Meet the site
Secluded Cemetery takes its name from the Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park, whose graves run to the cliff edge on the coast north of Cape Banks, and the reef sits straight off the cemetery's southern boundary, only about 150 m from the rocks. It is an uncomplicated wall in pristine condition. From a sandy and rocky bottom at about 25 m the reef comes up in two steps to a top at 18 m – a first drop of around four metres with large rocks scattered on the floor, then a smaller one-metre wall to the sand – and it runs north–south parallel to the shore, occasionally turning in towards the land to form a large bay. Seaward, the bottom continues down in a very slow slope to 50 m. The top of the reef has sponge gardens and a couple of small overhangs. Fish are typical of this clean coast: black reef leatherjackets, bream, yellowtail, silver sweep, one-spot pullers and seapike in numbers, with blue morwong, fiddler rays, yellowtail kingfish, eastern blue devilfish and weedy seadragons less often. Visibility is frequently excellent – 25 m on McFadyen's most recent dive – and a gentle current from the north makes this the natural start of a drift south past Truck Tyre Reef to Pistol Crack, about 800 m away, which is how the St George Scuba Club often dives it. Charter boats have never worked this section of coast so it is effectively private-boat only, and that is exactly why it is worth doing: a colourful, fishy wall at moderate depth, fifteen minutes from the Botany Bay ramps, without another diver in sight. Highly recommended by McFadyen as an entry point to the whole undived Little Bay–Cape Banks stretch.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Secluded Cemetery 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.
- Current and timing
- Ask how the operator assesses the current window for the actual route. Historical tide notes are not a departure instruction.
- 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.
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 Secluded Cemetery 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 Secluded Cemetery 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
Black reef leatherjacket, bream, yellowtail, silver sweep, one-spot pullers, seapike, blue morwong, fiddler ray, yellowtail kingfish, eastern blue devilfish, weedy seadragon, sponges
Location
Wall running north–south about 150 m off the boundary of St Michael's Golf Club and the Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park cemetery, 1.5 km north of Cape Banks; reef top 18 m, sand 25 m, sloping to 50 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.
