Long Reef sits in the Pacific Ocean north of Sydney and is an exclusively boat-access diving area with four sites spanning a wide range of depths and experience levels. The SS Duckenfield wreck suits advanced divers, the Coolooli is a technical-depth wreck reaching considerable depth, the Wall is accessible to beginners, and the Apartments reef hosts grey nurse sharks, spotted wobbegong, and giant cuttlefish among its rocky gutters. Visibility is variable and can exceed twenty metres, with winter typically offering the clearest conditions. Water temperatures follow a Sydney temperate pattern, warmest in late summer and dropping into the high teens through the winter months.
Monthly water temperature across Long Reef's sites, from satellite sea-surface data corrected for depth. The band shows the site-to-site spread.
Temperatures dip to the high teens mid-winter and recover to the low-to-mid twenties by late summer. Winter is generally the clearest season, which rewards those willing to dive in cooler water. Sites range from shallow enough for new divers to deep enough to require technical planning, so matching the site to certification level matters here.
Water temperature around Long Reef ranges from about 18°C in July to 23°C in February, based on satellite sea-temperature data for its dive sites.
In the warm season (about 23°C) a 3mm full suit is comfortable in Long Reef; in the coldest months (about 18°C) step up to a 5mm suit.
Fin maps 4 sites in Long Reef (4 scuba diving sites).
Across Long Reef's dive sites, February and May are most often reported as the best months to visit.
2 more sites to explore
