Clovelly Beach: Go Snorkelling in Sydney
Slotting neatly between better-known Bronte Beach and Coogee Beach, Clovelly Beach is a small spit of soft, golden sand at the end of a narrow bay. Prior to 1914, Clovelly Beach was known as Little Coogee, and the bay was flanked on either side by rough rocky shores which made bathing particularly hazardous.
During the 1930s, much of the rock was covered over by the concrete quays that still characterise Clovelly Beach today. The idea had originally been to completely enclose the mouth of the bay by constructing a breakwater that would also act as a thoroughfare. In the end, much of the breakwater was washed away by heavy seas and the remains of the man-made rocky reef are now only visible on low tides.
The concrete quays have access stairs into the water, making Clovelly Beach more like a giant ocean pool than a beach. The bay is well-protected from all but the biggest seas, is patrolled throughout the warmer months and is by far the safest spot of all the eastern suburbs' beaches for a swim. The main attraction, besides Clovelly’s peaceful, family-friendly atmosphere, is the superb snorkelling and abundant marine life of the ocean pool.
The calm conditions attract an abundance of small reef fishes and on a good day, a snorkeller can see dozens of different species going about their business – showing little fear of the swimmers with whom they share their ocean home.
Among the critters commonly spotted at Clovelly Beach are bream, blackfish, sea pike, cuttlefish and squid, and in summer, the occasional tropical fish species. The most famous residents of Clovelly are the blue gropers. The male gropers are big, bright-blue fish (females are smaller, and greenish-brown), growing to more than a metre in length. Blue gropers are known for their inquisitive natures, often following groups of divers and allowing snorkellers to come close.
HelloSydney Tip: For a bit of variety, take a short stroll over to the adjacent Gordon's Bay, a sheltered, secluded cove with a dramatic rocky shoreline.
Posted on Jan 19, 2011 by Fiona Davies
