visibility (4–5 m on most days) and the lack of any structure beyond the shoreline rocks. It suits Open Water divers who know the harbour, night-dive enthusiasts and photographers after rays and cephalopods, and it is easily combined with Little Manly Cove beach next door for a second, even easier 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.
Manly Gasworks (Little Manly Point) is recorded as Shore/Rock Platform in Sydney Harbour. 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 Manly Gasworks (Little Manly Point) 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 Manly Gasworks (Little Manly Point) 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
Small rays and stingarees, cuttlefish, octopus, old wives, bream, luderick, leatherjackets, yellowtail, seahorses and pipefish (occasional), crabs and shrimps at night
Location
Rocky point between Little Manly Cove and Spring Cove, site of the former Manly gasworks, where coal debris, silty sand, kelp and small boulders in 4–7 m make a quiet shore and night dive off the end of Stuart Street.
Facilities nearby
Small free car parks in Little Manly Point Reserve, toilets at Little Manly Cove beach, boat ramp; cafes in Manly; air fills at Dive Centre Manly.
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.infoRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.