Snorkeling Shelly Beach / Cabbage Tree Bay at Manly, Sydney

Snorkel Review

Shelly Beach is located to the Northern end of Cabbage Tree Bay aquatic nature reserve, in the coastal town of Manly, in Sydney’s Northern Beaches. Manly is a 20-minute Ferry journey from the city centre, passing the opera house and Harbour Bridge. The protected aquatic reserve is one of the most popular snorkel spots in Sydney, and New South Wales, as a fully protected no-fish/take zone, it is home to a breadth of diverse marine life, and accessible from the beach.

Snorkel Spot

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Shelly Beach

You can access the water from the beach which is initially a sandy (Shell) seabed. There is a rocky, kelp-covered sea bed that runs along the boardwalk side of the beach. Here you can see smaller marine life swimming between the green and yellow kelp, only 5 meters from the beach. From over 20x snorkels, I’ve had in the bay, every snorkel is different and you never know what you’re going to see!

Cabbage Tree Bay

Cabbage Tree Bay features a rocky shoreline, which is best avoided when entering the water. The seabed varies in depth from 1 to 5 meters and is a diverse mix of vibrant golden kelp forests, boulder patches along the boardwalk, seagrass beds, and sandy sea bed. Large Kelp patches tends to dominate the left hand side of Shelly and around the boardwalk to Bower, gradually decending to sand as the depth increases.

Where to enter the water

There are two entrances to snorkel at Cabbage Tree Bay, either from Shelly Beach or from the Bower stairs. It is a safer route via Shelly Beach as you start from the beach from shallow water and there is generally little wave and can make your way out.

On the other hand, Bower stairs which are further round the bay enables you to access the water via the steps. Be careful if you choose this option as the stairs and rocks can be slippery, and waves are more forceful coming in to the stairs, with a more rocky entrance.

Enter at the beach

Shelly Beach Marine Life

Shelly Beach is renowned for its vibrant, diverse marine life, making it one of Sydney’s best snorkeling spots and top things to do in Manly. The calm water’s of Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve are home to an abundance of species, including the iconic Eastern Blue Groper, which is often seen gliding slowly through the kelp and rocky reefs. You may also spot schools of yellowtail, Tarwhines, Morwong, as well as more elusive creatures like Giant Cuttlefish, Stingrays, and occasionally, Wobbegong sharks which are very camouflaged.

During the warmer months, Turtles and even Dusky Whaler sharks have been known to pass through. The rich biodiversity is protected by the reserve’s no-take status, helping ensure an impressive underwater experience year-round. Marine life changes with the seasons, with July often bringing breeding Giant Cuttlefish to the bay in spectacular colour changing displays. While Dusky Whaler Sharks are more commonly spotted toward the end of summer darting through sandy channels.

Turtles can be spotted throughout the year, though they’re not always easy to find. They’re often seen grazing on the seagrass beds just offshore, but their shells blend in to the grassy sea bed. Both Green and Hawksbill turtles have been sighted in the bay, including the local Green Sea Turtle affectionately known as ‘Basil’, who is occasionally seen cruising through the area, and spotted on the morning Bold & Beautiful ocean swim.

I had a wild experience in January this year while snorkeling off Shelly Beach. I first spotted a Hawksbill Turtle, then a large Southern Eagle Ray hovered out of the sea grass and took off, gliding through the water. As I began swimming back to shore, I noticed a large shape moving towards me with two distinct prongs. I thought, surely not… — but it was! A Reef Manta Ray, gracefully feeding in the bay. It’s incredibly rare to see one in Sydney waters, as they typically prefer warmer, tropical climates. Watching it weave through the water was surreal and one of my snorkeling highlights. It just goes to show, you never know what you’ll spot out there!

Cabbage Tree Bay Marine Life

I ventured further out from Shelly Beach, swimming along the left side toward the Fairy Bower Pool. In this area, the seafloor becomes densely covered with sea kelp and other vegetation, creating a rich and complex underwater habitat. I’ve spotted cuttlefish both in the deeper waters and closer to the boardwalk in the shallows. The ecosystem here feels incredibly balanced, with species like Leatherjackets, Maori Wrasse, Morwongs, and Mado fish commonly weaving through the kelp. Occasionally, larger bottom-dwelling species such as Sergeant Bakers and Scorpionfish can be seen resting on the seafloor, blending into the environment.

I made my way past Fairy Bower Rockpool toward Manly Beach, where deeper waters reveal kelp-covered rocky hills transitioning into sandy seabeds. This area is known for larger marine life — I’ve seen basking Eagle Rays and Wobbegong sharks cruising near the rocky drop-offs. Large schools of fish often shelter along these underwater cliffs. On one occasion, I spotted a school of Striped Eel Catfish, which I initially mistook for a clump of seaweed because of how perfectly they swim in unison. It was mesmerising to watch, but it’s best to keep your distance — these fish have venomous barbs near their mouths. Visibility here can vary quite a bit since the area is less sheltered from the open ocean.

Snorkel Spots Near Manly

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