Located South East of the headland at
Seal Rocks, Edith Breaker is a rock reef covering over 200 square
meters. There is no problem catching an anchor on this site.
Depth ranges from 10 meters at the top of the underwater ridge, to 34
meters inside the cave system. Edith Breaker is an extensive rock reef
covering over 200 square meters and riddled with pits, gutters, swim
throughs, and an extensive cave system. Patches of soft coral
growth alternate with waving kelp gardens, and occasional black
coral. The rocks and reefs off Seal Rocks,
including Edith Breaker, have been known as a deadly shipping hazard
since Australia's earliest days. At 12.15pm on 20 April 1910
the S.S. Satara stuck Edith Breaker and sank below the surface at
1.10pm despite the efforts by Captain Hugill and his crew to reach
the nearby shore.
Now, Edith Breaker is known as an
amazing dive site, with enormous black cod, dozens of lobsters
resident in its extensive cave system, and has been identified as a
grey nurse shark aggregation site. Nudibranchs, moray eels,
wobbygong sharks, Port Jackson sharks, blue grouper, jewfish, and
schooling pelagics are found in huge numbers.
It is unlikely you will be able to see
all of Edith Breaker on a single dive. There are many routes
around the reef. Underwater navigation techniques will help
keep track of the anchor line, but in case you need to surface away
from the anchor line make sure you carry a surface marker bouy to
signal the boat. Edith Breaker is exposed to the
prevailing swell conditions, but is somewhat sheltered from the worst
of the East Australian Current by the headland to the North.
Visibility is generally good, and may
be crystal clear as far out as 30 meters.
Temperature ranges from 18 to 24
degrees.