Meet the site
The Cutting North Reef is the neighbour of The Cutting on the Royal National Park coast, part of a roughly seven-kilometre stretch south from Jibbon Point that McFadyen considers almost continuously diveable. The site is anchored where the reef rises from 20 m to about 12 m, close to a headland; any closer and the water becomes shallow. From the anchor the wall drops to about 18 m and then to 20–21 m on sand. The bottom beside the wall is a mixture of small boulders and sand, and the reef eventually turns north. The shallower areas are cut by many gutters, which hold large schools of yellowtail and seapike, and there are a few small caves and a large overhang along the wall. Typical Royal National Park reef life fills in the rest: one-spot pullers, silver sweep, leatherjackets, red morwong, wrasse, sponges and sea squirts, with Port Jackson sharks resting in the gutters in late winter. The standard dive follows the sand edge north for 10–12 minutes to where the main reef meets the sand, then returns through the gutters and along the wall. It is a straightforward, pleasant dive rather than a spectacular one, and its modest depth makes it a good second dive or an option for less experienced divers. As with all sites south of Port Hacking, there is no charter, so it is a private-boat or St George Scuba Club dive. It suits Open Water divers on a calm day who want an easy, relaxed reef dive close to Port Hacking.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
The Cutting North Reef is recorded as Reef 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.
- 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 The Cutting North Reef 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 The Cutting North Reef 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, one-spot puller, silver sweep, leatherjackets, red morwong, wrasse, Port Jackson shark (late winter), sponges, sea squirts
Location
Wall and gutter reef immediately north of The Cutting off Royal National Park; wall from 12 m to 18 m and sand at 20–21 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 27 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.
