Meet the site
Parsley Bay is a Victorian pleasure ground in a cleft of Vaucluse sandstone, with a white suspension footbridge across the mouth, lawns, a netted swimming area and a small ferry-era wharf on the eastern shore, 10 km from the city and almost unknown to divers. Michael McFadyen's write-up is the only detailed account. The dive is from the wharf: five metres of water under the steps, silty near the structures and sandier further out, deepening to 12 m toward the mouth of the bay. Below and around the wharf are its piles and those of several earlier wharves, a small crane lying on the bottom, numerous mooring blocks and chains, and the net when it is in. It is a critter dive of real quality. White's seahorses live on the piles and net; moray and conger eels look out of the mooring blocks; decorator and spider crabs, pygmy leatherjackets, flathead, stingarees, flounder, lionfish, bream, luderick and squid are regular; nudibranchs and Port Jackson sharks turn up in season; and blue-ringed octopus, cuttlefish and painted sweetlips are seen occasionally. On dark nights the bay's plankton lights up with phosphorescence at every fin stroke, which is a spectacle in itself. The bottom is extremely silty and a careless diver will reduce the visibility, already only 2–5 m, to nothing; it is not a place for trainees who have not yet mastered trim. The net is removed from June to September, which changes the seahorse population's habits. Parsley Bay suits macro photographers, night divers and harbour explorers, and is at its best on a still winter night at high tide; there is no operator presence and parking in the residential streets is easy outside summer.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Parsley Bay is recorded as Jetty/Pier 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.
- Lines and obstructions
- Discuss any known entanglement concerns and the suitability of the planned area.
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 Parsley 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 Parsley 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
White's seahorses, moray and conger eels, decorator and spider crabs, pygmy leatherjackets, flathead, stingarees, flounder, lionfish, bream, luderick, squid, nudibranchs, Port Jackson sharks, blue-ringed octopus, cuttlefish, painted sweetlips (occasional)
Location
Narrow, sheltered inlet at Vaucluse with a suspension footbridge, a netted swimming area and a small wharf; silty bottom with wharf piles, a sunken crane, mooring blocks and the piles of older wharves in 5–12 m; a seahorse and eel night dive.
Facilities nearby
Free parking in Hopetoun Avenue near the substation, toilets and kiosk in the reserve, netted swimming area, lawns for gearing up; air fills at Dive 2000 or Abyss.
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.