Foggy Cave

Foggy Cave was discovered by Les and Fran Graham in the 1970's whilst looking for the week of the SS Commonwealth. It is part of an extensive reef system, commonly fished and all fabulous to dive. During March-June it is a consistent Grey Nurse Shark aggregation area and in 2010 there were even a couple of small sharks who decided to over winter at the cave but this is somewhat unusual.

The cave itself is located in a deep section of the reef where it gets to ~39m on the sand out the front of the cave and around the reef edge. The kelp covered top of the reef is quite barren in ~34m and it drops sharply down to the bottom. The area is like a cove in the reef, with a wall running approximately North/South and another East/West. The cave is located at the point where these walls come together and there are some large boulders out the front of the cave.

Whilst described as a cave it really is just a large undercut in the the reef. When resident, the sharks will cruise between the cave and around the cove outside. The roof of the cave has some interesting growth but beware the bottom is very silty and easily disturbed.

Just to the south of the cave there is a sandy gutter where you will often find sharks disturbed by other divers at the cave. The wall North of the cave is a fantastic dive as well. If you dive far enough in this direction you will come across what is called the "false cave" which is a mini version of the cave area proper. You will find shark out cruising along this Northern wall.

The fish life on this dive is generally good. During winter you will find Port Jackson sharks out at the cave. Schools of Yellowtail Scad congregate around the reef as well. The fixed growth around the cave whilst not abundant is interesting.

Before the arrival of the ex-HMAS Adelaide and especially when the sharks are present, this would have been the most popular site on the Central Coast with the commercial operators. I am sure they will still be making runs out there as the novelty of the ex-HMAS Adelaide wears off and divers are looking for some variety. Alternatively, the GPS mark for the site is S33º24.026' E151º32.271' (WGS84 hdddºmm.mmm'). This will put you on the southern wall, not far from the entrance to the cave.