Osborn Shoal East covers the eastern edge of the shoal off Cronulla Beach, where the flat 12–16 m reef top ends in a sharp drop to around 22 m. The eastern, northern and southern sides of the shoal all fall away abruptly, but this section has the most varied terrain. A distinctive part of the reef runs at about 45 degrees towards the east, forming two parallel reefs separated by a gap that divers can swim along, and beyond them boulder fields extend to the south-east.

The wall is decorated with excellent sponge life, small gorgonians and sea squirts, and its overhangs and cracks hold a good variety of animals. Nudibranchs in many colours are a feature, along with eastern blue gropers, red morwong, cuttlefish, Maori wrasse, sergeant baker, Port Jackson sharks in winter, weedy sea dragons and serpent eels on the sand patches. McFadyen notes visibility here is usually quite good – 9–12 m on average and often more than 15 m, better than many Sydney sites – and feels the site still needs more exploration.

When there is a current the eastern edge makes an easy and pleasant drift dive to the south, with the boat following the divers' floats. Anchoring is the main practical difficulty, since the reef provides poor hold; in north-easterlies approach from the south-west, and in north-westerlies or westerlies come in from the sand side. The site is only 5–10 minutes from the Port Hacking ramps, but with no charter boat now operating out of Port Hacking it is dived mostly by private boats and the St George Scuba Club.

It suits Open Water divers comfortable at 20 m and is a good choice for a second dive or a gentle drift.

Boat only. Launch in Port Hacking at Tonkin Park/Gunnamatta Bay (Cronulla), Lilli Pilli or Grays Point and run out past Bass and Flinders Point and Oak Park into Bate Bay. Osborn Shoal lies directly off Cronulla Beach, 5–10 minutes from the Port Hacking entrance; head north-east past Oak Park towards Cape Baily Lighthouse.

The traditional marks are the middle of The Kingsway at Cronulla (west) and the Potter Point outfall breather pipes against the dune ridge immediately left of Cape Baily Lighthouse (north). Anchoring on the reef itself holds poorly – drop on the sand edge and let the boat swing onto the reef. McFadyen's GPS is 34° 03.5227' S 151° 11.3148' E.

Anchor where the depth drops from about 16 m to 22 m. The eastern edge is also run as a drift dive south along the wall with the boat following SMBs.

Bate Bay faces south-east and is open to swell from the east through to the south; southerly and south-easterly seas over about 1.5 m make the Bate Bay reefs rough and the Port Hacking bar can be dangerous in big swell. North-westerly and westerly winds give the calmest conditions; summer north-east sea breezes chop up the bay in the afternoon. After heavy rain, Port Hacking and the Cronulla stormwater drains discolour the inshore water.

Visibility typically runs 9–12 m, often over 15 m and occasionally 20–25 m on clean incoming water. In north-easterlies approach from the south-west; in southerlies work into the wind; in westerlies approach from the sand side.

From the anchor swim east to the reef edge and follow the wall north, checking rocks and overhangs; return along the base, explore the 45-degree slanted section with its parallel reefs and gap, and the boulders to the south-east, finishing on the reef top. As a drift, descend at the north end and let the current carry you south along the wall.

No regular charter – private boat or dive-club (St George Scuba Club) only; no charter boat currently operates out of Port Hacking.