Meet the site
Tyre Reef lies under the northern end of the Long Bay Rifle Range on the stretch of cliff between Maroubra and Malabar that was unusable for diving until the deepwater sewage outfall opened in September 1990. McFadyen watched the recovery: within months the stunted sponges and kelp of the outfall era grew back to normal size and the site became one of his regular private-boat dives through the 1990s. The structure is two walls. The outer wall drops from about 20 m to 24 m and runs roughly north–south, weaving in towards the shore in places, with large boulders lying off it that form overhangs and swim-throughs. Inshore of it a rocky slope rises to a second, shallower wall between 10 and 15 m with its own overhangs and cracks. The name refers to old tyres wedged in the reef, dumped from the cliff top in earlier decades. Sponge and sea-squirt cover on both walls is very good and the kelp on the slope between them is a reliable place for weedy seadragons. The fish are the real attraction: in good visibility the water above the walls is thick with ladder-finned pomfrets in their thousands, plus yellowtail, seapike and one-spot pullers, and the caves and overhangs hold eastern blue devilfish and cuttlefish. It is a comfortable intermediate boat dive with a natural multilevel profile – deep wall first, shallow wall second – on a piece of coast that charter boats pass without stopping. For a private boat from Botany Bay it pairs well with Yellow Rock, Rifle Range Reef or Red Flag on a two-dive morning, or with Magic Point a kilometre north.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Tyre Reef (South Maroubra) 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.
- 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 Tyre Reef (South Maroubra) 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 Tyre Reef (South Maroubra) 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
Ladder-finned pomfret (thousands), yellowtail, seapike, one-spot pullers, weedy seadragon, eastern blue devilfish, cuttlefish, sponges, sea squirts
Location
Two parallel walls behind the northern end of the Long Bay Rifle Range, just north of Long Bay's outer northern headland; a 10–15 m inner wall and a 20–24 m outer wall.
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.
