Recent shark incidents in Sydney have understandably raised concern across the community. Before anything else, we want to acknowledge that this is a sad and emotional time for many, and we extend our deepest condolences to everyone affected.
This article isn’t written to create fear.
It’s written to provide education, context, and real-world experience around shark behaviour — especially for people who spend time in the water.
Bull Sharks in Sydney Harbour — When They’re Here & Why
- Bull sharks enter Sydney Harbour during the warmer months, and their movement is strongly linked to water temperature.
- 24°C and above – High presence. Bull sharks enter the harbour to follow warm water and head upstream to pup.
- Below 24°C – Reduced activity, as temperatures cool, bull sharks begin to leave.
- Below 19°C – Very low likelihood. At this temperature range, bull sharks are typically gone from the harbour.
- Some bull sharks tagged in Sydney Harbour have even been tracked as far as Fiji, literally chasing summer.
These patterns are not guesses — they’re based on decades of tagging and movement data.
Working With Sydney’s Leading Shark Scientist
We’ve run a private freediving course with Dr Vic Peddemors, one of Australia’s most respected shark scientists. His guidance directly shaped how we operate as a freediving school.
His advice was simple for diving in Sydney Harbour:
- Below 24°C = low risk
- Above 24°C = heightened shark activity and higher risk
This should form the backbone of every diver’s decision-making in the harbour around The Spit, Vaucluse and Lilli Pilli.
What “Shark Smart” Actually Means
In northern Australia, people talk about being Croc Smart.
In Sydney, we need to be Shark Smart. That includes:
- Avoiding the water after heavy rainfall
- Avoiding dawn and dusk
- Avoiding heavy splashing
- Staying clear of fishing activity, bait, berley, spearfishing
- Understanding seasonal patterns
- Respecting low-visibility conditions
These simple habits reduce risk dramatically.
Our Views on Freediving The Spit & Lilli Pilli
Do we train at The Spit and Lilli Pilli?
Yes — but only during the colder months.
These areas are excellent for freedivers wanting accessible depth, and we completely understand the frustration of limited Sydney depth options. However, these spots sit within known bull shark transit zones during summer.
Our stance is simple: If avoiding these harbour spots in warm months saves a life, it’s worth it.
We know that may rustle some feathers, but safety and education come first. Paraphrasing the advice from shark scientists:
“If you’re diving in the harbour during the warm months — you’re mad.”
Not emotional. Just factual.
Mitigating Risk With Shark Deterrents
If someone still chooses to dive depth in warmer months:
- Use electric shark deterrents. The device we recommend is the Ocean Guardian Freedom 7.
- We’ve often set freediving buoys at each end of the training line and lowered deterrents to ~10m depth, creating a safer training environment. This is one of many ways to reduce risk.
Think of deterrents like a seatbelt:
You don’t always crash, but if you do, your chances dramatically improve.
Not Sharkbanz: We’ve been advised directly that Sharkbanz do not work on bull sharks.
Experience Matters (A Lot More Than Fear)
Freediving Central was one of the first freediving schools in Sydney.
That means we’ve:
- Spent years diving The Spit and Lilli Pilli without incident
- Run courses and expeditions all over the world without incident
- Logged thousands of training hours in conditions ranging from calm to extreme
This isn’t luck — it’s the result of:
- Being conservative
- Being Shark Smart
- Making decisions based on science, not convenience
- Respecting environmental conditions
Case Study: Fiji Example
On our Fiji Freediving Adventure, divers have the bucket-list option to scuba dive with bull sharks — a wild experience, but done safely, with trained operators and clear visibility. Again — no incidents.
- Check out our Fiji Freediving Adventure Trip
Real-World Shark Experience in Extreme Conditions
Dan Parsons, owner of Freediving Central, has worked in some of the wildest waters on Earth.
He has worked with National Geographic and Discovery Plus on Secrets of the Whales.
Part of the project involved diving off Rottnest Island, where orcas actively hunt great white sharks. Encounters were intense, raw, terrifying, beautiful and life-changing. Later, the team spent weeks 50–100 km offshore, filming humpback whales — knowing that great whites follow humpbacks and calves.
Again — no incidents.
Why?
Because of calculated, conservative, Shark Smart decision-making.
Time in the Water Doesn’t Equal Danger
One of the biggest misconceptions is that “if you touch the water, you’ll die.” If that were true, Dan and our team wouldn’t be here. We’ve spent thousands of hours in the water with:
- Bull sharks
- Great whites
- Tiger sharks
- Orcas
- Humpbacks
- Complete food chains
We’re still here because we don’t ignore risk — we understand it.
Risk doesn’t disappear.
It becomes manageable when you understand:
- Conditions
- Behaviour
- Seasonality
- Visibility
- Environmental triggers
This is at the core of being Shark Smart.
What To Do If a Shark Approaches You?
Most people imagine panic. In reality, your greatest tool is calm awareness.
- Stay calm – Panic = splashing = confusion.
- Maintain eye contact – Humans’ strongest defence is our eyes.
- Move slowly – No frantic movements.
- Head toward the nearest structure – Boat, rock wall, pontoon, shallow ground.
- Minimise splashing – Move smoothly and confidently.
- Fins between you and the shark – If you must back away, raise your fins forward. If a shark bumps or tests the fins, it gets a mouthful of plastic/carbon —
and instantly understands you are not prey.
Shark Attack or Shark Incident?
Most shark encounters in Sydney are bite and release.
This tells us:
- Sharks are testing, not hunting humans
- They realise quickly that we’re not prey
- Humans are simply not part of their diet
The danger for humans is that a single bite can be fatal, depending on location. There has been only one major Sydney case where the shark returned for more.
The Little Bay Incident.
Key context:
- A great white shark
- Deep water near the mouth of the Georges River
- A major pelagic fishing hotspot
- A solo ocean swim in a high-risk area
Not all shark incidents are equal — and context matters.
Where We Run Our Level 1 Freediving Courses — And Why
We have run our Level 1 Freediving Courses at Gordon’s Bay in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs for more than five years without incident. There are several important reasons why we choose to train here. Gordon’s Bay is located in the heart of the Eastern Suburbs, one of the most patrolled and closely monitored stretches of coastline in Sydney. This includes:
- Lifeguard patrols
- Council monitoring
- Coastal surveillance
- Drone overflights
- High public visibility
It is one of the safest and most frequently observed ocean environments in the city.
Another major benefit is that Gordon’s Bay is a Marine Reserve. This means the area is rich in nutrients, fish life, and biodiversity — but more importantly, it is highly protected from:
- Swell
- Wind
- Currents
This makes it one of the most consistently calm, reliable, and safe locations to teach freediving skills, especially for beginners.
We also access our own “secret spot” just off the bay where we get 17 metres of depth, perfect for Level 1 progression.
For these reasons, we will continue running our courses here every week and continue to prioritise being Shark Smart, environmentally aware, and 100% committed to putting the safety of our customers first — above anything else.
Find more information about our Level 1 and Wave 1 Freediving Course Here
What Happens If Conditions Are Unsafe Before a Course?
If you book a Level 1 Freediving Course with Freediving Central and we experience heavy rain, poor visibility, or unsafe ocean conditions in the lead-up to your course, we keep it very simple: we reschedule.
We will send you a list of alternative dates to choose from and you can pick whatever suits your schedule.
No pressure, no complications.
As always, we put our customers and our staff as the number one priority, ahead of convenience, revenue, or running a course in poor conditions.
The Takeaway
Yes, there are sharks in the water. Yes, there is risk. But the actual chain of events required for a serious incident is very small.
Being Shark Smart isn’t about fear — it’s about: Understanding behaviour, respecting conditions, making informed decisions, reducing unnecessary risk
We spend a lot of time in the water.
And we remain safe by being calculated, calm, and Shark Smart.