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Desoto Inlet

Desoto Inlet is a popular dive site in Australia, located in a water body south of the south point. This shallow boat dive ranges from 6m to 16m deep and offers a captivating underwater landscape filled with overhangs and large rocks. The site's name comes from an intriguing piece of history where an Old Desoto motor vehicle was driven off a cliff and now rests at the bottom of the inlet. With dimensions of approximately 80m in length and 10m in width, Desoto Inlet provides a spacious and fascinating environment for divers to explore.

Diving at Desoto Inlet offers the opportunity to encounter a diverse range of marine life. Among the species you can spot are vibrant yellowtail, sleek silver sweep, elusive seapike, and possibly even flathead. The waters are also home to Port Jackson sharks, wobbegong sharks, various types of rays, and an abundance of shrimp, nudibranchs, and corals. The underwater world of Desoto Inlet is teeming with life, ensuring an unforgettable dive experience for enthusiasts.

With a visibility of about 9m and a maximum depth of 15m, Desoto Inlet is best suited for advanced divers seeking a thrilling underwater adventure. This extraordinary dive site is situated near Pink Boulder Cave, in the Hooey Street area of Catherine Hill Bay, within the Lake Macquarie City Council region of New South Wales, Australia.

Experience the wonders of Desoto Inlet and immerse yourself in the captivating marine ecosystem it offers. Discover the beauty of Australia's underwater world and create lasting memories at this incredible dive site.

Diving Conditions Score for Desoto Inlet

5.8
Average

Average conditions, be alert.
The score is based on a calculation of the current weather and sea conditions.

Dive Site Overview for Desoto Inlet

Depth

15m

Visibility

9m

Experience Level

advanced

Weather Conditions for Desoto Inlet

Wave Height

0.86m

Wind Speed

10.7 m/s

Water Temp

20.1°C

Visibility

57.82km

Cloud Cover

0%

Wave Period

9.5s

Air Temperature

11.7°C

Precipitation

0 mm

Detailed 7-Day Diving Forecast for Desoto Inlet
Alpha

Dive Score Chart for Desoto Inlet

Best time to dive: 8:00 with score 8.531633333333332/10. Water conditions: Waves 0.78m, Wind 0.5 m/s.Best night dive time: 3:00 with score 7.82511415525114/10.

Chart showing hourly dive conditions including wave height, wind speed, water temperature, and visibility throughout the day.

Sunrise at Desoto Inlet: 06:00
Sunset at Desoto Inlet: 18:00

Optimal diving conditions at Desoto Inlet are affected by daylight hours. Sunrise occurs at 06:00 and sunset at 18:00, which impacts visibility and water temperature for scuba diving and snorkeling.

🌞
Best Overall
8:00

Score: 8.5/10
Waves: 0.78m (10.4s), Wind: 0.5 m/s

🌙
Best Night
3:00

Score: 7.8/10
Waves: 0.78m, Wind: 2 m/s

Seasonal Analysis for Desoto Inlet
Alpha

Historical patterns and best seasons for diving at Desoto Inlet

The dive score combines all factors to rate overall diving conditions throughout the year. Higher scores indicate better diving conditions.

Monthly Dive Score Analysis - Seasonal Diving Conditions

Higher values indicate better diving conditions

Seasonal DiveScore Chart

This chart displays monthly diveScore data throughout the year, showing seasonal patterns. The data is presented as a bar chart with an overlaid line graph.Dive scores range from 1 to 10, with 10 being optimal conditions.

Higher values indicate better diving conditions

Best Season for Desoto Inlet

Summer

Avg. Score: 8.5/10

Summer offers the warmest water temperatures and generally favorable conditions for all levels of divers.

Best Months for Desoto Inlet

July
Score: 8.6
June
Score: 8.5
August
Score: 8.5

Ideal Conditions for Desoto Inlet

Water Temp

Thermometer Emoji

19.4°C / 66.9°F

January

Visibility

Telescope Emoji

13.0m / 42.7ft

November

Wave Height

Wave Emoji

1.3m / 4.3ft

January

Wave Period

Wave Emoji

8.0s

January

Seasonal Insights for Desoto Inlet

Desoto Inlet follows southern hemisphere patterns with January being the warmest month (19.4°C) and June the coldest (12.4°C). The calmest conditions typically occur in January with average wave heights of 1.3m and wave periods of 8.0s. The most comfortable wave conditions are in January with a low wave steepness ratio, creating gentler swells. January offers the longest wave periods (8.0s), creating more comfortable and predictable conditions for boat entries and exits. Ocean currents are slowest in January (0.5m/s) and strongest in January (0.5m/s). June is usually the driest month with 0.0mm of precipitation. For beginners, the best time to visit would be during January to March, when ocean conditions are calmer with long-period waves and currents are typically weaker. Experienced divers might enjoy the challenges and potentially better visibility during the shoulder seasons, with moderate currents that can improve marine life encounters.

Scoring Legend:
9-10 (Excellent)
7-8 (Good)
5-6 (Average)
3-4 (Poor)
1-2 (Dangerous)

Last updated: 1 min. ago - Jun 21, 2026

Note: This dive site is not a verified dive site. Please dive with caution. This dive site might have incorrect information by the community.

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