Desoto Inlet is one of the more distinctive shore dives on the Central Coast: a narrow, vertical-walled slot cut into the sandstone cliffs at Catherine Hill Bay, roughly 75-100 m long and about 10 m wide, that funnels straight out to open water. The inlet floor sits around 6 m, dropping to 7 m and then rising and falling again before the walls open out and the bottom gradually deepens to 16 m offshore. The walls themselves are near-vertical with overhangs at their base, especially around the inlet head, giving the site a closed-in, canyon-like character that's unusual for this coastline.

Entry is via the remains of an old stainless-steel ladder bolted into the rock — a legacy of the site's long use by local divers — though the ladder has degraded over the years and should be treated with caution.The inlet gets its slightly macabre name from an old Desoto motor vehicle that was driven off the cliff into the water long ago; the wreckage still lies scattered at the inlet head and is one of the more talked-about oddities of the dive. Beyond the car wreckage, the appeal is the walls themselves and the marine life sheltering in their overhangs and cracks: yellowtail, silver sweep and seapike hold in the water column, while flathead, Port Jackson sharks and small rays work the sandy patches at the base. Two route options exist — a quicker northern-wall route to a pebbly slope in around ten minutes, or a longer circuit taking in the southern wall first, running 28-48 minutes total.

The critical caveat is swell: in anything more than gentle conditions the narrow inlet entrance becomes surge-prone and genuinely hazardous to exit through, so this is very much a fair-weather, experienced-diver site rather than one to attempt on a marginal day.

From the south, exit the F3/M1 at Toukley/Doyalson and head north on the Old Pacific Highway past Doyalson and Munmorah; about a kilometre past Munmorah a mining access road turns off to the right. From the north, follow the signposted road through Catherine Hill Bay village past the bowling club. Both routes lead to a small car park at the bottom of a hill; pass through a gate and walk roughly 100 m to the inlet.

Entry is via the remains of a stainless-steel ladder on the right side of the inlet approach; exit on the beach nearby, or at a smaller inlet a little further north. The access track has been affected by closures in the past, so allow for a longer walk (reportedly up to 1.5 km) if the direct track is shut.

Only diveable in small swell — the narrow inlet entry becomes impossible and dangerous to exit through in anything more than a gentle swell. Middle-strength current can run within the inlet itself even when the open water looks calm. Best after several days without rain or big seas, which otherwise stir the fine sand on the inlet floor and along the walls.

Enter down the ladder into the inlet, explore the large overhangs at the inlet head, then head seaward along the northern wall to a pebbly slope around ten minutes into the dive (or work the southern wall first and cross over, for a longer 28-48 minute dive), staying alert to swell state at the entry/exit point throughout.

Aqua Zero Dive Centre (Swansea) runs air fills, gear hire and guided shore dives for visiting divers; Grey Nurse Charters (Newcastle) occasionally includes these sites on shore-dive days. Mostly self-guided club and personal diving.