Inscription Point, also known as The Steps, sits within Kamay Botany Bay National Park on the Kurnell Peninsula — the historic landing place of Captain Cook. This sheltered shore-dive site features a rocky reef scattered with boulders and a sandy bottom at 6–12 m depth. The area hosts one of Sydney's best populations of weedy sea dragons, along with sponge gardens, kelp beds, and regular visits from blue gropers, Port Jackson sharks, giant cuttlefish, and friendly fur seals.
Inscription Point
IntermediateMAYBE
MAYBE
Fair. Experienced snorkellers only.
Showing last known conditions
Wave Height 0.5 mSwell Period 7.3 sWind Speed 16 knPrecipitation 8.3 mmTidal Phase flood
Last evaluated
© Philip Terry GrahamDANGER: Explicit Risks Present
Inscription Point has hazards marked as danger. Entering the water here means you may face serious risks to your personal safety.
- Swell surge at entry/exit danger
The single entry/exit point is a small inlet that becomes dangerous when southerly swells exceed 0.6 m. Waves can make exiting impossible at high tide.
The spot
Community-maintained
Community contribution: submitted by Daniel
Know before you go
Logged by the community, confirmed by mods
High risk: Swell surge at entry/exit
The single entry/exit point is a small inlet that becomes dangerous when southerly swells exceed 0.6 m. Waves can make exiting impossible at high tide.
Moderate risk: Park closed at night
The national park gates close at sunset, making night dives impossible.
Low risk: Low visibility
Visibility is generally low but improves on an incoming tide. Can drop further after storms or wind.
Low risk: Crowded conditions
Very popular with divers and snorkelers on weekends, leading to congested entry and exit points.
Wildlife Guide
No wildlife notes for this spot yet.
Gallery
1 photo from the community
Getting in
Shore entry
Entry
From Sydney, drive south to Cronulla and cross the Captain Cook Bridge onto the Kurnell Peninsula. Follow Captain Cook Drive through the national park entrance for about 1.5 km past the turn-offs to Sutherland Point and the visitor centre. Look for a 90° parking area on the left with a sign marked 'Inscription Point'. A stairway (The Steps) leads halfway down the cliff to the entry point.
Parking & facilities
Dedicated parking area alongside the road at Inscription Point. Plenty of space available. Note that parts of the Kurnell area may have parking affected by 2025-2026 upgrades.
parkingtoiletspicnic_tables
$8 per vehicle per day entry fee to Kamay Botany Bay National Park. Coin-operated pay-and-display machines (bring correct coins) and credit card payment available.
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Gallery ┬╖ 1 photos
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About this data
- Conditions last evaluated
- Spot data last updated
- Data sources
- Open-Meteo (marine & weather conditions), tide predictions via UTide, community contributors (descriptions, hazards, marine life).
- License
- Spot content licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. How's the Spot is open source.
Weather & swell ┬╖ Open-Meteo marine & weather APIs Tides ┬╖ UTide harmonic analysis Sea & safety ┬╖ community reports