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PLUNGE IN SYDNEY HARBOUR – A Unique Location
 The ONLY Scuba Diving Centre on Sydney Harbour
PLUNGE is situated on Sydney Harbour at Chowder Bay. We’re the only scuba dive centre actually positioned on Sydney Harbour waterfront. Nestled into bushland, Chowder Bay is a jewel of serenity in such a busy modern city as Sydney.
Wharf and Beach only meters away
Directly in front of the dive centre is our wharf, and the marine-life rich beach of Clifton Gardens is only meters away. With a wharf and beach so near, access to scuba diving and snorkelling couldn’t be easier.
On-Site Training
Most of our training is conducted on-site, so there’s no need to travel distances and fight traffic after arriving at the dive centre.
 Marine-Life Rich Site
Our beach, Clifton Gardens is one of the best macro dive sites in Sydney. Simply walk 100 meters from the shop and you can see some spectacular temperate marine species, such as seahorses, anglerfish and blue-ringed octopus.
Historic Site
Our historic waterfront building is over a century old, built of sandstone as a Mine Laboratory for the Navy.
SITE HISTORY(source: HarbourTrust)
In 1891 a base was built at Chowder Bay for the Submarine Mining Corps. Mines were attached to cables that ran under the water to the other side of the harbour. They were designed to be detonated if an enemy ship entered the harbour.
Many of the depot buildings and structures remain, including the boatshed, the cable pond used to store mine cable under water, the Derrick Crane used to lift mines in and out of boats, and the main building with its timber upper levels and stone lower level where mines were stored (now PLUNGE).
After the Submarine Mining Corps disbanded in 1922, Chowder Bay became a depot and barracks for Army engineers. From the 1940’s it was used for the Army’s Maritime Transport Wing. In the 1970’s Chowder Bay became the Army Maritime School until 1997 when the school moved to Townsville.
In 2001, after various naval lands were vacated, the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust was established to conserve and preserve the historic naval land. Submissions of tender were requested for Chowder Bay. Over numerous other applications, PLUNGE won the tender and was chosen to take over Building 11A, the old Mine Laboratory. Visible in our shop is the crane and pulley system, used to hoist and move the old mines. |
Beautiful Bushland, Walking Tracks and Cafe
 Chowder Bay is surrounded by bushland with Walking Tracks following the harbour front in both directions. After your dive, you can relax in the café next door to us, renew some energy and head out for a wonderful bush walk along Sydney harbour. The bushland provides a home for many animals including water dragons, blue tongue lizards, ring tailed possums, kookaburras, rainbow lorikeets, pacific white face herons and dollar birds. What a wonderful way to spend a day!
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