North Bondi, dived from the rock platform under Ben Buckler Point, is the Eastern Suburbs' most convenient all-level shore dive north of Clovelly. Below the surf club car parks a shelf of large boulders drops from 5–6 m out to a sand edge at 15 m, and the boulders continue east along the base of the headland with overhangs, a few small swim-throughs and one large flat rock that sits about 10 m in from the sand. On very calm days experienced divers can push to 18–21 m at the outer edge, but most of the interest is in the 8–15 m band.

The boulders carry kelp on top and sponges and sea squirts underneath, and the sand edge is where the weedy seadragons live – four or five on a dive is normal – along with serpent eels, stingarees and garfish over the sand. The wrasse list is long: snakeskin, senator, Maori, crimson-banded and pink-lined wrasse are all common, with blue groper, wirrah, half-banded seaperch and blue-striped cardinalfish in the rocks and old wife, red morwong, rock cale and girdled parma among the kelp. Schools of yellowtail, silver trevally, bream, luderick and silver sweep hang over the reef and kingfish sweep through in summer.

Moray eels, cuttlefish and eastern blue devilfish turn up under the larger overhangs. As a night dive it is one of the best in the eastern suburbs because the navigation is simple and the entry and exit via the old boat ramp are protected. Historically the site was rarely dived until the Bondi sewage outfall was moved offshore in 1991, after which the reef recovered quickly.

It suits everyone from Open Water students to photographers looking for seadragons, provided the sea is from the north or flat.

Drive down Ramsgate Avenue, North Bondi, to where the road splits and take the lower road to the small car parks above the rock platform (paid street parking, fills early on weekends – arrive before 8 am). Gear up at the car and take the stairs at the north-western end of the lower car park down to the rock platform; it is a 50–100 m carry. In calm seas enter off the southern side of the platform; in a slight sea use the break in the platform about 45 degrees left of the stairs; in anything bigger use the rough boat ramp to the right, which is the preferred exit in all conditions.

Any swell from the south or south-east makes the platform undiveable – waves wrap around Ben Buckler and break across the entry. It is workable in north-easterly wind and in small easterly swell (under 1 m) using the boat ramp entry. Tide makes little difference and there is essentially no current.

Visibility is best after a run of westerlies; it drops after heavy rain and big southerly swells. Small boats launch from the ramp at all hours – listen before ascending and surface close to the rocks. At night the reef that extends into the bay can lead you towards the middle of Bondi rather than back to the ramp; take a bearing on the way out.

From the entry head due south over the boulders; the sand edge is reached in about 10 minutes at 15 m. Follow the reef edge east with the sand on your right, past the overhangs and the large flat rock and swim-through, to about 18 m (21 m only on very calm days). Turn at half air and come back west along the shallower 8–10 m boulders to the ramp, about 30 minutes each way in total.

Dive Centre Bondi runs guided shore dives and courses here; Abyss, Pro Dive Coogee and Frog Dive use it occasionally for training. Mostly dived independently.