Freshwater, the old Harbord, is the shore dive the Northern Beaches regulars keep for themselves: an exposed east-coast headland reef with real structure, big fish and weedy sea dragons, a ten-minute drive from Manly, that is only diveable one day in three. The site is at the northern end of the beach beside the ocean pool. A coastal reef of boulders and channels runs out from the point to a sand line at about 8 m, and 40 m further out across the sand lies an isolated reef, roughly parallel to the shore, with its western side in 10–14 m and its eastern face dropping to 18 m.

That outer reef is the prize: walls up to 3.5 m high, overhangs and crevices, and the only decent sponge and sea-tulip growth on any Northern Beaches shore dive, richest in the central section. Pro Dive calls it 'the Northern Beaches' premier shore dive' and Diveplanit describes the classic route 'over rocks and along a wall' from the pool channel. The animals justify the effort.

Weedy sea dragons live in the kelp along the sand line and are the reason many divers come; wobbegongs and Port Jackson sharks stack under the ledges; blue groper, red morwong and kingfish are regular; schools of yellowtail hang over the outer reef; eagle rays cruise the sand and the occasional grey nurse shark passes in the cooler months; octopus, cuttlefish and nudibranchs fill the cracks; and turtles are seen from time to time. The difficulty is the ocean. The entry is off a rock platform in a swell zone, the surface swim is 300 m, surge works across the terraced reef even on small days, and a rip runs along the northern rocks.

Frog Dive rates it 'orange', Pro Dive and Dive Centre Manly guide it only in westerly or north-easterly winds, and several operators say plainly that it is for experienced Open Water divers. On the right day, with a calm sea and 15 m visibility, it is the best shore dive north of the harbour; on the wrong day it is not a dive at all.

From Manly drive north on Pittwater Road and turn right into Lawrence Street/Moore Road to the Freshwater Beach car park at the northern end of the beach (free but full early on summer weekends; overflow in Kooloora Avenue). Walk 100–200 m along the path past the surf club to the rock platform beside Freshwater Pool. Gear up on the platform, watch the sets for several minutes, then enter from the platform west of the pool (a 300 m surface swim to the outer reef) or, on flat days only, from the eastern tip of the point straight onto the coastal reef.

The vehicle access ramp near the pool lines up with where the outer reef comes closest to shore. Exit back at the pool platform between sets; a reef channel exit exists but is tide-dependent and rarely usable.

Freshwater is an open ocean beach facing east-south-east and is the most swell-sensitive shore dive in this file. Dive it only with swell under about 1 m and a westerly or light north-easterly wind; a north-east wind with a northerly swell is workable because the point gives some lee, but any southerly or easterly swell puts breaking waves over the platform entry and strong surge over the terraced reef. Even on small days there is horizontal water movement over the outer reef.

A powerful rip runs along the northern rocks and can carry a diver out – useful going, dangerous coming back. Best at mid to high tide; low tide exposes the platform edge. Visibility is 10–15 m on winter westerlies, 5 m after rain or north-easters.

Watch the sets for ten minutes before committing, and have Shelly Beach as the fallback.

Swim out on the surface from the platform to the outer reef (or descend at the point and cross the 40 m sand gap on a compass bearing east). Explore the isolated reef's western side at 10–14 m and its eastern face at 16–18 m, following the 3.5 m walls and looking under the ledges for wobbegongs and PJ sharks, then cross back to the coastal reef and follow the sand line at 8 m north-west back toward the pool. Ascend in the channel beside the platform and time the exit between sets; carry a DSMB in case the rip takes you wide.

Pro Dive Manly – guided shore dives (12 m, Advanced route to 20 m) and Advanced course dives; Dive Centre Manly – guided shore dives for experienced divers in W/NE winds; Frog Dive – 'orange level' guided dives; Sydney Dive Charters shore-dive option. Heavily dived by independent Northern Beaches divers.