Dive-site story
Located along the inner cliffs of North Head within Sydney Harbour, Old Man's Hat features a rugged boulder-strewn underwater landscape that drops away to a sandy bottom lined with kelp. The site serves as a haven for temperate marine species, with large sandstone blocks forming overhangs and swim-throughs where bottom-dwelling predators rest. Due to its position inside the harbour mouth, it offers a sheltered alternative when open ocean swell impacts the outer coastline.
Congregations of Port Jackson sharks resting across sandy gutters during cooler months
Weedy seadragons foraging along the kelp edge and deeper sand interface
Inquisitive eastern blue gropers tailing divers among the sandstone boulders
Extensive boulder overhangs sheltering wobbegong sharks and giant cuttlefish
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 oceanic water and the arrival of breeding Port Jackson sharks.
Marine life
| Species | Likelihood | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Port Jackson SharkHeterodontus portusjacksoni | Common | ||||||||||||
| Weedy SeadragonPhyllopteryx taeniolatus | Common | ||||||||||||
| Eastern Blue GroperAchoerodus viridis | Common | ||||||||||||
| Spotted WobbegongOrectolobus maculatus | Common | ||||||||||||
| Giant Australian CuttlefishSepia apama | Seasonal |
Marine forecast
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