Meet the site
Yowie Bay Boat Ramp is an unglamorous but interesting muck dive in one of Port Hacking's northern arms, and McFadyen's account captures its appeal: a night dive in a quiet suburban bay where bioluminescence made divers look like ghosts. The site is at the end of Wonga Road, where a public ramp leads straight into the bay. The depth at the end of the ramp is just over 7 m, and the bottom, a sandy mixture with some silt, drops fairly quickly towards 14 m. To the east is a marina whose pylons carry little growth; visibility under it is often less than a metre, recovering to about 4 m in the shallower zones beyond. Further on, near moorings and pontoons, a submerged wall runs north–south at 4–6 m. Oddities on the bottom include a submerged station wagon and a huge pile of old beer bottles from about 1965. The marine life is typical estuary muck fare: pufferfish, whiting, fan-bellied leatherjackets, mud crabs and blue swimmer crabs, cuttlefish, large prawns and a spotted eel, with a very large conger eel and a huge moray eel among the highlights. Visibility is best on a high tide, about an hour after Fort Denison, when it may reach 5–7 m in open water. Because boats use the ramp and marina, divers should listen for engines and stay down until they pass; compasses can be thrown off by the steel and engines above. It suits experienced Open Water divers who enjoy muck diving, night diving and the unusual, and it is a useful option when the ocean is unworkable.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Yowie Bay Boat Ramp is recorded as Muck/Sand in Sydney South & Botany Bay. 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.
- 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 Yowie Bay Boat Ramp 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 Yowie Bay Boat Ramp 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
Pufferfish, whiting, fan-bellied leatherjacket, mud crab, blue swimmer crab, cuttlefish, prawns, spotted eel, conger eel, moray eel, bioluminescent plankton
Location
Silty estuary muck dive from the public boat ramp at the end of Wonga Road, Yowie Bay, Port Hacking, under a marina and along a submerged wall; 4–14 m.
Facilities nearby
Angled parking at the ramp; no toilets or showers; air/nitrox at Pro Dive Cronulla (Gerrale Street, 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.infoRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.
