Dive-site story
Situated along the rocky shoreline between Manly Beach and Shelly Beach within the Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve, Fairy Bower offers shallow, temperate reef diving over sandstone boulders and dense kelp beds. Divers navigate submerged rocky ledges, sandy patches, and overhangs sheltered from southerly ocean swells. Marine protection in the bay has allowed resident coastal species to flourish without fishing pressure.
Protected aquatic reserve environment with curious resident fish
Kelp beds sheltering well-camouflaged weedy seadragons
Frequent encounters with bottom-dwelling sharks and rays resting on sand patches
Location
Use the map to plan with your operator and confirm the exact entry point on the day.
Seasonality
Late autumn through winter brings cleaner offshore currents, crisper visibility, and the arrival of breeding Port Jackson sharks and giant cuttlefish.
Marine life
| Species | Likelihood | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Blue GroperAchoerodus viridis | Common | ||||||||||||
| Weedy SeadragonPhyllopteryx taeniolatus | Common | ||||||||||||
| Spotted Wobbegong SharkOrectolobus maculatus | Common | ||||||||||||
| Port Jackson SharkHeterodontus portusjacksoni | Seasonal | ||||||||||||
| Australian Giant CuttlefishSepia apama | Seasonal | ||||||||||||
| Smooth StingrayBathytoshia brevicaudata | Common |
Marine forecast
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