“Being on, in and under the sea just makes me happy.” So says environmental consultant Eddie Munnings from Sydney.

When he gets spare time, Eddie writes and produces music, runs a ‘secret bar tour’ in the city for Local Sauce (his mate’s business) and gets amongst nature, which generally includes snorkelling in his favourite spot – Shelly Beach, near Manly.

Eddie also posts fabulous underwater content from his marine adventures as Eddie Nature on YouTube.

We asked Eddie (who’s actually my first cousin once removed) what’s so special about snorkelling in the waters off Sydney and (being a wimpy Brit) if it’s safe to do so where sharks may also be. We’ve all seen Jaws, right? This is what he said:

I am blessed to have parents and a sister who love the ocean and, through many camping trips as a child, which included fishing, snorkelling and kayaking, the ocean just ended up being a part of me. Being on, in and under the sea just makes me happy.

Summer and early autumn, which in Australia is December-March/April, is probably best for snorkelling in terms of outdoor and water temperatures, so you can have longer time in the water. That being said, any time of the year is fine and you’ll still see a lot of cool things, but with colder water in winter, you’re not going to want to stay in for that long!

What kind of sea life can you expect to see in the waters off Sydney?

A huge range of sea life can be seen in Sydney’s popular snorkelling spots, the most famous of which is probably the blue groper (a big friendly blue fish). You might also see cuttlefish hovering around changing colour, stingrays chilling out on the sand down below and a huge range of other fish. The ocean around Sydney is teeming with fish.

I love the blue groper (above), especially at Shelly Beach, Manly. The blue groper living there are quite used to snorkellers and swimmers passing by every day, so you can actually get quite close and watch as they go about their daily business, foraging and munching on sea snails.

An interesting fact about blue gropers, that can grow up to 1.7m in length, is that they all begin life as females. As they mature, they go through an initial phase, in which they may be male or female, before developing their adult colouring and reaching the terminal phase.

Typically, you will only find one or two male blue gropers in an area, with a larger number of the female gropers in the same area. Should the dominant male blue groper die, the largest female will grow, change colour and sex, and become the dominant male.

You can see a particularly big boy in my videos on my YouTube Channel here, along with other marine life videos.

Where is Manly?

Manly is a beach-side suburb of northern Sydney in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It was given its name by a British Royal Navy officer who served as the first governor of the former Colony of New South Wales, Captain Arthur Phillip. He apparently named it after the  “confidence and manly behaviour” of the indigenous people the living there!

Manly is 17km (11 miles) north-east of Sydney and has a long-standing reputation as a tourist hotspot, due to its setting on the Pacific Ocean and easy access by ferry.

Do you often see sharks in the waters off Sydney and, if so, what kind?

Not often. But if I do, these tend to be blind sharks, Port Jackson (above) and wobbegong sharks (aka carpet sharks), which are generally not dangerous to humans. Here’s a blind shark and wobbegong on my YouTube channel, shredding some tasty fish on a baited camera stick (the latter actually breaks the stick).

Is it safe to snorkel off the coast of Sydney?

The snorkelling locations I mention below are busy, close to shore and known to be very safe. There are even guided snorkelling tours if you’re not comfortable hitting the water by yourself.

What advice to you have for anyone who encounters a shark off Sydney?

If it’s any of the above species I mention, it will likely be sitting peacefully on the sea floor and you won’t need to do anything. It will also likely be quite small.

If you find yourself in a situation where a larger shark is actually approaching you, I’d advise to try your best to maintain eye contact with the shark and swim towards the shore, slowly. Do not thrash around or splash.

Before any of this though, the best things you can do to avoid a shark interaction altogether are:

• Avoid swimming in the very early morning or late afternoon/evening: this is the main feeding time for many shark species
• Avoid swimming in murky water: a shark is more likely to misidentify you as a potential snack in poor visibility
• Swim in a group in known swimming spots: there is safety in numbers

But, please don’t let this shark talk put you off! It is extremely unlikely that you will encounter one. Many people do their ‘ocean-swim’ past the Shelly Beach snorkelling spot in the early morning and late afternoon EVERY DAY, with no incidents – what makes you think you’d be so special in the middle of a bright sunny day?

Do you recommend people buy a waterproof fish ID before entering the water?

I’m not aware of a readily available waterproof fish ID guide for Sydney fish, but I’m sure there would be something available online. However, because Shelly Beach is a famous snorkelling location in Sydney, there are actually some great signs right next to the water which do show you some of the species you’re likely to see. Alternatively, you could film or photograph fish you see and identify them afterwards – which can be a lot of fun!

Is it safe for beginners to snorkel solo or would you recommend going with a friend or on a guided snorkelling tour?

I always recommend going with at least one other person, even for experienced snorkellers. Not just for simple safety, but it can also just be more fun!

For beginners, I would highly recommend joining a tour. The tour can also be a great choice regardless of your swimming/snorkelling skill level, as the guide will be able to identify species for you on the spot and will also know where to find them. Local knowledge is a real asset, especially if you don’t have the luxury of time to explore everything 100% by yourself. For Shelly Beach, you can also hire snorkelling gear nearby. Again, if joining a tour, this should all be supplied for you.

Are there any snorkelling tour companies you’d recommend near Sydney?

I’d recommend Snorkelling Shelly Beach who run group and private snorkelling tours with equipment hire and a guide. They are ocean lovers and advocates for environmental awareness. They are passionate about snorkelling and love sharing this experience, where they say you’ll be absolutely safe, with others.

Is there a best time of day to snorkel?

Mid-morning to mid-afternoon – the higher the sun, the better the clarity.

What gear do you need for snorkelling?

The basics you’ll need are a diving mask, snorkel and fins (or flippers) and, not to forget, your swimming costume!

Using fins or not, you should also have some kind of diving booties ideally with a hard sole. We have a lot of sea urchins around the rocky shores here in Sydney, as well as oysters and barnacles, all of which are sharp and can injure your feet, so it’s best to protect yourself,

You may also consider using a wetsuit to stay a bit warmer for longer – the water around Sydney can be quite cool, even sometimes in the summer (during summer, water temperatures at Sydney’s beaches range from 21.9–23.7°C (71.4–74.7°F).

Are you likely to see much if you snorkel off a beach or is reef snorkelling best?

You certainly can see things off a beach, but you will definitely see way more if you’re snorkelling a rocky shore or reef.

How to you avoid/prevent your mask from misting up?

You can get some anti-fog sprays and gels from dive shops and I’ve found some of these to work quite well. It is also worth learning how to quickly fill and rinse your mask with water while you’re snorkelling, without removing it from your face (very easy to do), so that if you do fog up, you can actually rinse and enjoy some clarity rather than being totally blind for your entire snorkelling session.

I do this by looking down while my face is in the water, slightly pulling the top of my mask from my face so that some water comes in, and then lifting my head out of the water looking ahead, and then lifting the bottom of the mask off slightly off my face so the water comes out. Then at least you may have some clarity for a minute or two.

Are there any dos and don’ts while snorkelling, ie don’t touch marine life/coral?

I strongly recommend not touching marine life, for several reasons. First of all, it could be venomous or may be able to spike/ bite/injure you somehow. Trust me, I’ve nearly had a blue-ringed octopus (super venomous) in my hand by accident, been ‘shot’ with stinging hairs by a marine worm and shocked (yep, electric shock) by a numbray (above).

Also, I encourage people to refrain from touching out of courtesy to the creatures. They have busy schedules foraging, hiding from and hunting each other, and tending to all the other aspects of fishy life, and will have a better time without being poked and prodded.

Many snorkelling destinations, including Shelly Beach, are marine protected areas – and species such as the blue groper are also protected by law – so, in addition to the above, you may also get in trouble for interfering too much with the wildlife.

Should you wear sunscreen when snorkelling?

Definitely, as the sun is fierce here in the land down under and, if you’re having a big day, sunscreen will eventually wash off, so don’t forget to reapply. Sun shirts can also provide great sun protection.

Do you have any other tips for snorkelling off Sydney?

If you have a waterproof camera or video camera, take it with you, but don’t forget to enjoy the experience itself and not just live it through the camera.

What are your top three snorkelling locations near Sydney?

1. Shelly Beach, Manly (above)

This is hands down my favourite spot, forming part of Cabbage Tree Bay, a protected marine reserve which lies adjacent to North Head and Fairy Bower. With a maximum water depth of approximately 12m, it’s become popular with scuba divers and snorkellers alike, with a large variety of marine life which can viewed in relatively shallow water.

• Gordons Bay, between Bondi and Coogee Beach (above)

Access to the bay is only limited to pedestrians via the surrounding streets or the Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk. Protected by an offshore reef, it is a popular dive spot, with the calm waters hiding a unique underwater nature trail.

• Malabar Beach (above)

Despite its proximity to tourist hotspots, Malabar Beach is one of the lesser-known beaches in Sydney, with calm swimming conditions and relatively few visitors. Its sands stretch for about 200 metres, with sandstone rocks and cliffs found at both ends of the beach. You can find a boat ramp towards the northern end of the beach, as well as a rock pool further south, just below Randwick Golf Club.

About Shelly Beach:

This is, in my view,  the best and it is certainly the most famous snorkelling spot in Sydney.

How to get there:

By ferry from Circular Quay in Sydney to Manly – with fantastic harbour views ($8.04 one way and operating seven days a week)

Parking:

Shelly Beach has a pay-and-display car park, available during daylight hours, but parking in Manly can be hectic. If you need to drive, I recommend parking up on Kangaroo Street (what an Aussie name!) and walking down. I do recommend going via the ferry though – it really is a great ride

Facilities:

Shelly Beach has showers, toilets and a cafe along with two free electric BBQs. There’s also is a cafe right on the beach named The Boathouse.

What you might see:

• Probably: Blue groper, blackfish, bream, several species of wrasse and stripey
• If you’re lucky: stingray, puffer fish, leatherjacket and snapper
• If you’re very lucky: green moray eel, octopus, blind shark, wobbegong shark and port Jackson shark

Where do you recommend to get a post-snorkel beer nearby?

Manly is a great place to hang out, but for a great view as the sun goes down, I recommend Felons Brewing Co, which is positioned along the iconic Manly Harbour front.

You can make a full day of a trip to Manly, not only with a snorkelling trip, but also a great bush walk up North Head with some great lookouts, striking Aussie bush scenery and historic sites (accessible from Shelly Beach).

There are many great cafes, including The Roast Office Cafe, situated in a historic post office building, and great coffee and curry at Sketch Manly. You’ll also come across street markets and talented buskers.

And if that’s not enough wildlife for you, while at Shelly, don’t forget to keep an eye out for the friendly water dragons (a type of lizard) and the cheeky brush turkeys (above)- big black birds with yellow necks that stroll around looking for an easy feed.

Note from The Sun Lounger:

You’re not fooling anyone, Eddie, I’ve seen your video of a bunch of juvenile blacktip reef sharks enjoying an early morning breakfast in knee-deep water! You can watch it here.

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