Bare Island Left is the eastern side of the island, dived from the mainland rock platform beside the footbridge, and it is the gentlest of the Bare Island routes – the standard Open Water training dive and one of the best easy night dives in Sydney. From the platform a short snorkel towards the island puts you over a sandy shelf at about 6 m scattered with isolated rocks and kelp. Following the edge east and south-east with the reef on your right, the depth increases to 8–10 m and the reef edge becomes a proper wall.

The feature of the dive is a canyon between the outer reef and a line of off-lying rocks at 9–10 m; thirty metres along it a large cave opens on the right, too tight and silty to enter but usually holding fish. Beyond, the rock walls give way to flatter kelp-covered ground with sand edges, and 12 m is reached towards the southern end. The sponge-covered rocks along the route carry large numbers of nudibranchs and half-banded seaperch, and since 2006 Sydney pygmy pipehorses have been found regularly, especially from December to February.

Weedy seadragons were the site's signature – 25 were counted in March 2001 – and although numbers fluctuate they are still seen. Port Jackson sharks and wobbegongs rest under the ledges, and knightfish (pineapplefish), bearded cod, estuary catfish, bream, cuttlefish, blue groper, moray eels, crayfish, octopus and abalone are all regular. At night the crustaceans and squid come out and the dive is transformed.

Because the depth never exceeds 12 m and the reef edge leads you out and back, it suits brand-new divers, refreshers and photographers happy to spend an hour in one small area, and it can be done in almost any weather short of a big north-easterly.

Park on Anzac Parade near the Bare Island access road at La Perouse (early on weekends). Gear up at the car and walk about 150 m down the access road; instead of crossing the bridge, step down onto the rock platform to the left (east) of the bridge abutment and enter over the rocks in 2–3 m. Snorkel towards the nearest point of the island and descend onto the sandy shelf at about 6 m.

Exit at the same platform or at the island's back-left corner via the bridge. Shortest carry of any Bare Island dive.

Suitable for day or night diving in almost all weather – in even moderate seas you can dive virtually any spot here. The exception is north-easterly or easterly swell over about 1.5 m, which rolls into the bay and makes this the exposed side, in which case dive the Right. Tide has little effect on this shallow dive; visibility averages six to nine metres and is better on the high, poor for days after heavy rain.

Small boats cut under the bridge constantly – tow a flag and surface only in the shallows.

From the mainland platform snorkel towards the island, descend onto the 6 m sand shelf and follow the reef edge slowly east and south-east with the reef on your right. Enter the canyon between the outer reef and the off-lying rocks at 9–10 m, look into the large cave 30 m along (do not enter), continue along the sand edge south, then turn and return north over the kelp flats – about 20 minutes to the cave with thorough exploration, 50 minutes total.

Used weekly for Open Water training and night dives by Abyss, Pro Dive, Sydney Dive Academy, Dive Centre Bondi and Frog Dive; heavy independent use.