Shelly Beach
Conditions & tides
Scored by DiveConnect's site-physics model
Marine forecast via Copernicus Marine. Score is a rule-based guide from swell/wind vs. the site's exposure — always dive your own assessment.
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About this site
Shelly Beach, also called Cabbage Tree Bay, is a sheltered beach on the northern beaches of Sydney, in Manly. It has been a fully protected marine preserve for over 20 years. The north west facing beach is shielded from the ocean by a rocky headland, which makes for a calm and safe environment on most days.
Fish, cuttlefish, octopus, juvenile dusky whalers, grey nurse sharks, rays and weedy seadragons are all seen, and the animals are very calm around people. Visibility in the bay is generally pretty good over a fairly shallow bottom, which makes the life easy to see.
The beach is easy to reach. Street parking is limited to 2 hours, with ticketed parking at the headland, and several pathways lead to the water's edge along Bower Street. You can also walk in from Manly beach. It is very popular in summer, so arrive early. A beachside cafe and a picnic area are nearby, and walking trails lead to a lookout that is good for the humpback migration in winter and spring.
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It suits beginners, and it is used mainly for freediving and snorkelling because the water is relatively shallow.
Marine life here
Confirmed by our research team, reported by independent divers, or observed nearby via iNaturalist — each entry is labelled with its source.
OctopusOctopusReported here · unconfirmed
Nurse sharkNurse sharkReported here · unconfirmed
Durable tips from divers — access, hazards, marine life, facilities. For day-of conditions, use the report tool in the conditions card above.
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