Located on the southern headland of Kamay Botany Bay National Park, Monument (Kurnell) marks the site of Captain Cook's first landing — the monument overlooking the water is a distinctive landmark. This shallow (3–7 m), north-west-facing shore dive is a colourful drift along the beach-side reef, through kelp- and sponge-covered rocky walls and boulders. The underwater topography features a sandy edge that drops over a wall to 12 m, carpeted with sea tulips, small gorgonians, and vibrant sponge gardens. It's a small-scale, critter-hunting paradise where you explore crevices to find nudibranchs, sea dragons, and more.
Monument (Kurnell)
BeginnerMAYBE
MAYBE
Fair. Experienced snorkellers only.
Showing last known conditions
Wave Height 0.4 mSwell Period 7.3 sWind Speed 18 knPrecipitation 8.3 mmTidal Phase flood
Last evaluated
The spot
Community-maintained
Community contribution: submitted by Daniel
Know before you go
Logged by the community, confirmed by mods
Moderate risk: Boat traffic
Botany Bay has boat and ferry traffic; be vigilant when surfacing, especially near navigation channels.
Low risk: Tidal current (incoming)
The site faces north-west and the drift dive relies on incoming tide — outgoing tide can create currents and affect entry/exit.
Low risk: Swell exposure
Southerly swells can wrap around the headland; on windy days entry across the rock platform may be treacherous.
Low risk: Park closure
Kamay Botany Bay National Park is closed at night — no night diving is permitted.
Low risk: Rock platform entry/exit
Entry is via a small inlet between rocks; slippery and uneven terrain requires care, especially with gear.
Wildlife Guide
No wildlife notes for this spot yet.
Gallery
3 photos from the community
Getting in
Shore entry
Entry
From Captain Cook Drive, Kurnell, enter Kamay Botany Bay National Park (southern headland). Drive past the visitor centre to The Monuments Car Park (clearly marked). From the carpark, walk across the grass towards the water — look for the large bronze humpback whale sculpture and a small rocky inlet just behind it; this is the entry point.
Parking & facilities
The Monuments Car Park — a formed gravel parking area. Spots fill quickly on fine-weather days; arrive early especially in summer.
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National park entry fee: $8 per vehicle per day (coin-operated pay-and-display machines).
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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