The Split
Jibbon Head, Royal National Park, New South Wales, Australia
Sydney's best-rated boat dive by McFadyen: a kelp-topped reef south of Port Hacking that drops vertically to sand at about 26-28 m, cut near its base by a 70 m+ north-south crack about 4 m deep and 2 m wide with side cracks, swim-throughs and caves. Visibility often 15-20 m, up to 35 m. Depth 20 to 28 m.
Sydney's best-rated boat dive by McFadyen: a kelp-topped reef south of Port Hacking that drops vertically to sand at about 26-28 m, cut near its base by a 70 m+ north-south crack about 4 m deep and 2 m wide with side cracks, swim-throughs and caves. Visibility often 15-20 m, up to 35 m. Depths run from 20 to 28 m. Access: day boat. Hazards noted: depth ~26 m average, 22-28 min bottom time on air; square profile - 5 min safety stop; occasional current from the north; ensure anchor holds before descending. Marine life recorded on the dive: Kingfish, Eastern blue devilfish, Giant cuttlefish, Gorgonians, Sea squirts, Sponges, Stargazer, Port Jackson sharks, Purple ascidians, Donut nembrotha nudibranch, Pygmy pipehorse, Upside-down pipefish, Serpent eels, Lionfish. Position from Michael McFadyen's dive site page (34° 05.3908' S 151° 10.4425' E (southern end); 34° 05.3383' S 151° 10.4857' E (northern end)); owner-approved single source, 2026-09-09.
Marine life
- Kingfish
- Eastern blue devilfish
- Giant cuttlefish
- Gorgonians
- Sea squirts
- Sponges
- Stargazer
- Port Jackson Shark
- Purple ascidians
- Donut nembrotha nudibranch
- Pygmy pipehorse
- Upside-down pipefish
- Serpent Eel
- Lionfish
