What Changes Shark Risk Across Sydney’s Dive Spots
Water temperature is the big one for Sydney Harbour. Tagging and movement data show bull sharks are present in higher numbers at 24°C and above. Activity drops as the water cools, and below about 19°C they are typically gone. A shark scientist who ran a private course with us boiled it down to lower risk below 24°C and higher risk above it.
That is why we only train at harbour spots like The Spit and Lilli Pilli in the colder months. For our Level 1 courses we use Gordons Bay in the Eastern Suburbs instead. It has lifeguard patrols, council monitoring and drone overflights, and it sits in a marine reserve that is sheltered from swell, wind and currents.
Other conditions matter too. NSW SharkSmart advice is to avoid the water after heavy rain, around dawn and dusk, near fishing, bait or spearfishing, and in poor visibility. We build the same habits into how we run courses. Checking the SharkSmart shark activity map before you get in is a good habit for any ocean user.
No spot in the ocean is risk-free, and we would rather say so plainly. What helps is understanding the patterns and making calm, conservative calls. If conditions look off before a course, we reschedule rather than push on.
Planning to Learn in Sydney?
If you would like to see where and how we run sessions, have a look at our freediving courses in Sydney. You can read more about Freediving Central, or speak with our team if you have questions about conditions or dive sites.