The Wanderers is a vast deep reef in the middle of Bate Bay, roughly 5 km off Cronulla and Wanda Beach and 2.5 km south of Cape Baily Lighthouse. It covers about 250,000 square metres – far more than can be seen in a lifetime of dives – and consists of a low rocky formation surrounded by sand. Mainstream divers ignored it for decades until NSW Public Works Department seabed charting in the early 1990s 'rediscovered' it, after which Max Western's charter boat Sea-tamer II used it regularly for deep diver courses.

The usual anchorage has the reef top at about 36 m, dropping to around 42 m to the south; across the reef the top ranges from about 34 m to more than 46 m at its deepest. The walls drop from 39 to 43 m and feature overhangs, swim-throughs, cracks and boulder fields, and the reef top and sand edge carry numerous sea whips. Sponge gardens are very good, with lace corals and occasional gorgonians.

Blue gropers, bream, six-spined leatherjackets, silver sweep, kingfish, yellowtail and striped seapike are common, and winter brings moderate numbers of Port Jackson sharks and the odd wobbegong. The site's name refers to the wandering anemones found here, which McFadyen calls one of the most attractive animals in the ocean. Visibility is normally reasonable, with over 20 m logged and 30 m plus possible.

McFadyen is blunt that this is not a dive for the inexperienced or for experienced divers without deep training; on air, bottom time is short and narcosis is significant. It suits deep-certified divers, deep-diver training, and technical divers who want a large unexplored reef.

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. Head out of Port Hacking on a 60-degree heading along the line of The Kingsway, then continue offshore until the marks align – about 20 minutes.

McFadyen's GPS is 34° 03.5218' S 151° 12.6357' E, about 2.5 km south of Cape Baily Lighthouse. The historical marks used the Potter Point sewer pipes against the old Kurnell refinery flare and the Cronulla Workers Club wall; with the refinery gone, use GPS. Anchor where the sounder shows the reef top at about 36 m.

Offshore in the middle of Bate Bay, the site is exposed to all swell from north-east through south; limit to seas under 1.5 m and light winds. Being 5 km out, it gets cleaner ocean water than inshore reefs – over 20 m is common and 30 m possible – but the East Australian Current can set across the site, so a shot line is useful. Winter westerlies are best.

Returning into a building north-easterly is wet and slow.

Descend on the anchor to about 36 m, head south to where the reef drops to 42 m and follow the walls and swim-throughs, then turn back up to the reef top at 34–36 m. Keep bottom time around 12–15 minutes on air; the site is also used for deep training dives kept shallower than 40 m.

Deep-diver training minimum. EAN deco gas or trimix recommended for anything below 40 m; bottom time on air about 12–15 min.

No regular charter now; historically Max Western's Sea-tamer II ran deep-diver training here. Private boats and St George Scuba Club.