South Maroubra is a shore dive with a wreck flavour, off the rock platform between Maroubra Beach and Magic Point. Two ships came to grief here: the SS Tekapo, a 1,400-ton steamer wrecked in fog in 1899 whose anchor now stands in the park opposite the Maroubra hotel, and the TSS Belbowrie, a small coastal steamer lost in 1939. Pieces of Belbowrie – plates, frames and fittings – are scattered through the rocks and there are old bottles in the sand and under ledges.

The reef itself is a jumble of large rocks starting at 7 m. From the entry a small wall leads south-east to an amphitheatre-like hollow with a low cave on its southern side that is usually packed with eastern rock blackfish; from there the route turns north-north-west through the boulder maze at 10–12 m before following the reef edge back towards the beach, with 15 m available to the north for those who want it. The fish list is remarkable for a shore site – over fifty species have been recorded – including wobbegongs, Port Jackson sharks, serpent eels, common seadragons, red firefish, yellowtail, kingfish, snapper, bream, old wife, blue groper, moon wrasse, combfish, senator wrasse, moray eels, cuttlefish and some of the largest dusky flathead in Sydney.

The dive is comfortable for Open Water divers once in the water; the difficulty is the 250 m walk along the platform in full kit, which restricts it to cooler weather, and the entry beside the rock pool where a rip can form. It is also reached easily by boat from Botany Bay as a second dive after Wedding Cake Island. A long, easy-going dive with history under every rock.

Park at the South Maroubra Surf Club car park off Fitzgerald Avenue (large, free). Walk south along the beach and then about 250 m along the rock platform to a small inlet; the entry is at its south-east corner. It is a long carry, so only do it in cool weather.

At high tide the platform narrows and you may need to wade. Snorkel out 20 m and descend at 7 m. Exit over the rocks behind the Maroubra rock pool or snorkel back to the beach.

Boat divers from Botany Bay anchor off the point in 12–15 m.

Diveable in all but the biggest southerly and south-easterly winds and seas because the point gives some protection, but the entry needs a flat surf and no strong rip beside the rock pool; a rip forms next to the pool in bigger seas and can create current at the entry. Best timed on an incoming tide, and ideally after a southerly buster has cleaned the water. Do the shore version only in cool weather – the 250 m platform walk in a 7 mm suit in summer is genuinely dangerous for overheating.

High tide narrows the platform and forces wading.

Descend at 7 m, follow the small wall south-east to the amphitheatre with the low cave on its southern side, then swim north-north-west through the jumbled rocks looking for Belbowrie wreckage and old bottles, and follow the reef edge back towards the beach in gradually shallower water. A large tank gives a relaxed 60–80 minutes; exit behind the rock pool.

Pro Dive Coogee and Abyss occasionally dive it by boat as a second dive after Wedding Cake Island; otherwise independent shore divers and St George Scuba Club.