Meet the site
Pistol Crack is the most striking of the reefs on the cliff coast immediately north of Cape Banks, named for the pistol club whose range sits on the headland above. A deep fissure runs north–south through the reef and is obvious from the boat as a matching cleft in the cliff platform. The usual anchorage is at the edge of a three-metre wall with a further five-metre wall to the east, and two wall systems run north from there. The crack itself drops to 27 m and between 22 and 27 m its sides carry very fine sponges. On its northern side at 18 m is an excellent tunnel under a huge rock, the sort of feature McFadyen compares to the caves of Jervis Bay. The shallows hold debris from the council tip that once operated on the cliff, adding an odd archaeological interest. Fish life is abundant: huge schools of yellowtail, seapike and nannygai hang over the crack while red morwong line the bottom, and Port Jackson sharks congregate around the swim-through in winter and spring. Until recently this was one of the least-dived areas in Sydney because charter boats did not come here; Frog Dive, Pro Dive and Sydney Dive Academy now visit occasionally, but private boats and the St George Scuba Club still see it most. Because the site ranges from 12 m to 27 m it offers a good multilevel profile – deep in the crack first, then the tunnel, then the shallows – and it is often the finishing point of a drift from Secluded Cemetery 800 m north. For anyone with access to a boat out of Botany Bay, McFadyen's advice is simple: give Pistol Crack a go.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Pistol Crack (Cape Banks) is recorded as Wall in Sydney South & Botany Bay. The listed access is boat. 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.
- Planned depth
- Confirm the intended route and training requirements; the recorded maximum is not a target.
- Water movement
- Ask how swell and local exposure affect the proposed entry, exit and route.
- Overhead environments
- Ask whether the plan stays entirely in open water. A wreck or cave listing is not permission or training to enter.
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 Pistol Crack (Cape Banks) suitable for my certification?
The record lists Advanced 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 Pistol Crack (Cape Banks) 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, nannygai (large schools), red morwong, Port Jackson shark (winter–spring), sponges, wobbegong, cuttlefish
Location
Prominent north–south fissure in the reef below the pistol club range about 1 km north of Cape Banks; walls of 3 m and 5 m, the crack itself to 27 m, and a rock tunnel at 18 m.
Facilities nearby
None.
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.
