Little Bay
Reflections From Little Bay: A Gentle, Hidden Snorkel Spot in Sydney
I’ve just come out of the water at Little Bay, and now I’m sitting on the soft grass above the beach, looking down at the bay as it opens out into the ocean. The afternoon light hits the cliffs, the golf course above me looks bright and green, and the water below is calm and peaceful. Every time I sit here after a snorkel, I feel the same thing: Little Bay is one of the most special places in Sydney.
It’s quiet. It’s gentle. And somehow, even though it’s close to everything, it feels like a tiny world of its own.
Little Bay isn’t loud or busy. It doesn’t feel like Bondi or Coogee or Maroubra. Instead, it feels like a secret place that only locals, freedivers, scuba divers, and snorkelers really know about. Families come here too, and there are changerooms and outdoor showers, but it still has that calm, “undiscovered” feeling that makes every visit feel private and relaxed.
And after today’s snorkel, looking out at the bay, I wanted to share why this place is so good — not in a fancy or scientific way, but in a simple, real way. The same way we’d talk to our snorkel guests, like we’re just friends hanging out after a swim.
The Shape of the Bay Makes Everything Feel Peaceful
Little Bay has a special shape. It sits between two sandstone headlands, almost like a big, natural hug around the water. The opening of the bay faces the ocean, but the cliffs block most of the rough swell. What this means is that the water inside the bay is often much calmer than the water outside. You still feel like you’re in the ocean (because you are) but it’s softer, safer, and easier to swim in.
This is one of the reasons we love bringing people here to snorkel.
If you look down from the grass, you can see the gentle slope of the sand. There are no sudden drops or deep holes. You walk in slowly, the sand feels clean under your feet, and the water stays clear because the bottom is bright white and doesn’t stir up easily.
There are days when the ocean is wild everywhere else, but Little Bay is still swimmable. And on good days, the visibility is so clear you feel like you’re floating in a giant, natural fish tank.
A Place That Feels Undisturbed, Even Though It’s Close to the City
Little Bay is only a little further south from Sydney’s big, famous beaches, but that small bit of distance makes a huge difference. When you go down the hill and the cliffs open up, it’s like stepping into a different world.
There are no huge crowds.
No loud bars.
No giant surf crashing in.
Just quiet water, warm sun, and people who are here because they love the ocean.
This feeling, that peaceful, undisturbed energy, makes Little Bay special. It’s one of the reasons freedivers and scuba divers love it. They don’t come here just for the fish (although the fish are incredible). They come for the feeling. The stillness. The way time almost slows down when you’re floating above the sand.
There is a great diversity of fish
One thing we always tell snorkelers is: Little Bay has amazing fish life.
Like, genuinely amazing.
Because the water is calm and the bay is protected from strong waves, lots of fish species use Little Bay as a safe place to feed, grow, or rest. The inside of the bay often becomes a natural nursery. You see lots of little fish learning how to school together, moving in soft, sparkling shapes. It feels full of life, even on quiet days.
Here are just some of the things you might see on a snorkel here:
Friendly Blue Gropers: These big, bright blue fish are like gentle puppies of the ocean. They often come close, curious about what you’re doing.
Old Wives: These elegant fish with black-and-silver stripes always swim in pairs. They look like they’re dancing.
Mado, Luderick, Yellowfin Bream: You can see huge groups of these moving around the rocks and over the sand.
Leatherjackets: We call them the “cheeky fish.” They hover around the weeds and rocks, watching you with their large, curious eyes.
Wrasse and Goatfish: Wrasse are colourful and lively; goatfish use their little feelers to hunt in the sand.
Eagle Rays and Big Drummer: On good days, you’ll see rays gliding like flying carpets, and large drummer circling like helicopters.
Every snorkel is different here. That’s the beauty of Little Bay; the ocean surprises you.
There is a great diversity of fish
One thing we always tell snorkelers is: Little Bay has amazing fish life.
Like, genuinely amazing.
Because the water is calm and the bay is protected from strong waves, lots of fish species use Little Bay as a safe place to feed, grow, or rest. The inside of the bay often becomes a natural nursery. You see lots of little fish learning how to school together, moving in soft, sparkling shapes. It feels full of life, even on quiet days.
Here are just some of the things you might see on a snorkel here:
Friendly Blue Gropers: These big, bright blue fish are like gentle puppies of the ocean. They often come close, curious about what you’re doing.
Old Wives: These elegant fish with black-and-silver stripes always swim in pairs. They look like they’re dancing.
Mado, Luderick, Yellowfin Bream: You can see huge groups of these moving around the rocks and over the sand.
Leatherjackets: We call them the “cheeky fish.” They hover around the weeds and rocks, watching you with their large, curious eyes.
Wrasse and Goatfish: Wrasse are colourful and lively; goatfish use their little feelers to hunt in the sand.
Eagle Rays and Big Drummer: On good days, you’ll see rays gliding like flying carpets, and large drummer circling like helicopters.
Every snorkel is different here. That’s the beauty of Little Bay; the ocean surprises you.
The Resident Wobbegongs
One of the coolest things about Little Bay is its resident wobbegong sharks.
They are harmless, calm, beautifully patterned, and honestly — they are stunning.
You usually find them sleeping under a ledge or resting on the sand. They aren’t interested in people; they’re just doing their thing. Seeing one always feels like discovering a secret.
There are quite a few that live here, and they’re part of why divers love the area so much. Wobbegongs like calm, protected places, and Little Bay is perfect for them.
A Bay That Sometimes Brings Rare Visitors
Because Little Bay has an easy opening to the deeper ocean, unusual creatures sometimes wander in. We’ve seen:
octopus hiding in rock cracks
rays cruising through the middle of the bay
cuttlefish floating like tiny spaceships
big schools of trevally moving like silver clouds
It’s one of those places where you think you’ve seen it all, and then something new appears.
Why Divers, Freedivers, and Snorkellers Love Little Bay
People who love the ocean come here again and again. And they all have their reasons:
Freedivers
calm water means they can relax and focus on technique
the depth drops slowly, so they can warm up in shallow water and move deeper when ready
lots of fish life creates a peaceful, magical atmosphere underwater
Scuba Divers
the bay is protected, so entry and exit are easy
there’s huge fish diversity
wobbegongs and rays often rest in the sand
Snorkellers
bright sand, clear water, and fish everywhere
friendly blue gropers
safe-feeling environment with good visibility
easy walk-in entry with no sudden drops
And one extra thing that snorkellers especially love:
Spearfishing is NOT allowed inside Little Bay.
Spearfishers can only go outside the bay, out in the open ocean.
This protects the fish inside the bay and makes the area much safer and calmer for snorkelers.
It also means the fish feel relaxed here. They’re not hiding or darting away. They swim slowly, eat, explore, and sometimes come right past you.
Why We Love Bringing People Here
When we guide snorkelers, we always want them to feel safe, relaxed, and curious. Little Bay lets us do that. It’s gentle, it’s naturally protected, and it has so much life underwater.
And it’s not just the snorkelling. The whole area is beautiful:
the cliffs are warm and golden
the grass above the bay is perfect for sitting after a swim
the golf course makes the whole place look open and bright
the walkway down is pretty magical because you can see the whole bay
the community around the bay is friendly and peaceful
Little Bay feels like a place you’d only know if a local told you. It’s not noisy or crowded. It’s not trying to impress anyone. It just is — calm, gentle, and full of life.
A Final Thought as I Sit Here Watching the Water
Looking down at Little Bay from the grass, listening to the soft waves and watching the light change on the cliffs, I’m reminded why this place means so much to us.
It’s where people fall in love with snorkelling.
It’s where nervous beginners become confident swimmers.
It’s where families make memories they never forget.
It’s where we, as snorkel guides and ocean lovers, feel most at home.
Little Bay isn’t just a beach.
It’s a feeling.
And every time we bring someone here, we get to share that feeling with them.