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Freshwater

Freshwater, Sydney: a map of the inner and outer reefs, the access points, the weedy seadragons and where the sea turtle was found.

Two reefs here: the one that follows the coast, and an outer reef separated from it by about 40 m of sand at the closest point.

Conditions today: this site is Freshwater on the VIZ Forecast.

The Freshwater map

Getting in, and getting out

Either reef can be reached two ways: a 300 m swim from the pool, entering off the rock platform just west of it, or jumping in from the easternmost side of the point.

The jump needs a day with very little swell. Waves hit the terraced profile of the reef and set up a lot of horizontal water movement. Walk down and watch the sets for a few minutes before you gear up, and pick your spot from what you see. Depending on the tide, a good one lines up with the vehicle access ramp, which puts you where the outer reef comes closest to shore.

For the exit, swim to the pool, or just past it for an easier climb out. There is a channel through the reef but it is very tide-dependent and rarely usable.

The coastal reef

A 6 out of 10 for me. Genuinely interesting swim-throughs, cracks and overhangs in the first 8 m before the sandline — the score comes down because there is only a moderate amount to see, beyond schools of yellowtail, eagle rays and, rarely, a grey nurse. Then again, it is open ocean: you never know what will come past.

There is usually some surge here, even on a small swell.

The isolated reef

Big enough that realistically only the western side is reachable from shore without a scooter. On a good day you can see it from the coastal reef.

The west side is fairly flat — low rocks a metre or so high on a 10–14 m bottom. Eagle rays, blue gropers and weedy seadragons.

The east side is more varied, with walls and cracks dropping to an 18 m bottom and smaller reefs scattered further west. Still not much fauna.

The centre is mostly kelp or bright green seagrass with rocks here and there, and a lot of sea tulips in different colours.

What is down there

One of the entry points — a flat platform, tide-dependent, and it needs very little swell. Roughly in line with the vehicle ramp The wall on the east side of the isolated reef, 3.5 m high Weedy seadragons A sea turtle, August 2021 Sea tulips on the outer reef Freshwater The outer reef The coastal reef and its boulders